PAST COLUMNS
Click Here

Email Us

1973 Lancaster Speedway Gallery 200 to Troyer Conspiracy or sour grapes?

(Sept. 15, 1973) – The 1973 Lancaster Speedway season came to a close on Sunday, Sept. 16, as Rochester-based Gallery of Homes sponsored the Gallery 200 for Modifieds.  An announced crowd of 3,800 was on hand to see a handful of invaders take on Lancaster's local drivers.  Conspicuous in their absence were Richie Evans and Jerry Cook, both locked in a battle for the '73 NASCAR Modified point title.

The day began with time trials and Roger Treichler of Sanborn claimed the pole (and a whopping $25 bonus) with a lap of 18.49 sec. (97 mph) around the half-mile oval.  Maynard Troyer of Rochester (Spencerport, N.Y.) grabbed the outside front row-starting berth with a time of 19.51 sec.  Here is where the controversy begins.  While certainly not wishing to rain on Mr. Troyer's victory, what happened next raised more than one eyebrow on the property.  Maynard brought two near-identical, immaculate Pinto Modifieds to the race.  From the grandstands, the only way to tell them apart was by the size of the checkered flags which flanked the silver foil numerals on each side of his car.  One car was referred to as the "big flags car," the other the "small flags car."  I was working at the track that year, selling programs and Gater News.  I recall a big fuss after time trials and consolation races were completed (won by Steve Fleischer and Dave Cramer) because Troyer allegedly was having trouble with the engine in the car he had qualified.  After some deliberation, we're told, Troyer was allowed to start the other car, which had not been qualified (and by the rules, was not eligible).  It certainly would not do to have one of the track's biggest draws not make the race.

Before I continue, I should mention that I consulted with another columnist who was there that day, and he recalls the incident either actually may have taken place, or was simply "sour grapes" by drivers who wanted to see Troyer (who had won three times at Lancaster in '73) out of the race.  You have to remember that a terrific Buffalo vs. Rochester rivalry was brewing, and the fact that a Buffalo track was now owned by a Rochester company only served to heave more logs upon the bonfire.  There also was a perception that Troyer was a "big-money driver," since the former NASCAR Grand National driver's show-quality Fords were sponsored by a car dealership and no expense was spared.  Did the Rochester company allow "their boy" to break the rules and enter an ineligible car?  Or was this simply grousing from drivers who didn't make the 32-car cut?  To compound the problem, racing trade papers (not wishing to anger advertisers) in those days downplayed (and sometimes outright ignored) the slightest controversies.  If anyone remembers clearly, I'd certainly like to hear from them – and I'm sure I'll hear opinions on both sides of the story.

Roger Treichler grabbed the lead at the drop of the opening green flag and led the first 100 laps.

John McDonald brought out the first caution flag of the race on lap 7 when he blew his engine in Turn 1.  The second caution flag flew soon after, on lap 13, when Rick Thorpe spun his coupe in Turn 2 and collected Linus Faery's Pinto.  Bill Bitterman, driving a Camaro, was left with nowhere to go and piled on.  Bitterman's Camaro came to rest atop the pile and he was finished for the night.  For Bitterman, it was the end of a frustrating season and he left the disabled car in the infield and never looked back.

Treichler's rear end failed just past the halfway point and Troyer inherited the lead.  Bugs Stevens finished second, followed by 1973 Lancaster champion Ronnie Martin, Merv Treichler and Gary Iulg (aboard Gil Bruss' No. 22 coupe).

Bryan Osgood, the 1971 winner (when the race was known as the Amalie Pro 350) finished 10^th and 1972 winner Bob Santos was 13^th.

The 1973 season was now history.  Only the awards banquet remained, and it was to be held in Rochester.  Track manager Don Botting announced that Richard Petty would be the guest of honor at the fete to be held at Rochester's new Dome Arena at the Henrietta Fairgrounds.  An interesting sidelight to this story is that Petty's No. 43 STP Dodge show car made the trip up north with him.  The car was on display at a Rochester mall and Al Kinney – a Petty Fan Club chapter president – was on hand to help out.  Kinney, who lived up the road from the fairgrounds, was offered the opportunity to steer Petty's car out of the mall after the appearance was completed.  Kinney cranked the wheel as the car was being pushed around a corner, but the Dodge clipped a shoe store and Al had the unenviable task of facing "The King" after denting his stock car.  Petty simply flashed his patented grin and joked, "Don't worry – I'll send you a bill for the collision damage."  Of course, he never did.

1973 Gallery 200 Official Finish

(Prize money does not include contingency awards.)

1. Maynard Troyer – $2,000

2. Bugs Stevens -- $1,200

3. Ron Martin -- $900

4. Merv Treichler -- $800

5. Gary Iulg -- $700

6. Sonny Seamon -- $600

7. Dale Merz -- $450

8. Ron Bouchard -- $350

9. Thort Haag -- $250

10. Bryan Osgood -- $200

11. Dick Emerson -- $190

12. Dave Hafner -- $180

13. Bobby Santos – $175

14. Chuck Boos -- $165

15. Norm Schmidlin -- $155

16. Bill Brainard -- $145

17. Bob Merz -- $135

18. Bob Krull -- $125

19. Kenny Meahl -- $110

20. Linus Faery -- $100

21. Andy Hailey -- $90

22. Jerry Ciancio -- $85

23. Rick Thorpe -- $80

24. Kim Gagliardi -- $75

25. Don Pratt -- $75

26. Gary Cornelius -- $70

27. Steve Fleisher -- $70

28. Roger Treichler -- $65

29. Mark Newton -- $65

30. Dave Cramer -- $60

31. Bill Bitterman -- $60

32. John McDonald -- $60

Did not qualify: Jim Brunt, Bill Urtel, Jim Howard, Dick Kluth.

Season champions: Ron Martin (Modifieds), Ross Holmes (Street Stocks), Ron Burling (Mini-Stocks).