Thursday 15th July 1971

Richard Petty led all the way in the Islip 250, the final race for NASCAR’s top series at Islip (New York, US) Speedway, in an event shortened by 20 laps because of scoring confusion. Petty started from the pole and led all 230 laps, finishing two laps ahead of Friday Hassler, who posted his career-best finish in second. Elmo Langley was third, six laps down at the end. Seven drivers quit within the first 15 laps after becoming near-instant lap traffic, the result of starting 33 cars on a .2-mile track — the shortest ever to hold a Cup event. The track was later demolished to make room for a cookie factory.