Source: “Rutherford Road Races To First,” by Dave Overpeck, Indianapolis Star, July 14, 1980

Photo: Rutherford’s championship car from 1980.

A hot track, a race of attrition, and off-track turmoil didn’t stop Johnny Rutherford from taking his first road race victory at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in the Red Roof Inns 250 on July 13, 1980. Driving a Chaparral prepared by Jim Hall, Rutherford led the last 19 laps. taking the lead when Rick Mears, who had led for 32 laps, spun in turn 12. as the heat caused him to lose focus. Eight laps later, Mears collided with the spinning car of Rick Muther.

Rutherford and Mears had the best duel of the day. Rutherford passed Mears, only to lose the lead on the same lap.

” I passed him once off the long (3,000-foot) straightaway, but then I went wide on a turn and he went back around me,” said Rutherford.

Coming on the heels of his third win in the Indianapolis 500, Rutherford beat Gordon Johncock by 23 seconds in a race where only seven cars were running at the finish. Roger Rager, the last car running was eight laps behind. Vern Schuppan. credited with fifth place, ran out of fuel just before the finish. Pole sitter Al Unser had suspension problems and retired on lap 27.

Four drivers- Sheldon Kinser, John Wood, Tim Richmond, and Danny Ongais- did not complete a lap, and Gary Bettenhausen and John Mahler completed fewer than 10 laps.

Rutherford averaged 86.601 mph for the 65 lap race, which was witnessed by 45,00 spectators.

The race was the final race of the season for USAC. Rutherford easily won the championship over Tom Sneva. The rival CART series had seven more races scheduled, and Rutherford won that championship also.

The split between USAC and Cart had created a temporary organization, The Championship racing League, to form. It did not last long.

The hangup seemed to be IMS president John Cooper, who had not decided which sanctioning body the Speedway would recognize. Both groups were in a sort of limbo.

Despite the off-track wrangling, Mid Ohio put on a good race, and IndyCar has returned every year with the exceptions of 1981 and 1982 and 2004-2006. Sunday’s race will be the 42nd IndyCar race at Mid -Ohio.