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| {{InfoboxLost
| | #REDIRECT [[1972 USAC Championship Car Season (partially found footage of IndyCar races; 1972)]] |
| |title=<center>1972 Best Western Motels 150</center>
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| |image=1972bestwestern1501.jpg
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| |imagecaption=Program for the race.
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| |status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
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| }}
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| The '''''1972 Best Western Motels 150''''' was the final race of the 1972 USAC Championship Car Season. Occurring on 4th November at the Phoenix International Raceway, the race would ultimately be won by Bobby Unser in an Eagle-Offenhauser, after having led 96 of the 150 laps.
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| ==Background==
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| The ''1972 Best Western Motels 150'' was the 23rd running of the event, with the annual race lasting 150 miles.<ref name="results">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1972_Best_Western_150/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the qualifying and race results of the event.] Retrieved 5th Jun '22</ref> It was one of two 1972 USAC Championship Car Season races to commence at Phoenix International Raceway, the other being the Phoenix 150,<ref name="calendar">[https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/1972/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the 1972 USAC Championship Car Season schedule.] Retrieved 5th Jun '22</ref> [[1972 Phoenix 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)|which occurred on 4th November and was won by Bobby Unser]].<ref name="phoenix">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1972_Jimmy_Bryan_150/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the results of the 1972 Phoenix 150.] Retrieved 5th Jun '22</ref> While renamed to reflect the Best Western Motels sponsorship, the race was still in memory of AAA driver Bobby Ball,<ref name="bobby">[http://www.midwestracingarchives.com/2019/01/the-bobby-ball-memorial.html ''Midwest Racing Archives'' detailing the origins of the Bobby Ball race.] Retrieved 5th Jun '22</ref> The race has ties with Phoenix events like the Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix, before Phoenix races were dropped from the IndyCar schedule after 2018 following low attendance.<ref>[https://eu.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/2018/06/22/indycar-not-return-phoenix-2019/727625002/ ''IndyStar'' reporting on Phoenix races being dropped from the IndyCar schedule after 2018.] Retrieved 5th Jun '22</ref>
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| Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Mark Donohue winning the pole position in a McLaren-Offenhauser with a speed of 141.732 mph.<ref name="results"/> Directly behind him was Parnelli-Offenhauser's Mario Andretti, with Unser lining up third out of 24 competitors.<ref name="results"/> Having won the Phoenix 150, Unser was seeking to achieve a Phoenix double by winning this race.<ref name="phoenix"/>
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| ==The Race==
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| With the starting order decided, the 1972 Best Western 150 commenced on 4th November.<ref name="results"/> Andretti shot into the lead on the first lap, holding it for the first 53 laps.<ref name="results"/> Unser overtook him on lap 54, maintaining the lead for 46 consecutive laps.<ref name="results"/> Meanwhile, polesitter Donohue retired after 90 laps due to a broken turbocharger.<ref name="results"/> Mike Mosley then moved into the first position on lap 100 in an Eagle-Offenhauser, but Unser retook it a lap later.<ref name="results"/> This proved to be the final lead change of the race, with Unser defending the first position for the final 50 laps from Mosley and Andretti to claim the Phoenix double and $9,496 in prize money.<ref name="results"/> Mosley finished second, while Andretti was a lap down in third.<ref name="results"/>
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| ==Availability==
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| According to ''IndyCar on TV'', the race received live flag-to-flag coverage from ABC as part of its ''Wide World of Sports''.<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/indycarontv/home/the-races/usac/1972/1972-best-western-150 ''IndyCar on TV'' detailing the ABC broadcast of the race.] Retrieved 5th Jun '22</ref> The broadcast has yet to resurface however, and no footage of the race is currently publicly available. Nevertheless, photos of the event can be found online.
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| ==Gallery==
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| ===Image===
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| <gallery mode=packed heights=300px>
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| 1972bestwestern1502.jpg|Unser during the race.
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| </gallery>
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| ==See Also==
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| *[[1962 Trenton 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1962)]]
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| *[[1962 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1962)]]
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| *[[1963 Trenton 100 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1963)]]
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| *[[1963 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1963)]]
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| *[[1964 Golden State 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1964)]]
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| *[[1964 Trenton 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1964)]]
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| *[[1965 Golden State 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1965)]]
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| *[[1965 Jimmy Bryan Memorial (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1965)]]
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| *[[1966 Jimmy Bryan Memorial (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1966)]]
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| *[[1966 Trenton 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1966)]]
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| *[[1967 Trenton 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1967)]]
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| *[[1968 Tony Bettenhausen 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1968)]]
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| *[[1968 Trenton 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1968)]]
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| *[[1969 Langhorne 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)]]
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| *[[1969 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)]]
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| *[[1969 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)]]
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| *[[1970 Bobby Ball 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Jimmy Bryan 150 (partially lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Langhorne 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Rocky Mountain 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1971 Bobby Ball 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Jimmy Bryan 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Marlboro 300 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Michigan 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Rex Mays Classic (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Schaefer 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1972 Indianapolis 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Phoenix 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Rex Mays Classic (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Trenton Times 300 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1973 Schaefer 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1973)]]
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| *[[1973 Texas 200 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1973)]]
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| *[[1974 Phoenix 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1974)]]
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| *[[1974 Schaefer 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1974)]]
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| *[[1974 Trentonian 200 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1974)]]
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| *[[1975 Bricklin 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1975 Michigan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1975 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1976 Indianapolis 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Jimmy Bryan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Michigan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Schaefer 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Trenton Times Auto Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1977 American Parts 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Jimmy Bryan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Michigan Grand Prix (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Schaefer 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Texas Grand Prix (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1978 Coors 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
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| *[[1978 Daily Express Indy Silverstone (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
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| *[[1978 Daily Mail Indy Trophy (partially found CBS and BBC One footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
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| *[[1978 Norton Twin 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
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| *[[1979 Arizona Republic / Jimmy Bryan 150 (partially found footage of SCCA/CART IndyCar Series race; 1979)]]
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| *[[1979 California 500 (lost footage of SCCA/CART IndyCar Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1979)]]
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| *[[1979 Gould Grand Prix (lost footage of SCCA/CART IndyCar Series race; 1979)]]
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| *[[1980 Miller High Life 150 (partially found footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
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| *[[1980 Norton Twin 200 (lost footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
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| *[[1980 Primera Copa Mexico 150 (lost footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
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| *[[1980 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (lost footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
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| *[[1981 Kraco Car Stereo 150 (lost CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1981)]]
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| *[[1981 Pocono 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1981)]]
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| *[[1996 Las Vegas 500K (partially lost footage of IRL Season race; 1996)]]
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| *[[Indianapolis 500 WFBM-TV Broadcasts (lost racing footage; 1949-1950)]]
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| *[[Indianapolis 500 MCA closed-circuit broadcasts (partially lost racing footage; 1964-1970)]]
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist}}
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| [[Category:Lost recordings of real incidents]]
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| [[Category:Lost TV]]
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| [[Category:Completely lost media]]
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