Racing History
Racing History
Midget Champ Agabashian Fell Short at Indy
Midget Champ Agabashian Fell Short at Indy
Few in racing have contributed to the sport in a more diverse manner than Levon Fredrick “Freddie” Agabashian. He was an 11-time Indianapolis 500 starter, winner of multiple midget championships, a popular spokesman for the sport and an acclaimed radio and TV commentator. The children of Armenian immigrants, Agabashian and his three sisters were gifted […]
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Glory Days: Sarah Fisher Sprint Car Racer
Glory Days: Sarah Fisher Sprint Car Racer
Sarah Fisher made nine starts in the Indianapolis 500 during her driving career, the most of any woman in the history of the Indianapolis 500. Fisher made 81 IndyCar Series starts and won a pole position and recorded a best finish of second before becoming a successful team owner. Many forget that after a successful […]
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Mahoney’s Memories: Terre Haute 1966
Mahoney’s Memories: Terre Haute 1966
Editor’s Note: In this monthly photo essay feature, National Sprint Car Hall of Fame photographer John Mahoney shares his memories and images from some of the most amazing and historic sprint car and midget races. USAC Sprint Cars, Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track, Sept. 11, 1966 The reason I’ve included this race in my Memories […]
Racing History
Glory Days: Gaerte On The Road With The Outlaws
Glory Days: Gaerte On The Road With The Outlaws
The son of engine builder Earl Gaerte, Joe Gaerte raced on the road with the World of Outlaws for 10 seasons, winning 10 features along the way. Here he is pictured aboard the Two Winners Racing machine owned by Bob Kramer and Tom Wimmer at Ohio’s Fremont Speedway. Gaerte finished second to Stevie Smith on […]
Racing History
Glory Days: Stewart Outruns Talented Hut Hundred Field
Glory Days: Stewart Outruns Talented Hut Hundred Field
Tony Stewart outran a field of 30 midgets to win the 41st running of the Hut Hundred USAC midget race at Indiana’s Terre Haute Action Track. Driving Rollie Helmling’s No. 4 machine, Stewart set a track record during qualifying and started on the pole for the 100-lap event on the half-mile dirt track. He chased […]
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Glory Days: Kunzman Wins At Eldora, Beale Champ
Glory Days: Kunzman Wins At Eldora, Beale Champ
Lee Kunzman and Dueane Carter shared victory ciercle in the twin 50-lap finale for USAC sprint cars on Oct. 21, 1973 at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway. Rollie Beale was crowned the 1973 USAC sprint car champion. Kunzman took the lead from Sam Sessions on the opening lap of the opener and led the rest of the […]
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The Transition — Midgets to Stock Cars
The Transition — Midgets to Stock Cars
During the late 1940s, midget auto racing, once the most popular form of motorsports in the United States, was in a steep decline. Popular before World War II, midget racing took the country by storm after the war as the American populace, starved for entertainment, jammed speedways, stadiums and arenas nationwide to watch the small […]
Racing History
The Woodstock Of Drag Racing
The Woodstock Of Drag Racing
And to think it all started because back in the Eisenhower years, it wasn’t politically incorrect to wear fur coats. The blossoming legion of hot rodders that were springing up all around south central Pennsylvania during the late 1950s figured they had it made because they finally had a public drag strip that welcomed their […]
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Colorful & Eccentric Innovator Art Sparks
Colorful & Eccentric Innovator Art Sparks
Auto racing has long attracted colorful, eccentric, quirky individuals. They seem drawn to the sport like steel shavings to a magnet. Few better fit that offbeat category than Arthur Sutton Sparks. Quick-tempered, raucous and adventuresome, he raced on outlaw dirt tracks, performed as a movie stuntman and was a fearless gambler with a deck of […]
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