1971 NASCAR Winston West Series

Last updated

The 1971 NASCAR Winston West Series was the 18th season of the series. The title was won by Ray Elder, his third in succession.

Contents

Schedule and results

The 1971 season included 26 individual races, although some tracks were run twice.

DateNameRacetrackLocationWinner
January 10Motor Trend 500 Riverside International Raceway Riverside, California Ray Elder [1]
February 28 Miller High Life 500 Ontario Motor Speedway Ontario, California A. J. Foyt
March 7Orange 400 Orange Show Speedway San Bernardino, California Jack McCoy [2]
March 21 San Jose Speedway San Jose, California John Soares, Jr.
May 9Vegas 150 Craig Road Speedway North Las Vegas, Nevada Jimmy Insolo
May 15Stockton 150 Stockton 99 Speedway Stockton, California Jack McCoy
June 5Ascot 200 Ascot Park Gardena, California Ray Elder [3]
June 20Winston Golden State 400 Riverside International Raceway Riverside, California Bobby Allison
June 26Salem Mighty Mite 100 Salem Speedway Salem, Oregon Hershel McGriff
July 2Spanaway 150 Spanaway Speedway Tacoma, Washington Jack McCoy
July 4Apple State 150 Skagit Speedway Mount Vernon, Washington Hershel McGriff
July 10Umatilla 100 Umatilla Speedway Hermiston, Oregon Ray Elder
July 11Rose City 100 Portland Speedway Portland, Oregon Hershel McGriff
July 13Royal Canadian 150 Langley Speedway Langley, British Columbia Hershel McGriff
July 16Medford 100 Medford Speedway Medford, Oregon Carl Joiner
July 17Roseburg Northwest 100 Roseburg Speedway Roseburg, Oregon Hershel McGriff
July 30Las Vegas Lucky 21 150 Craig Road Speedway North Las Vegas, Nevada Ray Elder
July 31Orange Show 150 Orange Show Speedway San Bernardino, California Johnny Anderson
August 7Saugus 150 Saugus Speedway Santa Clarita, California Ray Elder
August 8Bakersfield 150 Bakersfield Speedway Oildale, California Ray Elder
August 20Clovis Vineyard 100 Clovis Speedway Clovis, California Ray Elder
September 6Evergreen 200 Evergreen Speedway Monroe, Washington Ray Elder
September 8Spokane 100 Interstate Fairground Speedway Spokane, Washington Hershel McGriff
September 11Yakima 150 Yakima Speedway Yakima, Washington Ray Elder [4]
October 31San Gabriel Valley 100 San Gabriel Valley Speedway Irwindale, California Jack McCoy
December 12Texas 500 Texas World Speedway College Station, Texas Richard Petty

† This race was not given a name.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talladega Superspeedway</span> Motorsport track in the United States

Talladega Superspeedway is a 2.66-mile (4.28 km) tri-oval superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. The track has hosted a variety of racing events since its inaugural season of racing in 1969; primarily races sanctioned by NASCAR. The track has been owned by NASCAR since 2019 with Brian Crichton serving as the track's president. The facility has a grandstand capacity of 80,000 as of 2022. Along with the main track, the track complex also features a 4-mile (6.4 km) long roval-style road course.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicagoland Speedway</span> Motorsport track in the United States

Chicagoland Speedway is an inactive 1.5 mi (2.4 km) tri-oval intermediate speedway in Joliet, Illinois. It has hosted various major races throughout its existence, including NASCAR and IndyCar races. The track is currently owned by NASCAR, and features a 47,000-seat capacity as of 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Hampshire Motor Speedway</span> Motorsport track in the United States

New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a 1.058 mi (1.703 km) oval track in Loudon, New Hampshire. It has hosted various major races throughout its existence, including NASCAR, IndyCar, modified races, and the Loudon Classic. The venue has a capacity of 44,000 as of 2024. New Hampshire Motor Speedway is currently owned by Speedway Motorsports, LLC (SMI) and is led by track general manager David McGrath.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Wilkesboro Speedway</span> Motorsport track in the United States

North Wilkesboro Speedway is a 0.625 mi (1.006 km) paved oval short track in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. The track has hosted a variety of racing events since its inaugural season of racing in 1947; primarily races sanctioned by NASCAR. It has been owned by Speedway Motorsports, LLC (SMI) since 2007 with Ronald Queen serving as director of operations. North Wilkesboro Speedway is served by U.S. Route 421.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Helton</span> American businessman

Michael Gregory Helton is an American businessman and the current vice chairman for the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, better known as NASCAR. He is best known for being NASCAR's third president and for officially announcing to the public the death of Dale Earnhardt. He previously held management positions at various racetracks across the United States before becoming the president of NASCAR. In 2015, he became the vice chairman of NASCAR, overseeing competition in NASCAR's national series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ARCA Menards Series West</span> American auto racing series

The ARCA Menards Series West, formerly the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, NASCAR AutoZone West Series, NASCAR Winston West Series and NASCAR Camping World West Series, is a regional stock car racing series owned and operated by the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) and the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). The series was first formed in 1954 as a proving ground for drivers from the western United States who could not travel to race in the more traditional stock car racing regions like North Carolina and the rest of the southern United States.

Walter Harvey Ballard Sr. was an American NASCAR driver from Houston, Texas. In 1971, he won the Rookie of the Year Award in the NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National Series, in its first year under Winston's sponsorship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ray Elder</span> American racing driver

Raymond Marvin Elder was a NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series driver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Series</span> 23rd season of NASCAR stock-car racing

The 1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season began on January 10 and ended on November 20. Richard Petty was the champion for this Winston Cup season. After 20 years of being named the NASCAR Grand National Series, R. J. Reynolds first became the primary sponsor in a decade where the growing anti-tobacco movement banned its advertisement on television and motorsports was the ideal place to place their advertisements. Through NASCAR, Winston merchandise was unveiled to live viewers of the races. This kind of merchandise would also be given out at stores that sold cigarettes in subsequent years. Race car drivers were encouraged to smoke cigarettes until the mid-2000s brought in strict drug testing policies in addition to a smoking cessation program by Nicorette, a GlaxoSmithKline brand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1971 Motor Trend 500</span> Auto race held at Riverside International Raceway in 1971

The 1971 Motor Trend 500 was the first race in NASCAR's Winston Cup era that took place on January 10, 1971. 191 laps on a road course at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California that spanned a total distance of 2.620 miles (4.216 km).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1994 Brickyard 400</span> First NASCAR race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The 1994 Brickyard 400 was held on Saturday, August 6, 1994, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race marked the nineteenth race of the 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. It was the first NASCAR stock car race at the famous Speedway and the first race of any kind held at the track beside the Indianapolis 500 since the Harvest Classic in 1916. The race featured the largest crowd in NASCAR history, and a then NASCAR record purse of $3.2 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1989 Autoworks 500</span> 28th race of the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

The 1989 Autoworks 500 was the 28th and penultimate stock car race of the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season, the 11th and final race of the 1989 NASCAR Winston West Series season, and the second iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, November 5, 1989, before an audience of 65,000 in Avondale, Arizona at Phoenix International Raceway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent low-banked tri-oval race track. The race took the scheduled 312 laps to complete. Assisted by a late-race crash from the championship leader at the time, Rusty Wallace, Melling Racing driver Bill Elliott would manage to take over control for the final 48 laps of the race to take his 32nd career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his third and final victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Junior Johnson & Associates driver Terry Labonte and Roush Racing driver Mark Martin would finish second and third, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1994 Slick 50 500</span> 30th race of the 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

The 1994 Slick 50 500 was the 30th and penultimate stock car race of the 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season, the 30th and penultimate race of the 1994 NASCAR Winston West Series, and the seventh iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, October 30, 1994, before an audience of 96,000 in Avondale, Arizona at Phoenix International Raceway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent low-banked tri-oval race track. The race took the scheduled 312 laps to complete. At race's end, Hendrick Motorsports driver Terry Labonte would manage to dominate the late stages of the race to take his 14th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his third and final victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Roush Racing driver Mark Martin and Morgan–McClure Motorsports driver Sterling Marlin would finish second and third, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1987 Winston Western 500</span> 28th race of the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

The 1987 Winston Western 500 was the 28th and penultimate stock car race of the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season, the eighth and the final race of the 1987 NASCAR Winston West Series, and the 27th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, November 8, 1987, before an audience of 64,500 in Riverside, California, at the short layout of Riverside International Raceway, a 2.62 miles (4.22 km) permanent road course layout at the track. The race took the scheduled 119 laps to complete.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1991 Banquet Frozen Foods 300</span> 12th race of the 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

The 1991 Banquet Frozen Foods 300 was the 12th stock car race of the 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season, the third race of the 1991 NASCAR Winston West Series season, and the third iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 9, 1991, before an audience of 62,000 at the Grand Prix layout of Sears Point Raceway, a 2.52 miles (4.06 km) permanent road course layout. The race took the scheduled 74 laps to complete. In the final laps of the race, Robert Yates Racing driver Davey Allison, with the assist of a late-race penalty on leader Ricky Rudd, would manage to comeback from a late-race spin to take his tenth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second victory of the season. To fill out the top three, the aforementioned Ricky Rudd and Penske Racing South driver Rusty Wallace would finish second and third, respectively.

The NASCAR Winston Cup Series era was the period of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) from 1971 to 2003. In 1971, NASCAR leased its naming rights to the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company who named the series after its premier brand "Winston". The series was referred to as the NASCAR Winston Cup Series from that point forward. Many view the changes that resulted from RJR's involvement in the series as well as from the reduction in schedule from 48 to 31 races per year established 1972 as a time in which NASCAR entered the "modern era" of spectator sports. During this era, NASCAR experienced a significant rise in popularity that persisted until Winston left the sport after the 2003 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Watkins Glen</span> NASCAR truck race at Watkins Glen International

The United Rentals 176 at The Glen was a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series racing event at the Watkins Glen International road course in Watkins Glen, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1997 Goody's Headache Powder 500 (Bristol)</span> 22nd race of the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

The 1997 Goody's Headache Powder 500 was the 22nd stock car race of the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 37th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, August 23, 1997, in Bristol, Tennessee at Bristol Motor Speedway, a 0.533 miles (0.858 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. In the final laps of the race, Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would manage to take the lead with 30 laps to go and pull away to take his 12th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his fourth of the season. To fill out the top three, Roush Racing driver Mark Martin and Donlavey Racing driver Dick Trickle would finish second and third, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1995 Dura Lube 500</span> 30th race of the 1995 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

The 1995 Dura Lube 500 was the 30th and penultimate stock car race of the 1995 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, the 15th and final race of the 1995 NASCAR Winston West Series, and the eighth iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, October 29, 1995, in Avondale, Arizona at Phoenix International Raceway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent low-banked tri-oval race track. The race took the scheduled 312 laps to complete. On the final restart with six to go, Ricky Rudd, driving for his own Rudd Performance Motorsports team, would manage to defend the field to take his 16th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series season, his only victory of the season, and with the win, maintaining a streak of 13 straight seasons with a victory. To fill out the top three, Bobby Allison Motorsports driver Derrike Cope and Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would finish second and third, respectively.

The 1972 NASCAR Winston West Series was the 19th season of the series. The title was won by Ray Elder, his fourth in succession.

References

  1. Glattke, Art (January 11, 1971). "Ray Elder Captures Riverside 500 Miler". The Fresno Bee . p. 17. Retrieved December 1, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Jack McCoy Captures Orange 400". The Sun . March 8, 1971. p. 25. Retrieved December 1, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Ray Elder Routs Stock Car Drivers". Los Angeles Times . June 6, 1971. p. 57. Retrieved December 1, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Elder Nabs 9th Win". The Modesto Bee . September 13, 1971. p. 7. Retrieved December 1, 2024 via Newspapers.com.