{{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.<ref name=":0">{{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}}</ref>
== Early life == Sessions was born in Nashville, Michigan.<ref name=":0" />
== Career == Sessions 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 fourth position on seven 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. 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.<ref name=":0" /> He was posthumously inducted into the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1982.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
==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 |}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sessions, Allen Dale}} Category:1935 births Category:1977 deaths Category:Indianapolis 500 drivers Category:People from Barry County, Michigan Category:Racing drivers from Michigan Category:A. J. Foyt Enterprises drivers Category:Sports deaths in Minnesota Category:20th-century American sportsmen
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