Lee
Osborne is joined by promoter Jack Gunn and USAC official Russ Clendenan after
Osborne won the 40-lap USAC sprint feature at Penn National. – John Mahoney
Photo
Lebanon, Penn. (July 7, 1974) – Lee Osborne highlighted a full weekend of auto racing with an easy victory in the 40-lap United States Auto Club sprint car chase held at Penn National Speedway on Sunday evening.
After roaring to the fastest time in qualifying and a third-place finish at Williams Grove on Saturday night, Osborne returned to his hometown track and routinely packed away his second USAC victory of the season. His initial taste of victory came at Reading earlier in the season.
In no nonsense fashion, Osborne steered his Stauffer Construction Special down the center of the track and watched as each of his toughest competitors dropped out of the race.
Osborne started alongside local favorite Kramer Williamson but charged into the lead on the first turn. George Snider, who established a new track record in qualifying with a time of 24.01 seconds, hotly pursed “Ozzie” until a pileup on lap 14 knocked Snider out of the race and sent Williamson to the back of the pack.
Big time Jan Opperman moved into second place only to drop out five laps later with mechanical difficulties, and then Billy Cassella moved into the runner-up position, only to exit on lap 31 with a blown engine.
Tom Bigelow and Bill Puterbaugh began the battle for second place, but both were nearly five seconds behind a streaking Osborne.
Bigelow grabbed the runner-up spot on the last lap, followed by Puterbaugh, Bruce Walkup and Chuck Gurney.
Snider’s one-lap record broke the old mark of 24.68 seconds set by Larry Dickson two years ago.
Heat winners were Williams, Cassella, and Roger Larson with Osborne also winning the semi-feature.
Results –
1. Lee Osborne
2. Tom Bigelow
3. Bill Puterbaugh
4. Bruce Walkup
5. Chuck Gurney
6. Kramer Williamson
7. Roger Larson
8. Steve Chassey
9. Greg Leffler
10.Benny Rapp
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