Sunday 15th April 1973

A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti drove to victory in twin 150 mile USAC Championship races at Trenton Speedway, New Jersey, ending long winless streaks for both drivers. It was Andretti’s first Champ car win in 3 years while Foyt’s was his first in more than a season. Gordon Johncock won the pole for the races with a 168.434 mph lap, which was noteworthy because it broke Bobby Unser’s streak of 4 straight poles on the on the 1.5 mile kidney shaped track. In race 1, Foyt outpulled Johncock to lead by the end of lap 1. Soon, Unser put Dan Gurney’s Eagle into the lead and began pulling away while Foyt’s engine began “sneezing”. It looked like a runaway for Unser, but, on lap 68, Unser suddenly slowed and came into the pits with a broken gearbox. From there, Johncock, Andretti and Foyt contended for the win. Andretti was leading when the turbocharger and handling went sour on his Offenhauser powered Parnelli. Foyt went by and went on to the win ahead of Johncock and Billy Vukovich. Foyt’s first Champ car win since Phoenix in October 1971 came driving with a bad back. Foyt, who originally injured his back in a 1965 Stock Car crash at Riverside, re-injured himself doing chores on his Texas ranch. It was Foyt’s 9th Trenton win, but first since the tracks 1969 re-configuration. After a 1 hour, 20 minute break to allow teams to make repairs, the second 150 took to the track with 19 of the 24 race 1 starters and an alternate making the parade lap. As the pace car pulled off, Gurney’s crew fired up Unser’s Eagle and Bobby roared off 1/2 lap behind the field. Johncock got by Foyt in turn 1 to take the lead, but then fell behind Foyt, Vukovich and Andretti, retiring after 2 laps with a broken valve. Andretti pulled a neat manuever coming on to the front straight to take the lead. Shortly afterwards, Vukovich pulled under Andretti to re-take the lead. B. Unser had charged to 5th by lap 20 and to 3rd by lap 70 when smoke began pouring from the Eagle. 4 laps later, Unser parked with a broken piston. A struggling Foyt retired after dropping a valve 88 laps in. Andretti went on to take the win ahead of Vukovich’s Eagle-Offy and Parnelli “super team” teammate Al Unser. Andretti’s win broke a nearly 3 year drought, his last Champ car win having come on the Continental Divide Raceway road course in July 1970 and also was his 4th Trenton win.