1972 USAC National Dirt Car Championship
American auto racing season
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The 1972 USAC National Dirt Car Championship was the second season of the USAC National Dirt Car Championship.[1] The season champion was A .J. Foyt.
Confirmed entries
| Team / Owner | No | Drivers | Rounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albert Harrison | 91 | Darl Harrison | All |
| A. J. Foyt Enterprises | 3 | A. J. Foyt | All |
| Bernie Cedoz | 59 | Karl Busson | 2–3 |
| Bob Harkey | 8 | Bob Harkey | 2–3 |
| Larry Dickson | 4 | ||
| Carl Gehlhausen Racing | 84 | Jerry Karl | 1 |
| Tom Bigelow | 2–4 | ||
| CHEK Inc. | 6 | Arnie Knepper | All |
| Crower/Beck | 21 | George Snider | 1 |
| Curt Waters | 2–3 | ||
| Danny Burke | 33 | Ronnie Burke | 2–4 |
| D. J. Caruthers | 15 | Jimmy Caruthers | 1, 3–4 |
| Johnny Rutherford | 2 | ||
| Don Rogala | 36 | Pancho Carter | 2 |
| Johnny Rutherford | 3–4 | ||
| Federal Engineering | 22 | Johnny Parsons | 1 |
| Joe Saldana | 2–4 | ||
| Grant King Racers | 44 | Jackie Howerton | 1 |
| Rollie Beale | 2–4 | ||
| Gus Sohm | 83 | Billy Engelhart | 3–4 |
| Harry Conklin | 64 | Billy Engelhart | 2 |
| Don Hawley | 3 | ||
| Charles Masters | 4 | ||
| Jerry Miller | 65 | Jerry Miller | 2–4 |
| Jim McElreath | 2 | Jim McElreath | All |
| Joe Hunt | 99 | Bob Evans | 2–4 |
| LAF-GEF Inc. | 12 | Sammy Sessions | All |
| 25 | Bob Evans | 1 | |
| Rick Goudy | 2–4 | ||
| Leader Cards Racers | 4 | Larry Dickson | 2 |
| Al Unser | 3 | ||
| Mike Mosley | 4 | ||
| Louis Senter | 5 | Don Hawley | 1–2, 4 |
| 59 | Karl Busson | 4 | |
| Louis Seymour | 29 | Bruce Walkup | 3–4 |
| Mataka Brothers | 31 | Joe Saldana | 1 |
| Carl Williams | 2–4 | ||
| Mike Riley | 38 | Rick Muther | 1 |
| Jigger Sirois | 2–3 | ||
| Art Pollard | 4 | ||
| MVS Racing | 1 | George Snider | 2–4 |
| Ray Smith | 70 | Tom Bigelow | 1 |
| Bill Puterbaugh | 2–4 | ||
| R. B. Racing Associates | 55 | Lee Kunzman | All |
| Rieder Racers | 81 | Pancho Carter | 1, 3–4 |
| Speedway Motors | 54 | Don Nordhorn | 3–4 |
| STP Racing | 40 | Larry Dickson | 3 |
| 60 | Greg Weld | 2–4 | |
| United Championship Racers | 24 | Billy Vukovich Jr. | 1–3 |
| Roger McCluskey | 4 | ||
| Vatis Enterprises | 95 | Carl Williams | 1 |
| Johnny Parsons | 2–4 | ||
| Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | 1 | Al Unser | 2, 4 |
| Walmotors | 77 | Salt Walther | 4 |
| Walt Flynn | 58 | Ralph Liguori | 1 |
| Wib Spalding | 15 | Bud Tingelstad | 1 |
| Dick Tobias | 2 | ||
| "Allen" | 3 | ||
| Bob Harkey | 4 | ||
| Windmill Truckers Center | 27 | Dick Tobias | 3–4 |
| unknown | 72 | Larry Cannon | 3 |
| Billy Casella | 4 |
Schedule and results
The season consisted of four dirt races.[2]
| Rnd | Date | Race Name | Track | Location | Pole position | Winning driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 28 | Coca-Cola Bottling 100 | Du Quoin State Fairgrounds | Du Quoin, Illinois | Arnie Knepper | Tom Bigelow |
| 2 | August 20 | Tony Bettenhausen 100 | Illinois State Fairgrounds | Springfield, Illinois | Lee Kunzman | Al Unser |
| 3 | September 4 | Ted Horn Memorial | Du Quoin State Fairgrounds | Du Quoin, Illinois | Lee Kunzman | A.J. Foyt |
| 4 | September 9 | Hoosier Hundred | Indiana State Fairgrounds | Indianapolis, Indiana | Al Unser | Al Unser |
Final point standings
The driver championship was won by A.J. Foyt of 28 classified drivers. The entrant championships went to the #3 car of A.J. Foyt Enterprises.[3]
| Pos | Driver | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A.J. Foyt | 550 |
| 2 | Al Unser | 450 |
| 3 | Arnie Knepper | 350 |
| 4 | Tom Bigelow | 290 |
| 5 | George Snider | 260 |
| 6 | Bill Puterbaugh | 200 |
| 7 | Johnny Rutherford | 180 |
| 8 | Rollie Beale | 170 |
| 9 | Carl Williams | 150 |
| 10 | Sam Sessions | 150 |