Racing History

GLORY DAYS: Jesse Hockett At Terre Haute

The 13th annual Jesse Hockett-Daniel McMillin Memorial was run Sept. 14-16 at Missouri’s Lucas Oil Speedway. Hockett, who was killed in a 2010 shop accident, was one of the fastest open-wheel racers of the early 2000s. Hockett, pictured here wheeling Kasey Kahne’s Silver Crown Series machine during the 2005 Sumar Classic at the Terre Haute […]

Racing History

Mahoney’s Memories: The 1969 Hut Hundred

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. Hut Hundred, Terre Haute Action Track, Sept. 28, 1969 For many years, one of USAC racing’s greatest weekends […]

Racing History

GLORY DAYS: Doug Kalitta In A Sprint Car

Many of today’s race fans have either forgotten or have little knowledge of NHRA Top Fuel drag racer Doug Kalitta racing a sprint car, but Kalitta was a significant player in pavement sprint car racing during the mid-1990s. Kalitta won the 1994 USAC sprint car championship, racing non-winged sprint cars on both asphalt and on […]

Racing History

Glory Days: Al Unser Doubles Down

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser ended a three-month drought by winning the prestigious Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Unser passed Mario Andretti for the lead on the third lap and held off seventh-starter George Snider by 5.3 seconds to claim the victory. However, Snider secured the USAC Dirt Championship with his runner-up […]

Racing History

GLORY DAYS: Tony Elliott

Indiana native Tony Elliott was one of the winningest and most popular sprint car drivers of the 1990s and early 2000s. Driving both his own cars and many of the top owners in the sport, Elliott won 40 USAC national victories (26 sprint car, 11 midget and five Silver Crown) and a pair of USAC […]

Racing History

70 Years Ago: Fangio & Maserati Win At Monza

Seventy years have passed since Juan Manuel Fangio celebrated his first and only victory of the Formula 1 season, winning the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on Sept. 13, 1953.

Racing History

Irwin Jr. Was Fast On The Track & Kind Away From It

“He’s one of the best I ever ran against,” Tony Stewart said about his friend, competitor and sometimes antagonist Kenny Irwin Jr. “If Kenny would’ve lived, he would’ve at least won a NASCAR championship, if not several. “Unfortunately, we lost him too soon.” Irwin died on July 7, 2000, during a NASCAR Cup Series practice […]

Racing History

GLORY DAYS: Bettenhausen Brothers

Merle and Gary Bettenhausen (pictured) were the elder of the three (Tony Bettenhausen Jr.) Bettenhausen brothers, all who raced Indy cars at some point in their careers. Merle Bettenhausen lost his right arm in a crash at Michigan Int’l Speedway in 1972, derailing his racing career almost before it got started. Gary Bettenhausen, meanwhile, was […]

Racing History

GLORY DAYS: Wolfgang Wins At Millstream

Doug Wolfgang completed a three-race sweep of World of Outlaws events in the state of Ohio with a triumph at Millstream Speedway. Wolfgang led early aboard the DP Motorsports Schnee, but gave up the lead to Frankie Kerr on lap nine. Wolfgang went back to the front five laps later and led the remainder of […]

Racing History

Mahoney’s Memories: Larson’s 4-Crown Sweep

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. 4-Crown Nationals, Eldora Speedway, Sept. 24, 2011 Last month’s look back at Jack Hewitt’s 1998 sweep of Eldora Speedway’s 4-Crown […]