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| {{InfoboxLost
| | #REDIRECT [[1972 USAC Championship Car Season (partially found footage of IndyCar races; 1972)]] |
| |title=<center>1972 Rex Mays Classic</center>
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| |image=1972rexmaysclassic1.jpg
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| |imagecaption=Program for the race.
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| |status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
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| }}
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| The '''''1972 Rex Mays Classic''''' (also known as the '''''1972 Milwaukee 150''''') was the fourth race of the 1972 USAC Championship Car Season. Occurring on 4th June at the Milwaukee Mile, the race would ultimately be won by polesitter Bobby Unser in an Eagle-Offenhauser, who dominated proceedings after having led 135 of the 150 laps.
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| ==Background==
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| The ''1972 Rex Mays Classic'' was the 23rd running of the race, the annual event being held in honour of Rex Mays, a two-time AAA champion who saved fellow racer Duke Dinsmore's life during the 1948 Milwaukee 100.<ref>[https://www.mshf.com/hall-of-fame/inductees/rex-mays.html ''Motorsports Hall of Fame'' detailing how the race was renamed in honour of Rex Mays.] Retrieved 14th May '22</ref> It was one of two 1972 USAC Championship Car Season races to be held at Milwaukee Mile,<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/1972/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the 1972 USAC Championship Car Season schedule.] Retrieved 14th May '22</ref> the other being the 1972 Tony Bettenhausen 200, which occurred on 13th August and was won by Joe Leonard in an Parnelli-Offenhauser.<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1972_Tony_Bettenhausen_200/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the results of the 1972 Tony Bettenhausen 200.] Retrieved 14th May '22</ref> Lasting 150 miles,<ref name="results">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1972_Rex_Mays_Classic/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the qualifying and race results of the event.] Retrieved 14th May '22</ref> the Rex May Classic would commence on an annual basis until it was renamed from 1988 onwards.<ref>[https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/milwaukee-mile_rex-mays-classic-150.27745/ ''Race Department'' noting the Rex May Classic name lasted from 1950 to 1987.] Retrieved 14th May '22</ref>
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| Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Bobby Unser winning the pole position with a record speed of 126.064 mph.<ref name="qualifying">[https://www.nytimes.com/1972/06/04/archives/bobby-unser-wins-pole-in-rex-mays-classic-10-drivers-break.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on Unser winning the pole position.] Retrieved 14th May '22</ref><ref name="nyt">[https://www.nytimes.com/1972/06/05/archives/bobby-unser-wins-150-in-wisconsin-captures-rex-mays-classic-at.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on Unser winning the race.] Retrieved 14th May '22</ref><ref name="results"/> Such was the performance of the competition that Unser was among ten drivers who broke his previous track record of 122.291 mph.<ref name="qualifying"/> Directly behind him were fellow Eagle-Offenhauser drivers Jerry Grant and Billy Vukovich Jr., in second and third respectively.<ref name="qualifying"/><ref name="results"/>
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| ==The Race==
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| With the starting order decided, the 1972 Rex Mays Classic commenced on 4th June.<ref name="results"/> Unser maintained his lead from the start, leading the first 45 laps.<ref name="results"/> On lap 40, Gerhardt-Offenhauser's Johnny Rutherford crashed out, the impact causing the vehicle to catch fire.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> Rutherford's overalls caught fire, and he suffered first degree burns to his hands and feet, but was otherwise fortune to escape further injuries.<ref name="nyt"/> Meanwhile the race was red-flagged for 47 minutes so that the inferno could be safely tackled, leaking fuel causing the fire to spread down the backing of the turn.<ref name="nyt"/>
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| During the caution period beforehand, Grant assumed the lead briefly after Unser pitted, before making a pitstop himself that allowed Parnelli-Offenhauser driver Mario Andretti to lead on the restart on lap 48.<ref name="results"/> He maintained it until lap 61, before Unser retook the first position.<ref name="results"/> From there, Unser dominated the remaining 90 laps, lapping the field bar three competitors.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> With pre-race favourite Grant having retired after 86 laps because of a broken turbocharger, it enabled Unser to cross the line with a 4.1 second margin to claim victory and $15,830 in prize money.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> The McLaren-Offenhausers of Mark Donohue and Gary Bettenhausen finished second and third respectively.<ref name="results"/><ref name="nyt"/>
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| ==Availability==
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| According to ''IndyCar on TV'', the race received live flag-to-flag coverage by the TVS Television Network, the network syndicating sports programs to 185 television stations.<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/indycarontv/home/the-races/usac/1972/1972-rex-mays-classic ''IndyCar on TV'' detailing the TVS Television Network broadcast of the race.] Retrieved 14th May '22</ref><ref name="qualifying"/> But of twelve IndyCar races to have been televised by TVS, none are currently publicly available. Nevertheless, some home movie footage of the race can be viewed online.
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| ==Gallery==
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| ===Videos===
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| {{Video|perrow =2
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| |service1 =youtube
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| |id1 =gZOnJSD4Rao
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| |description1 =Silent footage of the event.
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| |service2 =youtube
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| |id2 =IY2TffzYa-0
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| |description2 =''nascarman History'''s Top 10 Lost IndyCar Broadcasts detailing TVS Television Network's IndyCar broadcasts (0:20-0:59).
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| }}
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| ===Image===
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| <gallery mode=packed heights=300px>
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| 1972rexmaysclassic2.jpg|Bobby Unser (6) and Jerry Grant (48) leading the field for the start.
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| </gallery>
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| ==See Also==
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| *[[1968 Tony Bettenhausen 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1968)]]
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| *[[1969 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)]]
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| *[[1970 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1971 Rex Mays Classic (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1981 Pocono 500 (lost televised footage of IndyCar race; 1981)]]
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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:Partially found media]]
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