Racing History

GLORY DAYS: Jeff Gordon Wins At Eldora

Jeff Gordon’s days racing a midget were becoming few and far between, but with a burgeoning NASCAR career, he returned to Eldora Speedway for the 11th annual 4-Crown Nationals at the Ohio half-mile race track. Driving Rollie Helmling’s familiar No. 1 midget, Gordon put on a dazzling performance, setting the fast qualifying time and racing […]

Racing History

Remembering Tom Reffner

Wisconsin stock car racing superstar Tom Reffner passed away Friday at the age of 82.

Racing History

Looking Back: 1998 & 1973

Since its debut in the March 20, 1991, issue of National Speed Sport News, various formats of Looking Back have provided readers with a recap of motorsports history. Reviving this tradition as part of SPEED SPORT Insider, we recently ventured into the NSSN archives to see what was making headlines 25 and 50 years ago. […]

Racing History

GLORY DAYS: Father & Son

John Andretti enjoyed one of the most diverse racing careers of any driver, ranging from midgets to stock cars, Indy cars and Top Fuel dragsters. His father, Aldo, Mario Andretti’s twin, was the biggest supporter of John’s career and was present for many of his races. The accompanying photo was snapped at Indianapolis Motor Speedway […]

Racing History

Reventlow: Driver, Playboy & Racing Enthusiast

Lance Haugwitz-Hardenberg-Reventlow, born in 1936, ran in Hollywood circles. His mother, Barbara Hutton, inherited the Woolworth department store chain and was considered the wealthiest woman in the world at that time. His father was a Danish Count. For a time, Reventlow was married to actress Jill St. John. The most significant person in Lance Reventlow’s […]

Racing History

GLORY DAYS: The Kinsers Visit Michigan

Steve Kinser dedicated his feature victory to his father, Bob, after winning the Father’s Day World of Outlaws event at Michigan’s I-96 Speedway on June 15, 1997. “It’s been a long time since we were here (victory lane),” Kinser admitted. “We won one on Mother’s Day (May 9th), and now I got one for my […]

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 […]