1971 Motor Trend 500
Encyclopedia
The 1971 Motor Trend 500 was the first official race in NASCAR
's Winston Cup era (also known as the Winston Cup Grand National Series until approximately 1985) that took place on January 10, 1971.
at Riverside International Raceway
in Riverside
, California
, USA
that spanned a total distance of 2.62 miles (4.2 km). Attendance for the race was 23000 people with the race lasting four hours, fifty-seven minutes, and fifty-five seconds.
Ray Elder
won the race and Coca-Cola
was the major sponsor of the #12 Dodge
entry that was driven by Bobby Allison. The average speed was 100.783 mi/h while the pole speed was 107.084 mi/h. The other nine finishers in the top ten were: Bobby Allison
, Benny Parsons
, Bobby Isaac
, James Hylton
, Friday Hassler
, Kevin Terris, Carl Joiner, Henley Gray
, and Cecil Gordon
. Out of the forty drivers that started the race, only twelve of them actually finished the race. The top prize at this race was $18,715 ($ in today's money) and the prize for finishing last place (40th) was $1,015 ($ in today's money).
Richard Petty
competed in this race but failed to finish it; he would end up in 20th place after starting in the pole position. He was driving a Plymouth
with the familiar #43 that he is famous for. The majority of the drivers who failed to finish had an engine
problem. At the end of the race, the margin between Ray Elder (who happened to be a road course ringer
from the West Coast) and Bobby Allison was considered be to ten and a half seconds. Ray Elder would score the first of his two NASCAR cup victories here (with his second victory taking place at the 1972 Golden State 400). Other notable facts about the 1971 Motor Trend 500 is that the race was Ron Grable's only start in the NASCAR Cup series and that G.T. Tallas finished the race with his career best of 11th place.
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...
's Winston Cup era (also known as the Winston Cup Grand National Series until approximately 1985) that took place on January 10, 1971.
Summary
Drivers had to contend with 191 laps on a road courseRoad racing
Road racing is a general term for most forms of motor racing held on paved, purpose-built race tracks , as opposed to oval tracks and off-road racing...
at Riverside International Raceway
Riverside International Raceway
Riverside International Raceway was a race track or road course in Riverside, California. The track was in operation from September 22, 1957, to July 2, 1989...
in Riverside
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
, 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...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that spanned a total distance of 2.62 miles (4.2 km). Attendance for the race was 23000 people with the race lasting four hours, fifty-seven minutes, and fifty-five seconds.
Ray Elder
Ray Elder
Raymond 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...
won the race and Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
was the major sponsor of the #12 Dodge
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
entry that was driven by Bobby Allison. The average speed was 100.783 mi/h while the pole speed was 107.084 mi/h. The other nine finishers in the top ten were: 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....
, Benny Parsons
Benny Parsons
Benjamin Stewart Parsons was an American NASCAR driver, and later an announcer/analyst on TBS, ESPN, NBC and TNT...
, Bobby Isaac
Bobby Isaac
Bobby Isaac is a former NASCAR Grand National champion.-Early life:Isaac grew up on a farm near Catawba, North Carolina, the second youngest of nine children...
, James Hylton
James Hylton
James 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...
, Friday Hassler
Friday Hassler
Raymond "Friday" Hassler was a NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series driver.-Summary:He made his debut in 1960 but only drove a handful of races per year until 1967 when he drove 21 of the 49 races for Red Sharp and finished 32nd in points. He improved to 27th for Sharp the next year and...
, Kevin Terris, Carl Joiner, Henley Gray
Henley Gray
Henley Gray is a retired NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver whose career spanned from 1964 to 1977.-Summary:...
, and Cecil Gordon
Cecil Gordon
Cecil Gordon was a NASCAR driver. He is not related to Sprint Cup driver Jeff Gordon although the two drivers drove in car number 24....
. Out of the forty drivers that started the race, only twelve of them actually finished the race. The top prize at this race was $18,715 ($ in today's money) and the prize for finishing last place (40th) was $1,015 ($ in today's money).
Richard Petty
Richard Petty
Richard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
competed in this race but failed to finish it; he would end up in 20th place after starting in the pole position. He was driving a Plymouth
Plymouth (automobile)
Plymouth was a marque of automobile based in the United States, produced by the Chrysler Corporation and its successor DaimlerChrysler.-Origins:...
with the familiar #43 that he is famous for. The majority of the drivers who failed to finish had 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...
problem. At the end of the race, the margin between Ray Elder (who happened to be a road course ringer
Road course ringer
Road course ringer, also known as Road course specialist, Road course expert, or Road runner, is a term used to describe a non-NASCAR driver who is hired by a NASCAR team to race, specifically, on road courses...
from the West Coast) and Bobby Allison was considered be to ten and a half seconds. Ray Elder would score the first of his two NASCAR cup victories here (with his second victory taking place at the 1972 Golden State 400). Other notable facts about the 1971 Motor Trend 500 is that the race was Ron Grable's only start in the NASCAR Cup series and that G.T. Tallas finished the race with his career best of 11th place.