1986 - Scarborough Notches Record Win in Little 500

 

Dave Scarborough pops the champagne after winning the Little 500 sprint car classic.

Anderson, Ind. (May 24, 1986) – Dave Scarborough ran away with an easy victory in the 38th annual Little 500 sprint car classic Saturday night at Anderson Speedway, winning by a record margin of 21 laps over runner-up Bob Frey.

The fastest field in the history of the event took the opening green flag in the traditional 11 rows of three starting format. Frank Riddle, who set a four-lap record of 47.255 seconds in qualifying, took the early lead.

Riddle stayed in front before Jeff Palms took over on the 16th circuit. Palms dominated the race until Bob Seelman gained control on lap 44. Seelman, who had moved up from his 13th starting position, then began putting some distance between himself and Scarborough, who had passed Palms for second.

On lap 84, the most serious accident of the night occurred when the engine blew on Jim Childers’ mount as he entered turn one, dumping oil on the track. Robert Smith spun sideways trying to avoid the oil and slammed the outside wall, his car bursting into flames instantly. Smith bailed out of his car as it came to a stop and was taken to a local hospital before being transferred to an Indianapolis hospital with second and third-degree burns.

Seelman continued his charge until lap 95 when Scarborough took over for the next 100 circuits. The next yellow flew on lap 195 and when action resumed, Seelman grabbed the pacesetting duties once again and led until differential problems slowed him on lap 258. Scarborough inherited the lead after that and led the final 242 rounds around the high-banked quarter-mile asphalt to easily take the checkered.

Gary Schlafer put on a late charge in the last 50 laps to close within one lap of second-place Frey.

“This is a dream come true,” said the 49-year-old Scarborough. “I’ve wanted so much to win this race before I retired.”

The victory earned the Brookville, Fla., driver $12,000 while Frey earned $6,000 and Schlafer collected $3,000.


Results –

1. Dave Scarborough, Brookville, Fla.
2. Bob Frey, Glendale, Ariz.
3. Gary Schlafer, Anderson
4. David Smith, Gibsonton, Fla.
5. Hardy Maddox, Seffner, Fla.
6. Jeff Bloom, Kalamazoo, Mich.
7. Gary Landon, Freeport, Mich.
8. Tom Marks, Grand Rapids, Mich.
9. Tray House, Chesterfield
10.Bob Seelman, Lansing, Mich.