1978 USAC Mini-Indy Series season

The 1978 USAC Mini Indy Series season was the second season of the USAC sanctioned Formula Super Vee championship.

Race calendar and results

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Round Circuit Location Date Pole position Fastest lap Winner Headline event
1[1] Phoenix International Raceway   Avondale, Arizona 18 March   Fred Phillips   Tim Richmond Jimmy Bryan 150
2[2] Trenton International Speedway   Trenton, New Jersey 12 April   Bill Alsup   John Wood Gabriel 200
3[3] Mosport International Raceway   Bowmanville, Ontario 11 June   Bill Alsup   Bill Alsup Molson Diamond Indy
4[4] The Milwaukee Mile   West Allis, Wisconsin 18 June   William Henderson   William Henderson Rex Mays 150
5[5] Texas World Speedway   College Station, Texas 6 August   Harry MacDonald   Harry MacDonald Texas Grand Prix
6[6] The Milwaukee Mile   West Allis, Wisconsin 20 August   Dennis Firestone   Dennis Firestone Tony Bettenhausen 200
7[7] Ontario Motor Speedway   Ontario, California 2 September   Dennis Firestone   Bill Alsup California 500
8[8]   Tommy Thompson   Dennis Firestone
9[9] Trenton International Speedway   Trenton, New Jersey 23 September   Dennis Firestone   Geoff Brabham Machinist Union 150
10[10] Phoenix International Raceway   Avondale, Arizona 28 October   Kevin Cogan   Kevin Cogan Miller High Life Bobby Ball 150

Teams and drivers

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No. Driver Owner Car Engine Note
2   Herm Johnson Austin Johnson Lola Volkswagen
3   Fred Phillips Citation Engineering Zink Volkswagen
10   Dennis Firestone Crosslé Cars Pacific March Volkswagen
12   Dick Ferguson Race Research Inc. Volkswagen
19   John Kalagian Beth Ardisana Lynx Volkswagen
29   Pete Halsmer Simpson Racers Lola Volkswagen
37   Nancy James Citation Engineering Zink Volkswagen
38   Desiré Wilson Citation Engineering Zink Volkswagen
39   Richard Tallon Richard Tallon Lola Volkswagen
41   Bill Alsup William Alsup Jr. Argo Volkswagen
42   Harry MacDonald HCM Racing Ralt Volkswagen
43   John Wood Bill Scott Racing Volkswagen
45   William Henderson Bertil Racing Engines Lola Volkswagen
46   Stuart Moore Janet Moore Lola Volkswagen
48   Dan Park WREP Industries Volkswagen
50   Tommy Thompson Black American Racers Lola Volkswagen Thompson died from injuries sustained in a crash in the ninth round of the championship
55   Geoff Brabham David Psachie Ralt Volkswagen
60   Bob Cicconi Lou Cicconi Lola Volkswagen
70   Syd Demovsky Syd Demovsky Lola Volkswagen
77   Bryan Johnson Fitzpatrick Racing Enterprises Volkswagen
82   Kevin Cogan Ralt American Ltd. Ralt Volkswagen
94   John Sisk Aspen Racing Wheeler Volkswagen
97   Gary Bettenhausen American Eagle Racing Lola Volkswagen
98   Tim Richmond Sale Chevrolet Lola Volkswagen
99   Dave Bruns Linne Enterprises Volkswagen

Death of Tommy Thompson

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African-American racing driver Tommy Thompson participated in the ninth round of the championship at Trenton International Speedway. On the final lap of the 42-lap race one of the other competitor slowed down. John Barringer had to swerve to avoid contact. However Thompson hit Barringer. Thompson's left front wheel and Barringer's right rear wheel became locked. Both cars hit the wall head-on. Thompsons car was launched over the wall. Both Barringer and Thompson were transported to St. Francis Medical Center. Thompson succumbed to his injuries on 28 September.[11]

Final standings

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Color Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green 4th & 5th place
Light Blue 6th–10th place
Dark Blue 11th place or lower
Purple Did not finish
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Brown Withdrawn (Wth)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Blank Did not participate (DNP)
Driver replacement (Rpl)
Injured (Inj)
No race held (NH)
Pos. Driver  
PIR1
 
TRE1
 
MOS
 
MIL1
 
TEX
 
MIL2
 
ONT1
 
ONT2
 
TRE2
 
PIR2
Points
1   Bill Alsup 21 2 1 23 2 10 1 2 4 12 1046
2   Dennis Firestone 5 24 3 22 6 1 24 1 16 2 894
3   Harry MacDonald DNS 20 4 3 1 26 2 3 23 7 831
4   Herm Johnson 16 5 14 2 7 5 5 22 3 5 773
5   John Wood 1 15 24 3 9 3 5 26 9 674
6   Bob Cicconi 25 21 10 5 27 6 14 19 2 4 506
7   David Bruns 2 6 4 18 3 504
8   Gary Bettenhausen 3 17 4 22 7 9 28 6 453
9   Tim Richmond 1 22 16 7 9 4 428
10   Ken Nichols 4 7 4 18 5 404
11   Kevin Cogan 3 1 340
12   Pete Halsmer 4 9 6 21 24 15 10 10 19 23 318
13   Geoff Brabham 12 6 1 290
13   Fred Phillips 2 4 13 22 25 290
15   Tommy Thompson 8 7 9 9 8 14 245
16   William Henderson 11 18 1 224
17   Syd Demovsky 8 5 19 18 8 208
18   Stuart Moore 2 21 163
19   Tom Bagley 3 140
20   Dan Park 13 6 8 135
21   George Dyer 5 11 16 21 128
22   Jim Giffin 12 10 28 6 13 127
23   Michael Yoder 7 7 15 115
24   John Kalagian 27 10 20 7 21 99
25   Joe Gimpel Jr. 15 11 11 14 9 90
26   Ted Field 13 16 19 8 25 23 11 89
27   Bill Cruse 6 80
27   Eddie Miller 6 80
29   Bryan Johnson 26 24 25 7 20 16 76
30   John Sisk 12 8 18 23 17 18 75
31   Richard Tallon 12 11 9 28 72
32   Dick Simon 14 12 8 20 69
33   Bill Follmer 7 60
34   Heinz Snizek 8 50
35   G. Scott Ovel 9 14 45
36   Butch Meyer 18 28 16 17 17 12 12 27 41
37   Dick Ferguson 24 13 25 10 40
37   Larry Skipsey 11 11 40
39   Rich Vogler 22 10 33
39   Benny Scott 16 20 17 11 33
41   Bill Simpson 10 30
41   Domenick Billera 10 30
43   Gary Passon 13 DNS 15 12 20 28
44   Doug Clark 14 27 13 t 15 24 15 25
45   Mike Frangkiser 11 19 24
46   Roy Kischell 17 28 28 17 16 17
47   Phil Caliva 15 21 13 13
47   Bobby Unser Jr. 22 19 20 26 13
49   Nancy James 25 12 12
49   Bob Larson 19 14 24 12
51   Roger Mears 26 22 15 10
52   Dennis Blackwell 18 23 28 9
52   Ron Banks 29 21 19 9
54   Bert Busby 23 15 8
55   Bubby Jones DNS 17 6
55   Tom D'Eath 23 22 6
57   John Barringer 13 5
57   Bill Thelander 13 5
57   Gene Romero 14 5
57   Don Schoeny 14 5
57   Greg Atwell 16 5
57   Bill Noble 27 24 5
63   Rich Amick 17 4
63   Jan Slesinski 17 4
63   Hank Chapman 18 4
63   Roger Bighouse 20 4
67   Tom Hessert 21 3
67   Bobby Hillin Jr. 23 3
69   Lou Gigliotti 25 2
69   Bobby Olivero 25 2
69   Elliott Forbes-Robinson 26 2
69   Allan Turner 26 2
69   Desiré Wilson 26 2
69   Howdy Holmes 27 2
69   Denny Moothart 27 2
  Mike Randol

References

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  1. ^ "Round 1". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Round 2". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  3. ^ "Round 3". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  4. ^ "Round 4". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  5. ^ "Round 5". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  6. ^ "Round 6". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  7. ^ "Round 7". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  8. ^ "Round 8". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  9. ^ "Round 9". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  10. ^ "Round 10". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  11. ^ "Race driver succumbs to N.J. crash injuries". Baltimore Afro-American. Retrieved 25 July 2015.