Racing History

Glory Days: Kunzman Wins At Eldora, Beale Champ
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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 […]
The Transition — Midgets to Stock Cars 
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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 […]
The Woodstock Of Drag Racing
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 […]
Colorful & Eccentric Innovator Art Sparks
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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 […]
Glory Days: Wolfgang Tops Star-Studded Kings Royal
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Glory Days: Wolfgang Tops Star-Studded Kings Royal

Glory Days: Wolfgang Tops Star-Studded Kings Royal

Doug Wolfgang started on the pole and led all 40 laps to win the seventh annual Kings Royal sprint car race at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway. Driving the No. 8 machine prepared by Gary “Duece” Turrill, Wolfgang won the prestigious event for the second (1985) time. He bested a 56-car field that included sprint car racing’s […]
Glory Days: Fornoro Tops Star-Studded Hoosier Invitational
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Glory Days: Fornoro Tops Star-Studded Hoosier Invitational

Glory Days: Fornoro Tops Star-Studded Hoosier Invitational

The second annual Hoosier Dome Invitational midget race saw Nick Fornoro Jr. turn in a dominant performance to claim the $3,000 top prize before a crowd of 13,270 inside the home stadium of the Indianapolis Colts. Fornoro, who won 26 open-wheel features in 1985, drove Jim Reider’s midget to the checkered flag ahead of inaugural […]
Mahoney’s Memories: Eldora 1978
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Mahoney’s Memories: Eldora 1978

Mahoney’s Memories: Eldora 1978

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.   World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, Eldora Speedway, Oct. 29, 1978   By the fall of 1978, Ted Johnson’s new […]
GLORY DAYS: Faas Is Fast, But Darland Wins
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GLORY DAYS: Faas Is Fast, But Darland Wins

GLORY DAYS: Faas Is Fast, But Darland Wins

Dave Darland led the final 12 laps of the 23rd annual Tony Hulman Classic at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track to claim his first USAC sprint car victory. Driving the Earlywine No. 36d sprint car, Darland held off Jack Hewitt and Tray House for the victory. Cary Faas was the fast qualifier with a […]
Glory Days: Kauffman Tops Stellar Port Royal Field
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Glory Days: Kauffman Tops Stellar Port Royal Field

Glory Days: Kauffman Tops Stellar Port Royal Field

A star-studded field of open-wheel racers visited Port Royal Speedway for a daytime 25-lap feature with Keith Kauffman taking the checkered flag first. It was Kauffman’s fourth victory in five races at the half-mile track during the 1984 season. Randy Wolfe charged from 17th to finish second, with Dave Blaney, Scott Tobias and Van May […]
10 Milestone Moments In NASCAR History
Racing History

10 Milestone Moments In NASCAR History

10 Milestone Moments In NASCAR History

As the motorsports community celebrates the 75th anniversary of NASCAR, let’s look back at 10 milestone events that shaped the sanctioning body and its popular NASCAR Cup Series. THE BEGINNING A new division of auto racing that would eventually alter the motorsports landscape had a rousing debut on June 19, 1949, when NASCAR’s Strictly Stock […]