Sammy Sessions

{{Short description|American racing driver}}{{More citations needed|date=May 2024}}{{Infobox racing driver

|name = Sammy Sessions

|nationality = {{flagicon|USA}} American

|birth_date = {{Birth date|1935|9|10|df=y}}

|birth_place = Nashville, Michigan, United States

|birth_name = Allen Dale Sessions

|death_date = {{Death date and age|1977|12|17|1935|9|10|df=y}}

|death_place = Alexandria, Minnesota, United States

}}

Allen Dale "Sammy" Sessions (September 10, 1935 – December 17, 1977) was an American race car driver. In 1972, he finished 4th in the Indianapolis 500 and won the USAC division title.{{Cite news |date=December 19, 1977 |title=USAC Vet Sessions Killed in Snowmobile |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-usac-vet-sessions-killed/147096328/ |access-date=2024-05-11 |work=The Star Press |location=Muncie, Indiana |agency=United Press International}}

Early life

Sessions was born in Nashville, Michigan.

Career

He drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1965-1975 seasons with 62 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1968-1973 and 1975. He finished in the top ten 21 times, with his best finish in 4th position on 7 occasions.

Based on information in "Donald Davidson's Indianapolis 500 Mile Race Annual 1974," Sessions was not given a chance to qualify for the 1974 Indy 500. Because of the "fuel crisis," Qualifications were cut to two days in 1974. May 11 was a short day of qualifying due to weather; on May 18 qualifications began about 15 minutes late due to administrative delays. Sam Sessions was at the line with engine running on May 18 when 6PM arrived. There were thirty-three cars in the field, but not everyone who entered in 1974 had a chance to qualify.

Sessions was also the 1972 USAC Sprint Car Series Champion.

Death and legacy

Sessions died in a snowmobile racing accident on the big half-mile oval in Alexandria, Minnesota. He was posthumously inducted into the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1982.{{Cite news |last=Singler |first=John |date=September 15, 1982 |title=Mears can clinch national title Sunday in Wisconsin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-mears-can-clinch-n/147098023/ |access-date=2024-05-11 |work=Battle Creek Enquirer |via=Newspapers.com}}

Indianapolis 500 results

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
Year ! Chassis ! Engine ! Start ! Finish
1966 \| Ward \| Offy \| Failed to Qualify \|
1967 \| Horton \| Ford \| Failed to Qualify \|
1968 \| Finley \| Offy \| 31st \| 9th
1969 \| Finley \| Offy \| 23rd \| 12th
1970 \| Vollstedt \| Ford \| 32nd \| 12th
1971 \| Lola \| Ford \| 25th \| 27th
1972 \| Lola \| Foyt \| 24th \| 4th
1973 \| Eagle \| Foyt \| 32nd \| 28th
1974 \| Eagle \| Chevrolet \| Failed to Qualify \|
1975 \| Eagle \| Offy \| 25th \| 17th

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"

Year

! Chassis

! Engine

! Start

! Finish

1966

| Ward

| Offy

| Failed to Qualify

1967

| Horton