BAMA 200
Talladega Superspeedway
Saturday, August 21, 1971
Race #13 of the 1971 season brought the Grand American Challenge Series to Alabama at the Talladega Superspeedway for the Third Annual Bama 200.
Defending Bama 200 winner Bill Ward was the first entrant for the 1971 event. The Anniston insurance man drove the same Tiger Tom Pistone Mustang he put on the pole last year but it was Bobby Allison in the Melvin Joseph Mustang on the pole this time with a record speed of 172.090 MPH followed by Red Farmer in Jack St.Clairs Mustang at 170.452 MPH. Wayne Andrews qualified 3 rd at 169.853 MPH in Reid Shaws Mustang with Gary Myers posting a speed of 167.685 MPH in his Mustang to start 4 th . Buck Baker posted the 5 th fastest speed at 165.437 MPH in a Firebird while Harry Gailey was next in another Mustang at 165.644 MPH.
At the drop of the green flag the field was barely up to speed when the first caution came out when Paul Gray blew an engine resulting in contact with the outside wall and Bobby Fleming spinning in the oil laid down and taking a hard hit into an inside wall ending his day.
When the green came back out Allison held the top spot thru lap 21 with Farmer right on his bumper with Andrews close behind. Farmer took the lead for four laps before Allison moved back to the point. Farmers day ended on lap 29 when he lost an engine. Harry Gailey spun in Farmers oil and hit the first turn wall bringing out the second caution. When the green came back out on lap 34 after pit stops under caution it was Andrews at the front for three laps before Allison took the lead with Waynes temperature gauge slowly rising. He held on to Allisons draft for several laps before having to pit to clean the oil dry from the grill of his Mustang. Returning to the track a lap down he was able to catch Allison and pass him to get back on the lead lap. From there to the finish Allison rode the draft of Andrews to take the win. It was the second 1971 Grand American win for Allison, the first being the GN/GA combination race at Bowman-Gray. For Andrews it was almost a replay of the first GA race at Talladega but then it was the Grand Touring division and it was the Bama 400 where he lost a lap in the pits but rebounded by chasing down and passing the leader, Ken Rush, only to have him catch his draft to the checkers.
Allison collected $3,300 for the win. There were 2 cautions for 12 laps.
Fin.St. Driver # Car Laps Status
1 1 Bobby Allison 49 70 Mustang 76 Running
2 3 Wayne Andrews 15 71 Mustang 76 Running
3 4 Gary Myers 41 70 Mustang Running
4 E. J. Trivette 56 68 Camaro Running
5 Jimmy Vaughn 7 69 Camaro Running
6 Gene Parsons 42 68 Camaro Running
7 Joe Dean Huss 33 68 Camaro Running
8 Stan Starr Jr. 9 71 Camaro Running
9 Dick Brooks 95 69 Camaro Running
10 Phil Kendrick 66 68 Camaro Running
11 Tiny Lund 55 71 Camaro 66 Running
12 David Boggs 86 71 Firebird Running
13 Bob Williams 76 70 Mustang Running
14 Jim Hailey 4 69 Camaro Running
15 Ron Trout 29 68 Cougar Running
16 Bobby Brewer 19 69 Camaro Running
17 Jimmy Lee Capps 90 68 Camaro Engine
18 C. B. Gwyn 04 68 Cougar Running
19 2 Red Farmer 98 69 Mustang 29 Engine
20 6 Harry Gailey 43 68 Mustang 29 Wreck
21 Ernie Shaw 17 68 Mustang
22 Bobby Brack 75 68 Camaro
23 Paul Tyler 79 69 Camaro
24 5 Buck Baker 87 71 Firebird 22 Ignition
25 Billy Hagan 52 69 Camaro
26 Bill Ward 59 68 Mustang 12 Valve
27 Al Straub 74 71 Mustang
28 Paul Gray 78 70 Cougar 1 Engine
29 Bobby Fleming 54 69 Camaro 1 Wreck
30 Phil Gibson 60 68 Camaro
Jim Paschal did not make the race after blowing an engine in morning practice. Bill Wards car failed to fire on the grid and did not get going until the parade laps were under way. His engine only lasted 12 laps. Bobby Fleming went to the hospital for a shoulder x-ray that came back negative.
Buck Baker was leading the points coming into the race but his early exit in the Bama 200 allowed Tiny Lund to take over the top spot by 4 points. Wayne Andrews was third, Bob Williams fourth, Jimmy Vaughn fifth, David Boggs sixth, Ernie Shaw seventh, Al Straub eighth, Bobby Fleming ninth and Bobby Brewer tenth.
#49 Bobby Allison, #98 Red Farmer and #15 Wayne Andrews on the grid.
updated by @dennis-andrews: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
