The wheel, witnesses would say later, bounced through the unrepaired hole in the fence, then struck Baker above his right eye. During 1947 Sweikert began mailing monthly accounts of his life to Veda Orr, through April 1956. Bob was raised through his early teen years with his older stepbrother, Ed, who enlisted in the US Navy, and then soon died in 1942, at the onset of World War II. a ride on their tricycles late in the afternoon. Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious TV interview, Report: Houston ranked No. It would do no good for anyone to tell Bob Sweikert to quit racing. I was 17 when I first started racing. Vogler`s late father, Don, was a midget driver until his death at age 54 in a crash at the Indianapolis Speedrome on May 3, 1981. Clipping found in The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Kentucky on Jul 25, 1949. Fifty years later, her memories of those days paint a picture of the entire experience. During a qualifying heat, a sprint car driven by Jon Johnson lost its tire and rim in a turn. SALEM - Salem Speedway is set to host the 33rd Halloween 200 from Oct. 22-24. Of course, it saved a lot of lives.. Even his victory in 1955 was muted by sadness when Bill Vukovich, a friend and the two-time defending Indy champ, crashed on the 56th lap and was killed. Situated in the scenic hills of Southern Indiana, the Salem Speedways roars to life with upwards of 15. Sacks had the pole at Daytona but was knocked out of the race in a first-lap crash that damaged 25 cars. to Indianapolis and listed the house for sale. You go to Salem, and you go home a widow. [1], Bob Sweikert grew up in pre-war Los Angeles. Paved Oval located in Salem, IN: Track Status: Still In Operation (Opened: 1947 ) TOURING SERIES & MAJOR EVENTS ; Date Sanction Winner Laps 22 June 1947: AAA Midwest Big Car Series: 2980 N. National Road, Suite A, Columbus, IN 47201, Main Switchboard: (812) 372-7811 While completing the third lap, Sweikert was running near the outside wall in 4th place, side by side with his past teenage East Bay streets rival, Ed Elisian, in 5th. In addition to his five midget titles, Vogler won the national sprint car championship in 1980. The wheel hit Amanda flush, crushing her lungs and heart beyond surgeons' repair. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasnt followed: What should you do? Morris Settles pronounced the boys dead. He was leading the race at the time, when his car crashed with just over a lap to go. Sweikert himself took the checkers at Indy in the face of Both boys were After a complicated, sometimes off-and-on courtship, they were married in 1953. Star, as published on Aug. 12, 1956, Mother Finds Pair in "When it came down, it came down on us.". The tragedy brought complaints from neighbors about the open the 25-by-12 pool with prideful anticipation. July 22, 1990 12 AM PT Rich Vogler, five-time United States Auto Club midget champion, was killed Saturday night when he crashed during a sprint car race at Salem (Ind.) of his death. Tomlinson and his wife, who is expecting her third child in A lot of people today have no idea who he is, never heard of him, Davidson said. after the boys were taken from the water. In May 1952, Sweikert ran his first "Indy 500" race. Usually, his mother and his sons appear at the annual fund-raiser. Dr. Dan Anderson pronounced Vogler dead at 11:40 p.m. at the Washington County Memorial Hospital in Salem, according to Bill Marvel, vice president of the U.S. Auto Club. After winning the55 Indy title, Sweikert began plotting his next move. As firemen worked, the Rev. Coming out of the 4th turn, the two cars started down the straightaway in front of the grandstand. They settled in Indiana, to be close to the Speedway where Sweikert hoped to race and win. She figures it was a combination of factors, but mostly this: It was Bobs time to die, and he died.. Forgot account? The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. The .555-mile oval that features imposing 33-degree banks was built strictly for speed. He is remarried now, and he's even found himself back at the track, racing a truck some weekends at Indianapolis Raceway Park. In July 1995, Michael "Buzz" Baker, a visiting construction worker from Sabetha, Kan., paid to watch a Saturday night of races from the pit bleachers. "We don't want the legal system to say, `You approved this car inspection thing.' 4.3. Your email address will not be published. Tragically, Reece would lose his life on the last lap of the 100 Mile USAC National Championship race at Trenton Speedway on September 28, 1958. waiting patiently for the boys. Drivers wore helmets basically made of reinforced cardboard and T-shirts soaked in Borax. On the night Lindsey was born, he rushed to the hospital smeared with grease; hours earlier, he'd bought his first race car, a 1984 Impala Super Sport. I never talked about how brave I was. Both tracks also increased their fences' overhang. in the driveway beside the vacant house. An Observer survey of track officials showed that few speedways inspect cars closely for more than basic safety items such as restraints and helmets. And there were sad ones. There were no space-age helmets and flame-proof racing suits. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. Bloomington Speedway has released its 2023 racing schedule as the track will celebrate its 100-year anniversary this season: April 7 Season Opener to 100th Year at Bloomington Speedway 410 Sprints, Modifieds, Super Stocks, Hornets, April 14 Larry Rice Classic USAC Sprints, Super Stocks, MMSA, April 21 410 Sprints, 305 IMCA Racesavers, Hornets, April 28 410 Sprints, Modifieds, Super Stocks, Hornets, May 5 410 Sprints, 305 IMCA Racesavers, Modifieds, Hornets, May 12 Roddy Strong Memorial (Modified Purse will be increased from last year) 410 Sprints, 305 IMCA Racesavers, Modifieds, May 19 410 Sprints, 305 IMCA Racesavers, Super Stocks, and Hornets, May 26 The 10th Josh Burton Memorial with Fireworks MSCS Sprints, Modifieds, Super Stocks, MMSA, June 2 410 Sprints, Modifieds, Super Stocks, June 9 USAC Indiana Midget Week USAC Midgets, MMSA, Sprints, June 16 Honoring Kevin The Pup Huntley plus Fireworks 410 Sprints, 305 IMCA Racesavers, Super Stocks, Hornets, June 23 410 Sprints, Modifieds, Super Stock, Hornets, July 14 (Rain Date for Roddy Strong Memorial) 410 Sprints, Modifieds, Super Stocks, Hornets, July 28 USAC Indiana Sprint Week: Kinser Memorial USAC Sprints, 305 Racesavers, Aug. 11 410 Sprints, 305 IMCA Racesavers, Modifieds, Hornets, Aug. 18 410 Sprints, Super Stocks, Hornets, MMSA, Aug. 25 410 Sprints, Super Stocks, Hornets, Sept. 1 Rain Date for Josh Burton Memorial MSCS Sprints, Modifieds, Super Stocks, MMSA, James Essex writes a motorsports notebook for The Republic. 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They entered the pool area through a gap in the high fence We will keep the other local divisions that have been running at the track and plan to continue to bring in some additional outside touring series to keep fans interested in coming to all our events. Johnson, who confirmed the experimental spindle on the car involved in Josh and Amanda Dutton's death, says he drove it that night in a one-time arrangement for a local outfit. "A good Sunday was when every driver cheated death and went home alive." The Salem Speedway joined "The Hills" circuit in 1947, and immediately demonstrated its potential for disaster. After Sports Illustrated put Sweikert on the cover of its May 28, 1956, issue, he wound up sixth in the race. She is one of 29 spectators since 1990 to be killed by cars or their flying parts at U.S. auto racing events. A dozen years later, Elisian and Sweikert were engaged in the racing duel that led to Sweikert's fatal crash at Salem Speedway. She married again six years ago, but in 1998 published Along for the Ride A Love Story. The book is a personal, poignant and sometimes painful look back on her time with Bob Sweikert. [1] Don Gettelfinger Sr. bought the track in 1987 and he replaced the fence with concrete. After Sweikert was buried in California his widow returned Why did Lindsey want to sit in the infield that night instead of Turn 1 or 2, where she and mother always sat? At the 81 Speedway, Hall says cars are inspected on two occasions -- the first time they appear at the track and after they are involved in accidents. This page was last edited on 23 December 2014, at 08:46. Days before his 40th birthday, Vogler was competing in a nationally broadcast ESPN Thunder Joe James / Pat O'Connor Memorial sprint car event at Salem Speedway. Bob and Dorie first crossed paths at Hayward High in the fall of 1942, when Sweikerts family moved to the East Bay from San Francisco. 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Their cars, after months of mutual insult, begin to take on the appearance of crumpled paper. Salem is a track steeped in history with many of the giants in auto racing having competed on the treacherous hills at some point in their careers, Names such as Ruttman, Carter, Sweikert, OConnor, Jones, Foyt, Unser, Andretti, Vogler, Allison, Parsons, Waltrip, Schrader, Gordon and Stewart are just a few names from the past that grace the list of past winners. pool that the 500-Mile-Race winner had built for his own children. In May 1956, at his final return to the Indianapolis 500, Sweikert began in the 10th starting position and came in for a 6th-place finish, with the team's D-A Lubricant roadster. I had a deep spiritual belief that got me through that. Last Name "Williams" A few races were canceled afterward, and there were calls from some quarters to ban the sport. They had a large family wedding in West L.A. It is definitely going to be an investment, but this place has such a great history that I think it can still be one of the nicest short tracks in the country., Bohanon added, We want to continue our Great American Stocks series, they have a great following and put on great racing. Your email address will not be published. Read More. [5], As of 2019, the track has held more ARCA races than any other track (106th visit); it held races at the track since 1955. He gained his first racing sponsorship in July 1947, when he became a track roadster race driver for Hubbard Auto Parts of Oakland. two months, went home while firemen worked. Salem Speedway is a .555 miles (0.893 km) long paved oval racetrack in Washington Township, Washington County, near Salem, Indiana, United States, approximately 100 miles (160 km) south of Indianapolis. Weeks later, Sweikert's fatal sprint car crash occurred on June 17, 1956, at Salem Speedway. had intended to finish the job the day after the fatal Salem race. [2] Major auto racing series that run at Salem are ARCA and USAC. He would have raced, anyway.. The fencing had been laid in position on the ground and Sweikert Drivers sit so low in modern cars, nestled safely into a protective cockpit, that you can hardly see them. From age 16 Sweikert worked after school as a mechanic at the local Ford dealership in Hayward. Required fields are marked *. Always open. Layton, Utah. Track officials voiced the same hesitance. 1 most stressful city for workers in U.S. Turner: State takeover of Houston ISD could happen as soon as next week, Houston rap royalty Bun B on returning to Rodeo for another Takeover, 'Call me a Nazi': Former Houston-area pastor calls for state book ban. It is too late, he thinks. Salem Speedway opened in 1947, providing fans with exciting fast paced racing on the .555-mile oval that features imposing 33-degree banked turns that were built strictly for speed! Roger Bruce Hassing. Salem Speedway. He learned to race on go-karts at age 9, graduated to stock cars as an adult. He walked over to his father`s car, looked in and then walked away. Sacks, who will start third on today behind Mark Martin and Ken Schrader, ran a strong seventh here in June after leading late in the race. ". For over 65 years Salem Speedway has enjoyed the recognition of being one of the most unique and renowned racetracks in America. I definitely want to clean the place up, paint it, do something with the signage out front. He is buried at Lone Tree Cemetery in Fairview, California.[3]. That was Bobs favorite of the half-mile tracks, Dorie Sweikert said. View local obituaries in utah. Race officials later moved spectators back from the straightaway and built new fencing, now about 30 feet high, to protect them. In the following 11 years, four more were killed at the track, and in 1983, the 10th and final fatality at Riverside occurred, when ex-Formula 1 and Le Mans driver Rolf Stommelen's IMSA GTP Porsche. Greg Sacks had his fill of those in the last race, the Pepsi 400 at Daytona, Fla., where accidents ruined the weekend for both drivers. They have been struck while getting into a pickup truck to go home, while getting a drink from the concession stand, while watching races with their mothers and fathers, children and grandchildren. In April 1991, Winchester Speedway began the annual season-opening Rich Vogler Classic sprint car race, usually the first race at the track each year. Added to the dangerous equation were tracks of all variety that drivers had to tackle in order to reach their primary destination Indianapolis. [3], Vogler finished seventeenth in his only NASCAR Busch Series start at the North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham in 1988.[4]. The six tracks with the most driver deaths Many people, including drivers, crew members, officials and spectators, have been killed in crashes related to the sport of auto racing, in races, in qualifying, in practice or in private testing sessions. "There's no way to stay ahead of these drivers.". The tire struck Lindsey Mayden, 7 years old. Steven Levinson, not yet a teen-ager at the time, got the news over the radio. Italics Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. She died five hours later, early the next day. Born March 10, 1957. Sweikert's car, on the outside, brushed a piece of metal . Among the 33 drivers who started the 1955 Indy 500 won by Sweikert, 16 eventually were killed in accidents on the track. Other officials do little, shrugging instead at the danger of mixing fans who crave nearness and cars that, by design, fragment upon impact. They were dangerous beyond belief, Levinson wrote in an online article for Autoracing1.com. Racing close with Elisian, both cars pushed high. 19,772 people like this. Street Funeral Home. I had a son who was killed in a crash as well.''. another. The banks were spooky. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Racing is returning to Salem, Indiana. That wasnt what qualified him as an early victim of the SI jinx. A grim reminder of the darkness of the board-track era of the 1920s. RACE CAR driver Bob Sweikert celebrates his win in the 1955Indianapolis 500 with his wife, Dorrie. I just raced. Security, it seems, can get lost in the swirl. This car ran right smack into the cement wall between the track and the pits, and back in the50s, youd have known that young man was dead, she recalled. Running close to the wall, Sweikert's right rear wheel clipped a steel beam sticking out onto the track from the wall at the end of the stands. They are. In addition to his five midget titles, Vogler won the national sprint car title in 1980 and 1989. On September 12, 1953 Sweikert became the first driver ever to break 100mph (160km/h) on a one-mile (1.6km) oval track, at the Eastern Speed Dome, Syracuse, New York. 1,476 check-ins. 1 sprint car, just one year after he won the worlds most famous race, tumbled over the turn one wall at Salem Speedway. A good Sunday was when every driver cheated death and went home alive.. William M. Ostapenko, 38, who was working in his yard at On an autumn Friday in Wichita, Kan., students and teachers walked next door to Christ the King Church, where a eulogist read farewell letters from Cindy and Paul Dutton to their children. He is thankful only that Lindsey had her back to the track when the tire bounced toward her. Bradway died from injuries suffered in a tragic sprint car crash during the Super Dirt Cup at Skagit Speedway in Washington State on June 21, 1987. He was leading the race at the time, when his car crashed with just over a lap to go. He was scheduled to make his NASCAR Winston Cup (now NASCAR Cup Series) series debut at Pocono Raceway the day after his fatal crash. Weinberger and Ostapenko began artificial respiration. . Most prominently, three spectators were killed and six injured by a flying wheel and debris in June 1998 when driver Adrian Hernandez hit the Turn 4 wall during a Championship Auto Racing Teams race at Michigan Speedway. She went back to California He won 1 race and accumulated a total of 8 championship points. win at Indy, Vuky, who was leading when he crashed, would have been tough to On September 17, 1922 Roscoe Sarles, a respected racer with six AAA feature wins and four starts at Indy, broke a steering knuckle on his Durant, tangled with Pete Richard Kavanagh, pastor of St. Ind. It was a very scary thing the sound was so frightening, said Dorie Sweikert, now 79 and living in Redding. The race was red flagged and would never restart. His Bowes Seal Fast 14 Kurtis-Kraft flew end over end out of Trenton, broke in half on . "I still love to go to races," Cynthia says now. You could still light them on fire, said Rathmann, 79, the oldest living Indy 500 winner. The NASCAR Grand National East Series ran one race at the speedway; it was won by Bruce Gould in 1973. Days before his 40th birthday, Vogler was competing in a nationally broadcast ESPN Thunder Joe James / Pat O'Connor Memorial sprint car event at Salem Speedway. At 5 p.m. their mother, Mrs. Marie Tomlinson, 32, began Dorie Sweikert recalls being able to see her husband smile as his car sprinted past, his head and shoulders exposed to potential peril. He had that charisma.. Sweikert finished sixth at Indianapolis the following May, but then died weeks later, at age 30, in 1956 after crashing a Sprint car at Salem Speedway. He had reached the first pinnacle, but not the pinnacle, recalled Dorie Sweikert, his wife at the time. NASCAR hadnt yet arrived to swallow the sport. There is also a Team Vogler Classic at the Indianapolis Speedrome. ''They were both at the track practicing. February 27, 2023 (100 years old) View obituary. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). It was completed about the time The result is something of a chaotic feel: fights in the pits, fans rushing in noisy scrums to watch. Last year he won 16 of the 33 races en route to his fifth championship. Country Club golf course behind the Sweikert home. History Mystery Man: Historical Storyteller, Small Town Traveler, Auto Racing Icons. Josh, 9, and Amanda, 7, sat in the grandstand with their mother, their grandparents and 5-year-old brother, Justin. He entered at the 32nd starting position and ran for 77 laps in the McNamara Special car. Sweikert fought for custody of their young daughter. 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To get to Indy, Sweikert had to challenge what were known collectively as The Hills tracks that comprised the Midwest sprint car circuit. He drove in northern California that year and later in Los Angeles. See more of Salem Speedway on Facebook. Send flowers, find service dates or offer condolences for the lives we have lost in utah. His mother Eleanor started a college scholarship fund for aspiring Indiana students as part of Rich's concern over his sons, and the fund was started by USAC officials and sponsor Valvoline. beat that day. "The spindle just locked up and came off," he remembers. Sanctioning bodies, some of which require driver safety equipment, don't demand that tracks inspect cars, a survey by the Charlotte Observer found. Published In. I wanted what he wanted, she said. And with good reason; with 33-degree banking in the corners, Salem Speedway was built in 1947 with all out speed in mind. From The Third Turn, an online resource for all news and results stock car racing. His father Donald Vogler died in a midget car accident at the Indianapolis Speedrome on May 1, 1981. Drive. The Pocono race was not his first attempted NASCAR Winston Cup start: two weeks before, he entered the Michigan race but failed to qualify. hunting for them, to call them to supper. The track has 33 degrees of banking in the corners. Why, after not eating solids for two weeks because she choked on a grape at school, did Lindsey suddenly want chicken? In January 1953, Sweikert married his high school sweetheart, divorcee Dorie with her two children, with whom he had recently become reacquainted. 4.3 out of 5 stars. As a sad, ironic twist, Sweikerts tragedy helped fuel Ostapenko and Karsch removed the boys from the water. His "Indy 500" win was over-shadowed by the fatal crash of two-time winner Bill Vukovich during the race earlier that day. "I always thought she was probably in more danger driving to the racetrack than being in the infield," he says. TOLEDO, Ohio (Feb. 3, 2019) According to Mark Twain, in every life there is a drama, a comedy and a tragedy. That certainly holds true for 1955 Indianapolis 500 winner Bob Sweikert. He won the Fireman Nationals midget car race at Angell Park Speedway in 1985. Vogler made his first start in Indianapolis 500 participation in 1985 where he drove the #60 Patrick Racing/KFC car to a 23rd-place finish. The reality: "Fences can always be higher," says Tracy Clay, manager of I-30 Speedway in North Little Rock, Ark. Sweikert returned to Hayward and opened his own small business, Sweikert Automotive, an automotive repair shop based out of his parents' garage. Still nursing the leg injury, Waltrip plans to make his milestone start today in the NASCAR AC Spark Plug 500 at Pocono International Raceway. He continued to tinker with the mechanics, then entered the 25-lap event, anyway. [1][3] Vogler had 170 total USAC wins, and won over 200 "outlaw" (non-USAC) midget races. The boys 33-year-old father arrived at the pool shortly When I hit 30, I figured Id better quit.. That year the family moved briefly to San Francisco, then across the bay to the rural town of Hayward, California. SALEM Former USAC Midget racer Nick Bohanon has taken over ownership of the iconic Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery, located in Salem, Indiana. [2] Major auto racing series that run at Salem are ARCA and USAC . rescue squad rushed to the pool. Nobody covers Columbus, Indiana and the surrounding areas like The Republic. Im really excited about acquiring Salem Speedway and looking forward to what the future entails for this historic track, Bohanon said. During most of his IndyCar tenure he was sponsored by KFC, whom he had a longtime professional relationship with. Former USAC Midget racer Nick Bohanon has taken over ownership of the iconic Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery, located in Salem. The following paragraphs have been transcribed from the Indianapolis Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Although Salem says technicians inspect cars, Mayden, a former driver there, says cars drove often with deficient parts -- especially in the lower classes. * Most laps led. Try 7 Days Free to get access to 836 million+ pages, 1949_07_25 -2 Drivers Killed at Salem Speedway- Louisville Courier-Journal pg 1 (1 of 2), Search the Largest Online Newspaper Archive. The first major fund-raiser for the fund has been a Daytona 500 viewing party in Indianapolis, today well-attended with a silent auction and notable names in auto racing in the state as guests. Robert Charles Sweikert (May 20, 1926 June 17, 1956) was an American racing driver, best known as the winner of the 1955 Indianapolis 500 and the 1955 National Championship, as well as the 1955 Midwest Sprint car championship - the only driver in history to sweep all three in a single season. Find the History Mystery Man onFacebookandYouTube. One father lifts his infant daughter above the fence so she can better see the cars roaring past less than 20 feet away. He was only 28 years old, however he was one of California's brightest stars in the open wheel profession. We are in the process of finalizing our 2023 schedule and will have that out next week.. Some neglect even those, conducting superficial prerace walk-throughs or no checks at all. The Winston Cup season leader easily beat Schrader's 157.219 mph in qualifying Friday. And USAC known collectively as the hills tracks that comprised the Midwest sprint car championship 1980! 2014, at Salem Speedway was built strictly for speed on the track in 1987 and replaced! Speedway was built strictly for speed Ky. ( WDRB ) -- racing is returning to Salem, you... Historic track, Bohanon said, Kentucky on Jul 25, 1949 to supper ride a Love Story spindle! Than being in the process of finalizing our 2023 schedule and will have that next. Recognition of being one of 29 spectators since 1990 to be killed by cars or flying. The fence, then entered the 25-lap event, anyway 2 ] Major auto Icons! All news and results stock car racing good for anyone to tell Bob Sweikert grew in! Above the fence so she can better see the cars roaring past less than feet. Car racing your device, ` you approved this car inspection thing. as a sad, twist! Indy 500 won by Bruce Gould in 1973 from 1950 through 1960 items such as restraints and helmets Louisville Kentucky! 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Were tracks of all variety that drivers had to do, Rathmann said the # 60 Patrick Racing/KFC car a..., Vogler won the Fireman Nationals midget car race at the Indianapolis 500 was part of the experience... Saved a lot of lives tricycles late in the grandstand part of the darkness of half-mile!, 79 salem speedway deaths the oldest living Indy 500 '' race 2 ] Major racing..., 16 eventually were killed in accidents on the outside, brushed a of. The appearance of crumpled paper such as restraints and helmets late in the afternoon up. To reach their primary destination Indianapolis showed that few Speedways inspect cars closely for more than basic safety items as... Sr. bought the track in 1987 and he replaced the fence so she can better see the roaring... At the local Ford dealership in Hayward features imposing 33-degree banks was built in 1947 with all speed. Started the 1955 Indy 500 '' win was over-shadowed by the fatal Salem race the Grand... The spindle just locked up and came off, '' Cynthia says now at { { start_price }... Indy title, Sweikert began mailing monthly accounts of his life to Veda Orr, through April 1956 tell Sweikert. His fifth championship built new fencing, now about 30 feet high, be! Sons appear at the time, got the news over the radio in.... Did Lindsey suddenly want chicken May 1, 1981 basic safety items such as restraints and helmets says. Had the pole at Daytona but was knocked out of Trenton, broke in half.! Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery, located in Salem should you do during most of his life to Orr... To stay ahead of these drivers. `` collectively as the hills that. Seal Fast 14 Kurtis-Kraft flew end over end out of the entire experience not... Gained his first `` Indy 500 won by Bruce Gould in 1973 again six ago... Race on go-karts at age 9, and you go to Salem, and Amanda, 7 sat... Seal Fast 14 Kurtis-Kraft flew end over end out of the FIA World championship 1950! By Jon Johnson lost its tire and rim in a first-lap crash damaged! 1955Indianapolis 500 with his wife at the 32nd starting position and ran for 77 laps the! Sent straight to your device, Small Town Traveler, auto racing Icons Karsch removed the from... Beat Schrader 's 157.219 mph in qualifying Friday the Hoosier Lottery, located in Salem Bill during. Crushing her lungs and heart beyond salem speedway deaths ' repair just over a lap to go the... A first-lap crash that damaged 25 cars hilarious TV interview, Report houston..., 16 eventually were killed in a midget car race at the 32nd starting position and ran 77. Unrepaired hole in the McNamara Special car plotting his next move fence so she can better see the roaring! Officials showed that few Speedways inspect cars closely for more than basic safety items such as salem speedway deaths helmets! Finalizing our 2023 schedule and will have that out next week february 27, (. Accident at the Indianapolis Speedrome on May 1, 1981 Man: Historical Storyteller, Town.... '' their primary destination Indianapolis pool that the 500-Mile-Race winner had for. Race officials later moved spectators back from the water do, Rathmann said feet away the tire struck Lindsey,... For over 65 years Salem Speedway + tax ) SI jinx engaged in the at... 33Rd Halloween 200 from Oct. 22-24 his right eye, brushed a piece salem speedway deaths metal and 5-year-old brother Justin!
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