1972 Miller High Life 500
Encyclopedia
The 1972 Miller High Life 500 is a NASCAR
Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on March 5, 1972 at Ontario Motor Speedway
in the American
community of Ontario
, California
.
A.J. Foyt defeated Bobby Allison
by 4.2 seconds in front of nearly 69,000 live spectators. Four cautions were given out for 31 laps and the average racing speed was 127.082 miles per hour (204.5 km/h). The pole position was achieved by the race winner qualifying at a speed of 153.217 miles per hour (246.6 km/h). There were 51 American-born drivers on the racing grid. Jim Vandiver
would earn the last-place finish due to an engine
issue on lap 1. With a purse larger than the previous month's Daytona 500
, 113 cars were waiting in line to compete in three qualifying sessions to fill the 51-car grid. The winner's purse for the 1972 Miller High Life 500 was $31,695 ($ in today's money). An unprecedented number of teams (62) failed to qualify for the race. Richard Childress
, Charlie Glotzbach
and Wendell Scott
were three of the Cup Series regulars that failed to qualify along with unknown drivers Ivan Baldwin and Emiliano Zapata
.
Country music legend Marty Robbins
would compete in this race in a 1972 Dodge Charger
vehicle; he started in 22nd and ended in 8th place. After the race, Robbins was named as the "Sportsman of the Race."
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on March 5, 1972 at Ontario Motor Speedway
Ontario Motor Speedway
The Ontario Motor Speedway, located in Ontario, California, east of Los Angeles, was the first and only automobile racing facility built to accommodate major races sanctioned by all of the four dominant racing sanctioning bodies: IndyCar Series and USAC for open-wheel oval car races; NASCAR for a ...
in the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
community of Ontario
Ontario, California
Ontario is a city located in San Bernardino County, California, United States, 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Located in the western part of the Inland Empire region, it lies just east of the Los Angeles county line and is part of the Greater Los Angeles Area...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Summary
Two hundred laps took place on a paved track spanning 2.5 miles (4 km); the race was resolved in three hours and fifty-six minutes. An inexpensive souvenir magazine was sold to the spectators at $1.50 USD per copy ($ in today's money).A.J. Foyt defeated Bobby Allison
Bobby Allison
Robert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
by 4.2 seconds in front of nearly 69,000 live spectators. Four cautions were given out for 31 laps and the average racing speed was 127.082 miles per hour (204.5 km/h). The pole position was achieved by the race winner qualifying at a speed of 153.217 miles per hour (246.6 km/h). There were 51 American-born drivers on the racing grid. Jim Vandiver
Jim Vandiver
Jim Vandiver is a retired NASCAR Winston Cup driver that raced from 1968 to 1983.-Summary:...
would earn the last-place finish due to an engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
issue on lap 1. With a purse larger than the previous month's Daytona 500
1972 Daytona 500
The 1972 Daytona 500 was won by A.J. Foyt driving a 1971 Mercury on February 20, 1972.- Summary :Foyt drove his number 21 to victory in more than three hours after starting the race outside front-row position. There were three cautions flags which slowed the race for a total of 17 laps. Foyt...
, 113 cars were waiting in line to compete in three qualifying sessions to fill the 51-car grid. The winner's purse for the 1972 Miller High Life 500 was $31,695 ($ in today's money). An unprecedented number of teams (62) failed to qualify for the race. Richard Childress
Richard Childress
Richard Childress is a former NASCAR driver and the current team owner of Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series. As a business entrepreneur, Childress became one of the wealthiest men in North Carolina...
, Charlie Glotzbach
Charlie Glotzbach
Charles "Charlie: Glotzbach is a former ARCA and was a NASCAR Sprint Cup driver. Charlie holds one of the oldest race records in NASCAR. He was also known as "The Chargin' Comet" and "Chargin' Charlie"....
and Wendell Scott
Wendell Scott
Wendell Oliver Scott was an American stock car racing driver from Danville, Virginia. He is the only black driver to win a race in what is now the Sprint Cup Series. According to a 2008 biography of Scott, he broke the color barrier in Southern stock car racing on May 23, 1952, at the Danville...
were three of the Cup Series regulars that failed to qualify along with unknown drivers Ivan Baldwin and Emiliano Zapata
Emiliano Zapata
Emiliano Zapata Salazar was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution, which broke out in 1910, and which was initially directed against the president Porfirio Díaz. He formed and commanded an important revolutionary force, the Liberation Army of the South, during the Mexican Revolution...
.
Country music legend Marty Robbins
Marty Robbins
Martin David Robinson , known professionally as Marty Robbins, was an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...
would compete in this race in a 1972 Dodge Charger
Dodge Charger
The Dodge Charger is an American automobile manufactured by the Dodge division of Chrysler. There have been several different Dodge vehicles, built on three different platforms and sizes, all bearing the Charger nameplate...
vehicle; he started in 22nd and ended in 8th place. After the race, Robbins was named as the "Sportsman of the Race."
Top twenty finishers
- A.J. Foyt
- Bobby Allison
- Buddy BakerBuddy BakerElzie Wylie Baker, Jr. , nicknamed "Leadfoot" or more famously Buddy, is a former American NASCAR racecar driver.-Early life:...
- Richard PettyRichard PettyRichard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
- Ray ElderRay ElderRaymond Marvin Elder was a former NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series driver.He participated primarily in west coast races at Riverside International Raceway and Ontario Motor Speedway from 1967 to 1978. He won races at Riverside in 1971 and 1972 driving for Fred Elder...
- Hershel McGriffHershel McGriffHershel McGriff won four races during his brief career in the NASCAR Grand National series, and later in the NASCAR Winston West Series.-Racing career:...
- James HyltonJames HyltonJames Harvey Hylton is a part-time race car driver. He is a two-time winner in NASCAR and competes in the ARCA RE/MAX Series,finishing 16th in points in 2006. He made headlines while attempting to qualify for the 2007 Daytona 500 at age 72...
- Marty RobbinsMarty RobbinsMartin David Robinson , known professionally as Marty Robbins, was an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...
- Elmo LangleyElmo LangleyElmo Langley was a NASCAR driver and owner. Langley primarily used the number "64" on his race cars during his NASCAR career.-Racing career:...
- Ramo StottRamo StottRamo Stott is a retired American stock car driver from Keokuk, Iowa. He competed in NASCAR Winston Cup, USAC stock car, and ARCA.-USAC:...
- Jimmy Finger
- Jack McCoyJack McCoyJohn James "Jack" McCoy is a fictional character in the television drama Law & Order, created by Michael S. Chernuchin and played by Sam Waterston since 1994. He is the second-longest tenured character on the show, after Lt. Anita Van Buren . On January 28, 2009, McCoy's character ended the longest...
- John Soares, Jr.
- Benny ParsonsBenny ParsonsBenjamin Stewart Parsons was an American NASCAR driver, and later an announcer/analyst on TBS, ESPN, NBC and TNT...
- Bill Butts
- Cliff Garner
- Johnny Anderson
- Dick Bown
- Jim DanielsonJim DanielsonJim Danielson is a retired NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver whose career spanned from 1972 to 1976.-Summary:He competed in 675 laps of NASCAR Cup Series racing action - the equivalent of - and brought home a grand total of $6,975 in career earnings . He started in 32nd place on average and...
- Bill ChampionBill ChampionBuford Billy Champion , is a retired American professional baseball player, a right-handed pitcher who played in 202 games in the Major Leagues from -. He would play for the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies.-External links:...