Jim
McWithey won the rain-shortened USAC sprint car feature at the Vigo County
Fairgrounds. – Ken Coles Photo
Terre Haute, Ind. (August 16, 1959) - Jim McWithey of Anderson, Ind., who finished the Indianapolis 500 Classic this year as a rookie driver, won the feature Sunday afternoon at the Vigo Fairgrounds in a race that was cut short by rain.
The victory slowed down Don Branson of Urbana, Ill., who was seeking his eighth victory in nine starts on the USAC Midwest circuit. Branson finished fourth behind McWithey, Tommy Hinnershitz of Oley, Penn., and Ed Elisian of Oakland, Calif.
The 30-lap feature was first stalled on the 16th lap by an accident, and then two laps later the cars were called off the track for good when a downpour started.
An accident midway through the running of the 30-lap feature sent Jud Larson of Tampa, Fla., to the hospital suffering minor injuries, and the crackup forced a restart of the race with the drivers lining up in the same position in which they were running when the red light went on.
Larson, a veteran of sprint, midget and Indianapolis 500 competition, clipped a car hastily abandoned by Bill Brown, who lost control coming out of turn two. After Brown’s car spun and brushed the guard rail, he scrambled free from the car and hastily vaulted over the outside guard rail.
Almost at the same time, Larson smacked into the Offy Brown was driving. Larson was taken to an area hospital where he was treated for minor injuries and released.
After a delay of about ten minutes the race was re started and two more laps were run before a downpour of rain swept the track and the drivers were flagged in.
McWithey established himself early in the race as the man to beat. And soon the interest turned to the duel for second place. As McWithey opened up a lead, first Hinnershitz and Branson dueled for second place and later Hinnershitz and Larson.
After the race restarted and with Larson out of the running, Elisian was the main challenger for two laps before the rain hit.
Because of multiple restarts, no time was given.
McWithey’s victory was his first in a feature race here, but not the first time he had shown the crowd some daring and fine driving. McWithey holds the track record for eight laps at 3 minutes and 16 seconds.
Branson, who posted the best qualifying time at 23.88 seconds, added to his take-home pay by winning the first 8-lapper. McWithey was second and Elisian was third; and the time was 3 minutes and 22 seconds.
Hinnershitz had the crowd on its feet in the second 8-lapper when he seized the lead before a lap had been completed. The time was 3 minutes and 17 seconds.
Packard also got a big hand from the crowd for winning the third heat race. Starting in the rear row, Packard worked his way through the field and got the checkered flag over Bobby Grim of Indianapolis, and Duman. The time was 3 minutes and 17 seconds despite the fact the yellow flag was out for one lap.
The rainstorm that bobtailed the 30-lap feature also washed out the semi feature. Race officials had planned to run the semi-feature last in order to get the 30-lapper run before another shower struck. Rain shortly after 12 o’clock caused a delay in the qualifications and it was nearly 3 o’clock before the first heat race was ready to go on but once the program started, track officials ran the program off with a minimum of delay.
Results –
1. Jim McWithey, Anderson
2. Tommy Hinnershitz, Oley, Penn.
3. Ed Elisian, Oakland, Calif.
4. Don Branson, Champaign, Ill.
5. Eddie Sachs, Center Valley, Penn.
6. Lee Caldwell, Perrysburg, Ohio
7. Jim Packard, Indianapolis
8. Ronnie Duman, Roseville, Mich.
9. Leon Clum, Duchouquet, Ohio
10.Bud Tingelstad, Dayton, Ohio
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