The 1970 USAC National Championship was the premier American open‑wheel racing series, consisting of 18 championship events across paved ovals, road courses, and dirt tracks, plus a non‑championship hill climb at Pikes Peak. The season ran from March 28 to November 21, beginning and ending in Phoenix, Arizona. Notable races included the Indianapolis 500, won by Al Unser, the California 500, won by Jim McElreath, and other major events at Milwaukee, Trenton, Langhorne, and Michigan. This season was historically significant as the last time dirt tracks counted toward the championship, with the series shifting to exclusively paved events the following year.
Al Unser dominated the season, securing 10 race victories and comfortably clinching the championship, ahead of competitors like Bobby Unser, Jim McElreath, Mario Andretti, and A. J. Foyt. The season highlighted a mix of veteran and emerging talent, with Unser’s performance cementing his reputation as one of America’s top drivers. The championship combined strategy, speed, and consistency across a wide variety of tracks, reflecting the diverse challenges of open‑wheel racing at the time and setting the stage for the modern USAC and IndyCar formats.
May 30
