Sandlapper 200 August 27, 1971

Sandlapper 200

Columbia Speedway

Friday, August 27, 1971

Race #14 of the 1971 season brought the Grand American Challenge Series to Columbia South Carolina for the Sandlapper 200. It was the third combination event that included Grand National cars and Grand American cars. Thus far it was a 1-1 tie with the Grand American and Grand National cars both winning once. Originally scheduled to be run on Thursday night rain halted the event after qualifying. Richard Petty put his GN Plymouth on the pole with H.B. Bailey outside in a GA Firebird. Grand American regulars Tiny Lund and Jim Paschal made up row two with Wayne Andrews in a GA Mustang and James Hylton in a GN Ford in row three. In row four were Bill Shirey in a GN Plymouth and Buck Baker in a GA Firebird. Rounding out the top ten were Cecil Gordon in a GN Mercury and Elmo Langley in a GN Ford.

Petty led the 30 car field into turn one but the caution was quickly displayed as Ron Keselowski crashed before completing a lap. Bailey beat Petty back to the line and held Richard off for several laps after the field went back to green before Petty claimed the top spot on lap 12. Jim Paschal moved his Javelin into the lead after 51 laps just before Bailey spun his Firebird in turn one and got into the wall on lap 55. Paschal was out front for 15 laps before Petty retook the lead which he held until Tiny Lund put is Camaro out front on lap 124. J.D. McDuffie crashed on lap 162 allowing everyone to pit under caution. Lund held the lead until lap 187 when Petty muscled his way under Lund going into turn 3 taking the top spot he would hold until the end. Lund saw Petty take the checkers as he came off turn 4 on the 200^th lap with Paschal coming home third the last car on the lead lap.

Petty collected $1,500 for the win before a crowd of 8,000 excited fans. There were 6 cautions for 41 laps with 17 cars running at the finish. Only 8 of the 30 starters were Grand American competitors.

Fin. St. Driver # Car Laps Status

1 1 Richard Petty 43 70 Plymouth 200 Running

2 3 Tiny Lund 55 69 Camaro 200 Running

3 4 Jim Paschal 14 70 Javelin 200 Running

4 6 James Hylton 48 70 Ford 197 Running

5 21 Jabe Thomas 25 70 Plymouth 196 Running

6 5 Wayne Andrews 15 71 Mustang 196 Running

7 10 Elmo Langley 64 71 Ford 194 Running

8 14 Walter Ballard 30 71 Ford 193 Running

9 11 Randy Hutchison 2 69 Camaro 193 Running

10 23 Ken Meisenhelder 41 69 Chevy 190 Running

11 18 Bill Champion 10 70 Ford 189 Running

12 12 Wendell Scott 34 69 Ford 186 Running

13 9 Cecil Gordon 24 69 Mercury 182 Running

14 13 John Sears 4 69 Dodge 179 Running

15 30 Bill Seifert 45 69 Ford 179 Running

16 7 Bill Shirey 74 69 Plymouth 178 Running

17 8 Buck Baker 87 71 Firebird 165 Running

18 15 Jimmy Vaughn 7 69 Camaro 162 Wreck

19 24 J. D. McDuffie 70 69 Mercury 159 Wreck

20 20 Frank Warren 79 69 Dodge 152 Steering

21 25 Ed Negre 8 69 Ford 143 Ignition

22 19 Ernie Shaw 17 68 Mustang 109 Clutch

23 26 D. K. Ulrich 40 70 Ford 68 Brakes

24 2 H.B. Bailey 36 71 Firebird 55 Wreck

25 29 Bobby Mausgrover 86 69 Dodge 51 Hub

26 17 Earl Brooks 26 69 Ford 21 Heating

27 28 Richard Childress 96 70 Chevy 17 Heating

28 16 Henley Gray 19 69 Ford 12 Engine

29 27 Marvin Acton 32 70 Plymouth 11 Ignition

30 22 Ron Keselowski 62 71 Dodge 0 Wreck

This turned out to be the last Grand National race ever held at Columbia Speedway.

updated by @dennis-andrews: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

Thanks for posting Dennis i was at that race

How was it, Leon? Any memories to share that Dennis didn't already mention?

Pretty neat how cars with such stark differences were able to run together on the same track like this. Also odd that Ron Keselowski, Elmo Langley, and Walter Ballard were the only drivers running '71 GN cars with Wayne Andrews, Buck Baker, and H.B. Bailey being the only '71 GA cars. Was the '71 GN Plymouth a turd and hence why Richard is in a '70? Or did they already know about the schedule crunch coming in '72 and decided it wasn't worth the cost of a new car?

Excellent post Dennis. I was at that race as well and enjoyed watching the two divisions racing together. Along with Richard, I was pulling for almost all the other drivers in the race because by that time of my life, I was connected, in one way or another, with almost every driver on the circuit because I was always there. I remember how excitedly happy Jabe Thomas was with a top five.

To answer Alex's question, Richard often ran a year old car on the short tracks to save his new equipment.

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What a change! It's been awhile since I've checked in and I'm quite surprised. It may take me awhile to figure it our but first look it's really great.