With most of the motorsports world on hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve decided to highlight some of the sport’s legends on a daily basis. We begin each story within the pages of National Speed Sport News.
When people talk about the top sprint-car drivers in history, they don’t always talk about Larry Dickson. But they should.
Dickson, whose heyday was in the mid 1960s, won three USAC sprint-car championships, while
battling Gary Bettenhausen year after year.
From 1968 through 1971, Dickson and Bettenhausen each won the championship twice, with Dickson winning in 1968 and 1970. Dickson later added a third championship in 1975.
During his career, Dickson, who is now 65, won 45 USAC sprint-car features. He also earned five USAC midget triumphs and a pair of victories in the Silver Crown division.
He also made eight starts in the Indianapolis 500, with a best finish of ninth in 1969.
Dickson, who was raised in Marietta, Ohio, also had success racing United Racing Club and IMCA sprint cars.
