1978 USAC Mini-Indy Series season

The 1978 USAC Mini Indy Series season was the second season of the USAC sanctioned Formula Super Vee championship.

1978 USAC Mini Indy Series season
Previous: 1977 Next: 1979

Race calendar and results
RoundCircuitLocationDatePole positionFastest lapWinnerHeadline event
1[1]Phoenix International Raceway Avondale, Arizona18 March Fred Phillips Tim RichmondJimmy Bryan 150
2[2]Trenton International Speedway Trenton, New Jersey12 April Bill Alsup John WoodGabriel 200
3[3]Mosport International Raceway Bowmanville, Ontario11 June Bill Alsup Bill AlsupMolson Diamond Indy
4[4]The Milwaukee Mile West Allis, Wisconsin18 June William Henderson William HendersonRex Mays 150
5[5]Texas World Speedway College Station, Texas6 August Harry MacDonald Harry MacDonaldTexas Grand Prix
6[6]The Milwaukee Mile West Allis, Wisconsin20 August Dennis Firestone Dennis FirestoneTony Bettenhausen 200
7[7]Ontario Motor Speedway Ontario, California2 September Dennis Firestone Bill AlsupCalifornia 500
8[8] Tommy Thompson Dennis Firestone
9[9]Trenton International Speedway Trenton, New Jersey23 September Dennis Firestone Geoff BrabhamMachinist Union 150
10[10]Phoenix International Raceway Avondale, Arizona28 October Kevin Cogan Kevin CoganMiller High Life Bobby Ball 150

Teams and drivers
No.DriverOwnerCarEngineNote
2 Herm JohnsonAustin JohnsonLolaVolkswagen
3 Fred PhillipsCitation EngineeringZinkVolkswagen
10 Dennis FirestoneCrosslé Cars PacificMarchVolkswagen
12 Dick FergusonRace Research Inc.Volkswagen
19 John KalagianBeth ArdisanaLynxVolkswagen
29 Pete HalsmerSimpson RacersLolaVolkswagen
37 Nancy JamesCitation EngineeringZinkVolkswagen
38 Desiré WilsonCitation EngineeringZinkVolkswagen
39 Richard TallonRichard TallonLolaVolkswagen
41 Bill AlsupWilliam Alsup, Jr.ArgoVolkswagen
42 Harry MacDonaldHCM RacingRaltVolkswagen
43 John WoodBill Scott RacingVolkswagen
45 William HendersonBertil Racing EnginesLolaVolkswagen
46 Stuart MooreJanet MooreLolaVolkswagen
48 Dan ParkWREP IndustriesVolkswagen
50 Tommy ThompsonBlack American RacersLolaVolkswagenThompson died from injuries sustained in a crash in the ninth round of the championship
55 Geoff BrabhamDavid PsachieRaltVolkswagen
60 Bob CicconiLou CicconiLolaVolkswagen
70 Syd DemovskySyd DemovskyLolaVolkswagen
77 Bryan JohnsonFitzpatrick Racing EnterprisesVolkswagen
82 Kevin CoganRalt American Ltd.RaltVolkswagen
94 John SiskAspen RacingWheelerVolkswagen
97 Gary BettenhausenAmerican Eagle RacingLolaVolkswagen
98 Tim RichmondSale ChevroletLolaVolkswagen
99 Dave BrunsLinne EnterprisesVolkswagen

Death of Tommy Thompson
See also: Tommy Thompson (racing driver)

African-American racingdriver Tommy Thompson participated in the ninth round of the championship at Trenton International Speedway. On the final lap of the 42-lap race one of the other competitor slowed down. John Barringer had to swerve to avoid contact. However Thompson hit Barringer. Thompson's left front wheel and Barringer's right rear wheel became locked. Both cars hit the wall head-on. Thompsons car was launched over the wall. Both Barringer and Thompson were transported to St. Francis Medical Center. Thompson succumbed to his injuries on 28 September.[11]

Final standings
Color Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green 4th & 5th place
Light Blue 6th–10th place
Dark Blue 11th place or lower
Purple Did not finish
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Brown Withdrawn (Wth)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Blank Did not participate (DNP)
Driver replacement (Rpl)
Injured (Inj)
No race held (NH)
Pos.Driver
PIR1
TRE1
MOS
MIL1
TEX
MIL2
ONT1
ONT2
TRE2
PIR2		Points
1 Bill Alsup212123210124121046
2 Dennis Firestone52432261241162894
3 Harry MacDonaldDNS204312623237831
4 Herm Johnson1651427552235773
5 John Wood115243935269674
6 Bob Cicconi2521105276141924506
7 David Bruns264183504
8 Gary Bettenhausen31742279286453
9 Tim Richmond12216794428
10 Ken Nichols474185404
11 Kevin Cogan31340
12 Pete Halsmer49621241510101923318
13 Geoff Brabham1261290
13 Fred Phillips24132225290
15 Tommy Thompson8799814245
16 William Henderson11181224
17 Syd Demovsky8519188208
18 Stuart Moore221163
19 Tom Bagley3140
20 Dan Park1368135
21 George Dyer5111621128
22 Jim Giffin121028613127
23 Michael Yoder7715115
24 John Kalagian27102072199
25 Joe Gimpel, Jr.15111114990
26 Ted Field131619825231189
27 Bill Cruse680
27 Eddie Miller680
29 Bryan Johnson2624257201676
30 John Sisk1281823171875
31 Richard Tallon121192872
32 Dick Simon141282069
33 Bill Follmer760
34 Heinz Snizek850
35 G. Scott Ovel91445
36 Butch Meyer182816171712122741
37 Dick Ferguson2413251040
37 Larry Skipsey111140
39 Rich Vogler221033
39 Benny Scott1620171133
41 Bill Simpson1030
41 Domenick Billera1030
43 Gary Passon13DNS15122028
44 Doug Clark142713t 15241525
45 Mike Frangkiser111924
46 Roy Kischell172828171617
47 Phil Caliva15211313
47 Bobby Unser, Jr.2219202613
49 Nancy James251212
49 Bob Larson19142412
51 Roger Mears26221510
52 Dennis Blackwell1823289
52 Ron Banks2921199
54 Bert Busby23158
55 Bubby JonesDNS176
55 Tom D'Eath23226
57 John Barringer135
57 Bill Thelander135
57 Gene Romero145
57 Don Schoeny145
57 Greg Atwell165
57 Bill Noble27245
63 Rich Amick174
63 Jan Slesinski174
63 Hank Chapman184
63 Roger Bighouse204
67 Tom Hessert213
67 Bobby Hillin, Jr.233
69 Lou Gigliotti252
69 Bobby Olivero252
69 Elliott Forbes-Robinson262
69 Allan Turner262
69 Desiré Wilson262
69 Howdy Holmes272
69 Denny Moothart272
Mike Randol

References
  1. "Round 1". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  2. "Round 2". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  3. "Round 3". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  4. "Round 4". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  5. "Round 5". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  6. "Round 6". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  7. "Round 7". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  8. "Round 8". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  9. "Round 9". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  10. "Round 10". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  11. "Race driver succumbs to N.J. crash injuries". Baltimore Afro-American. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
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