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1975 Champion Spark Plug 400

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1975 Champion Spark Plug 400
Race details[1]
Race 20 of 30 in the 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season
Official program featuring Benny Parsons
Official program featuring Benny Parsons
Date August 24, 1975 (1975-August-24)
Official name Champion Spark Plug 400
Location Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan
Course Permanent racing facility
2.000 mi (3.218 km)
Distance 200 laps, 400 mi (643 km)
Weather Hot with temperatures of 89.1 °F (31.7 °C); wind speeds up to 12.8 miles per hour (20.6 km/h)
Average speed 107.583 miles per hour (173.138 km/h)
Attendance 47,000[2]
Pole position
Driver
Wood Brothers Racing
Most laps led
Driver A. J. Foyt Hoss Ellington
Laps 69
Winner
No. 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises
Television in the United States
Network CBS Sports (aired September 20, 1975)
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN Radio

The 1975 Champion Spark Plug 400 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place on August 24, 1975, at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan.

Programs were sold for this race at a price of $1.50 per copy ($8.49 when adjusted for inflation). The cost of admission to this race was relatively cheap; children got in for US$5 ($28.31 when adjusted for inflation) while adults got decent seats for US$10 ($56.62 when adjusted for inflation).

This was the first Cup race at Michigan International Speedway to have a corporate title sponsor. In all prior years, the August Michigan Cup race had been called the Yankee 400.

Background

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Michigan International Speedway is a four-turn superspeedway that is 2 miles (3.2 km) long.[3] Groundbreaking took place on September 28, 1967. Over 2.5 million cubic yards (1.9×10^6 m3) of dirt were moved to form the D-shaped oval. The track opened in 1968 with a total capacity of 25,000 seats. The track was originally built and owned by Lawrence H. LoPatin, a Detroit-area land developer who built the speedway at an estimated cost of $4–6 million.[4] Financing was arranged by Thomas W Itin. Its first race took place on Sunday, October 13, 1968, with the running of the USAC 250 mile Championship Car Race won by Ronnie Bucknum.

Race report

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Two hundred laps were completed in three hours and forty-five seconds on the paved oval track spanning 2 miles (3.2 km). All of the 36 drivers who qualified for this race were born in the United States of America. Henley Gray started 374 races in Cup, but this is the only race where he led laps - two of them right after Coo Coo Marlin's wreck.[5]

Six yellow flags slowed the race for 63 laps while the lead changed 25 times among twelve drivers.[2][6] Richard Petty would defeat David Pearson by a distance of five feet as the lead changed four times between them in the final four laps[7] in front of 47,000 audience members.[2] This race was considered to be one of MRN's finest broadcasts; with interesting commentary during a long rain delay.

Pearson would win the pole position with a speed of 159.798 miles per hour (257.170 km/h) while the average speed of the race would be 107.583 miles per hour (173.138 km/h).[2] Even with David Pearson finishing in second place, he managed to keep his finishing streak going with victories at the 1976 Cam 2 Motor Oil 400 and the 1976 Champion Spark Plug 400.[8]

Jackie Rogers would receive the last-place finish for owner Lou Viglione and his 1975 Chevrolet team; he would match his career-best qualifying effort with a ninth-place starting spot but the motor on his #60 Chevrolet failed in the opening laps.[2][6] The race saw A. J. Foyt lead sixty-eight laps before falling out with engine failure after 117 laps. Independent driver David Sisco led 28 laps en route to finishing 11th.[2][6]

Prize winnings would range from $15,140 for the winner ($85,728 when adjusted for inflation) to $700 for the last-place finisher ($3,964 when adjusted for inflation).[6][9] There were 36 cars on the official racing grid; most of them were Chevrolets.[2][6] Terry Bivins would make his NASCAR debut in this race. Maynard Troyer would record his only top ten on his career. Richard Petty would keep his championship lead after this race. However, Dave Marcis would only be 573 points behind (despite not winning a race up to this point).[6][9]

Qualifying

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Grid[2] No. Driver Manufacturer
1 21 David Pearson '73 Mercury
2 15 Buddy Baker '75 Ford
3 28 A. J. Foyt '75 Chevrolet
4 43 Richard Petty '74 Dodge
5 16 Bobby Allison '75 AMC Matador
6 14 Coo Coo Marlin '75 Chevrolet
7 90 Dick Brooks '73 Ford
8 11 Cale Yarborough '75 Chevrolet
9 60 Jackie Rogers '75 Chevrolet
10 72 Benny Parsons '75 Chevrolet
11 88 Darrell Waltrip '75 Chevrolet
12 24 Cecil Gordon '75 Chevrolet
13 48 James Hylton '74 Chevrolet
14 47 Bruce Hill '75 Chevrolet
15 96 Richard Childress '75 Chevrolet
16 7 Dean Dalton '73 Ford
17 19 Henley Gray '74 Chevrolet
18 05 David Sisco '75 Chevrolet
19 79 Frank Warren '74 Dodge
20 8 Ed Negre '74 Dodge
21 71 Dave Marcis '74 Dodge
22 70 J.D. McDuffie '75 Chevrolet
23 98 Richie Panch '75 Chevrolet
24 30 Walter Ballard '75 Chevrolet
25 63 Terry Bivins '75 Chevrolet

Finishing order

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Section reference:[10]

POS ST # DRIVER SPONSOR / OWNER CAR LAPS MONEY STATUS LED PTS
1 4 43   Richard Petty STP   (Petty Enterprises) '74 Dodge 200 18140 running 45 180
2 1 21   David Pearson Purolator   (Wood Brothers) '73 Mercury 200 10735 running 33 175
3 8 11   Cale Yarborough Holly Farms   (Junior Johnson) '75 Chevrolet 200 9385 running 0 165
4 5 16   Bobby Allison Coca-Cola / AMC   (Roger Penske) '75 Matador 200 4060 running 9 165
5 21 71   Dave Marcis K & K Insurance   (Nord Krauskopf) '74 Dodge 199 6310 running 3 160
6 2 15   Buddy Baker Bud Moore Engineering   (Bud Moore) '75 Ford 198 5710 running 2 155
7 11 88   Darrell Waltrip Terminal Transport   (DiGard Racing) '75 Chevrolet 198 4610 running 3 151
8 14 47   Bruce Hill Dixie 500   (Bruce Hill) '75 Chevrolet 197 2510 running 1 147
9 25 63   Terry Bivins Moyer Chevrolet   (Billy Moyer) '75 Chevrolet 196 1910 running 0 138
10 16 7   Dean Dalton Belden Asphalt   (Dean Dalton) '73 Ford 196 1810 running 0 134
11 24 30   Walter Ballard Clyde Lynn Auto Parts   (Walter Ballard) '75 Chevrolet 196 2210 running 1 135
12 18 05   David Sisco Reliable Plumbing   (David Sisco) '75 Chevrolet 196 2110 running 28 132
13 12 24   Cecil Gordon Bob Stott Motors   (Cecil Gordon) '75 Chevrolet 195 1905 running 0 124
14 27 41   Grant Adcox Adcox-Kirby   (Herb Adcox) '75 Chevrolet 195 1285 running 0 121
15 34 37   Bruce Jacobi Opal's Truck Stop   (Opal Voight) '75 Chevrolet 195 1185 running 0 118
16 33 82   Ferrel Harris Dan Walters Forever   (Ferrel Harris) '74 Dodge 194 1100 running 0 115
17 13 48   James Hylton Nitro 9   (James Hylton) '74 Chevrolet 194 1575 running 0 112
18 31 64   Elmo Langley Independent Auto Salvage   (Elmo Langley) '73 Ford 194 1550 running 0 109
19 36 33   Dick May Joli Boutique   (Hiram Handy) '75 Chevrolet 193 1025 running 0 106
20 7 90   Dick Brooks Truxmore Industries   (Junie Donlavey) '73 Ford 192 1500 running 0 103
21 28 40   D.K. Ulrich Garden State Auto Body   (D.K. Ulrich) '75 Chevrolet 192 975 running 0 100
22 29 67   Buddy Arrington Pagoda Motel   (Buddy Arrington) '73 Plymouth 192 1450 running 0 97
23 35 25   Jabe Thomas Thomas Racing   (Don Robertson) '74 Chevrolet 190 925 running 0 94
24 30 91   Harold Miller Miller Racing   (Harold Miller) '75 Chevrolet 187 900 running 0 91
25 23 98   Richie Panch Grey-Rock Brake Products   (Bettie Panch) '75 Chevrolet 183 1375 engine 0 88
26 19 79   Frank Warren John 3:16   (Frank Warren) '74 Dodge 154 1350 running 0 85
27 17 19   Henley Gray Gray Racing   (Henley Gray) '74 Chevrolet 142 825 rear end 2 87
28 22 70   J.D. McDuffie Butler's / Glenn's Landscaping   (J.D. McDuffie) '75 Chevrolet 132 1300 engine 0 79
29 26 65   Carl Adams Adams Racing   (Richard Mummert) '73 Ford 119 785 engine 0 76
30 3 28   A. J. Foyt Gilmore Enterprises   (Hoss Ellington) '75 Chevrolet 117 940 engine 69 83
31 15 96   Richard Childress L.C. Newton Trucking   (Tom Garn) '75 Chevrolet 96 1250 engine 2 75
32 32 01   Earle Canavan Kava Instant Coffee   (Earle Canavan) '74 Dodge 61 740 engine 0 67
33 20 8   Ed Negre 10,000 RPM Speed Equipment   (Ed Negre) '74 Dodge 58 1230 engine 2 69
34 10 72   Benny Parsons King's Row Fireplace   (L.G. DeWitt) '75 Chevrolet 46 3220 engine 0 61
35 6 14   Coo Coo Marlin Cunningham-Kelley   (H.B. Cunningham) '75 Chevrolet 17 1210 engine 0 58
36 9 60   Jackie Rogers Viglione Racing   (Lou Viglione) '75 Chevrolet 6 700 engine 0 55

Timeline

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Section reference:[2]

  • Start: David Pearson was leading the starting grid as the first official lap commenced.
  • Lap 6: Jackie Roberts fell out with engine failure.
  • Lap 20: Coo Coo Marlin fell out with engine failure, causing a lengthy caution for repairs.
  • Lap 48: Benny Parsons fell out with engine failure.
  • Lap 58: Ed Negre fell out with engine failure.
  • Lap 61: Earle Canavan fell out with engine failure.
  • Lap 67: Caution due to rain, ended on lap 87.
  • Lap 97: Richard Childress fell out with engine failure.
  • Lap 117: A. J. Foyt fell out with engine failure.
  • Lap 119: Carl Adams fell out with engine failure.
  • Lap 132: J. D. McDuffie fell out with engine failure.
  • Lap 142: The rear end came off of Henley Gray's vehicle in an unsafe manner.
  • Lap 183: Richie Panch fell out with engine failure.
  • Lap 192: Caution due to Cale Yarborough and Dave Marcis spinning into the frontstretch, ended on lap 195.
  • Finish: Richard Petty was officially declared the winner of the event.

Standings after the race

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Pos Driver Points[2] Differential
1 Richard Petty 3329 0
2 Dave Marcis 2756 -573
3 James Hylton 2625 -704
4 Benny Parsons 2525 -804
5 Richard Childress 2493 -836
6 Increase Darrell Waltrip 2474 -855
7 Decrease Cecil Gordon 2449 -880
8 Elmo Langley 2224 -1105
9 David Pearson 2183 -1146
10 Buddy Baker 2103 -1226
10 Increase Walter Ballard 2103 -1226

References

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  1. ^ "1975 Champion Spark Plug 400 weather information". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "1975 Champion Spark Plug 400 racing information". Racing Reference. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  3. ^ "Michigan International Speedway". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
  4. ^ "Track History". Michigan International Speedway. Archived from the original on March 2, 2009.
  5. ^ "Driver Henley Gray Career Statistics". Racing Reference. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "1975 Champion Spark Plug 400 racing information". Race Database. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  7. ^ "Exact distance of victory". Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on 2011-09-19. Retrieved 2013-06-14.
  8. ^ "David Pearson was king of Michigan International Speedway". Stock Car Racing. Archived from the original on 2013-11-27. Retrieved 2013-06-14.
  9. ^ a b "1975 Champion Spark Plug 400 racing information". Driver Averages. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  10. ^ "Race Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
Preceded by NASCAR Winston Cup Series season
1975 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Champion Spark Plug 400 races
1975 		Succeeded by
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