United States Automobile Club

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United States Automobile Club

The United States Automobile Club (USAC) is an open-wheel auto racing

Auto racing

Auto racing is a motorsport involving racing cars. It is one of the world's most watched television sports....
sanctioning body. From 1956 to 1979, the USAC sanctioned the United States National Championship

American Championship Car Racing

Since 1916 there has been a recognized United States national automobile racing National Championship for drivers of professional-level, single-seat open wheel race cars....
, and from 1956 to 1997 it sanctioned the Indianapolis 500

Indianapolis 500

The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, often shortened to Indianapolis 500 or Indy 500 or commonly known simply as The 500, is an USA automobile auto racing, held annually over the Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana....
. USAC is the sanctioning body for the Silver Crown Series, the Sprint Car Series, and the Midget National Championship.

History USAC was formed by Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500 race.It has existed since 1909, and is the original "Speedway," the first racing facility historically to incorporate the word....
owner Tony Hulman

Tony Hulman

Anton "Tony" Hulman, Jr. was a businessman from Terre Haute, Indiana and graduated from Yale University in 1924.His business, Hulman & Company, produces Clabber Girl Baking Powder, which Tony made popular through the use of clever advertising in the 1930s....
when the American Automobile Association

American Automobile Association

The AAA , formerly known as the American Automobile Association, is a 50 million member North American Non-profit organization automobile Lobbying in the United States, Service , and seller of vehicle insurance....
(AAA) withdrew from auto racing following the 1955 Le Mans disaster

1955 Le Mans disaster

The 1955 Le Mans disaster occurred during the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans when a racing car involved in an accident flew into the crowd, killing the driver and 80 spectators....
.

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Encyclopedia

The United States Automobile Club (USAC) is an open-wheel auto racing

Auto racing

American Championship Car Racing

Indianapolis 500

2008 USAC National Schedules

Silver Crown Series
Date	Location	Track	Track Type/Winner	Distance
2/16	Phoenix, AZ	Manzanita Speedway	Winner: Jerry Coons Jr	50 L
6/27-28	Richmond, VA	Richmond International Raceway	Winner: Chet Fillip	100 L
7/23	Terre Haute, IN	Terre Haute Action Track	Winner: Dave Darland	100 L
7/24	Indianapolis, IN	O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis	Winner: Bobby East	100 L
8/10	Newton, IA	Iowa Speedway	Winner: Cameron Dodson	100 L
8/16	Springfield, IL	Illinois State Fairgrounds	Winner:Brain Tyler	100 M
8/31	DuQuoin, IL	DuQuoin State Fairgrounds	Winner:Brain Tyler	100 M
9/20	Rossburg, OH	Eldora Speedway	1/2 D	50 L
11/6	Phoenix, AZ	Phoenix International Raceway	1 P	100 L

Sprint Car Series
Date	Location	Track	Track Type/Winner	Distance
4/5	Rossburg, OH	Eldora Speedway	Postponed to May 10	30 L
4/18	Gas City, IN	Gas City I-69 Speedway	Winner: Shane Cottle	30 L
4/19	Gas City, IN	Gas City I-69 Speedway	RAINED OUT	30 L
4/27	Winchester, IN	Winchester Speedway	Winner: Darren Hagen	30 L
5/3	Brownstown, IN	Brownstown Speedway	Winner: Levi Jones	30 L
5/9	Bloomington, IN	Bloomington Speedway	RAINED OUT	30 L
5/10	Rossburg, OH	Eldora Speedway	Winner: Tracy Hines	30 L
5/21	Anderson, IN	Anderson Speedway	Winner: Tanner Swanson	100 L
5/22	Terre Haute, IN	Terre Haute Action Track	Winner: Levi Jones	30 L
5/24	Anderson, IN	Anderson Speedway	Winner: Shane Cottle	Little 500
6/3	Bechtelsville, PA	Grandview Speedway	RAINED OUT	30 L
6/4	Williams Grove, PA	Williams Grove Speedway	RAINED OUT	30 L
6/5	Minersville, PA	Big Diamond Raceway	Winner: Cole Whitt	30 L
6/7	Hagerstown, MD	Hagerstown Speedway	Winner: Chad Boat	30 L
6/12	Winchester, IN	Winchester Speedway	Winner: Darren Hagan	30 L
6/13	DeGraff, OH	Shady Bowl Speedway	RAINED OUT	30 L
6/14	Rossburg, OH	Eldora Speedway	Winner: Tracy Hines	30 L
6/27	Richmond, VA	Richmond International Raceway	Winner: Jerry Coons Jr.	60 L
		INDIANA SPRINT WEEK
7/9	Lawrenceburg, IN	Lawrenceburg Speedway	Winner: Jeff Bland Jr.	30 L
7/10	Lawrenceburg, IN	Lawrenceburg Speedway	Winner: Brady Short	30 L
7/11	Gas City, IN	Gas City I-69 Speedway	Winner: Cole Whitt	30 L
7/12	Gas City, IN	Gas City I-69 Speedway	RAINED OUT	30 L
7/13	Kokomo, IN	Kokomo Speedway	Winner: Dave Darland	30 L
7/17	Boswell, IN	Kamp Motor Speedway	Winner: Jerry Coons Jr.	30 L
7/18	Bloomington, IN	Bloomington Speedway	Winner: Jerry Coons Jr.	30 L
7/19	Haubstadt, IN	Tri-State Speedway	Winner: Hunter Scheurenberg	30 L
		ISW 2008 CHAMPION: Levi Jones
8/3	Salem, IN	Salem Speedway	Winner: Jacob Wilson	30 L
8/5	Oskaloosa, IA	Southern Iowa Speedway	Winner: Dave Darland	30 L
9/5	Joliet, IL	Route 66 Raceway	1/2 D	30 L
9/20	Rossburg, OH	Eldora Speedway	1/2 D	30 L
9/28	Winchester, IN	Winchester Speedway	1/2 P	30 L
10/30	Perris, CA	Perris Auto Speedway	1/2 D	25 L
10/31	Perris, CA	Perris Auto Speedway	1/2 D	25 L
11/1	Perris, CA	Perris Auto Speedway	1/2 D	40 L
11/7	Phoenix, AZ	Manzanita Speedway	1/2 D	25 L
11/8	Phoenix, AZ	Manzanita Speedway	1/2 D	40 L

Midget Car Series
Date	Location	Track	Track Type/Winner	Distance
2/16	Phoenix, AZ	Manzanita Speedway	Winner: Darren Hagen	25 L
3/21	Kyle, TX	Thunder Hill Raceway	Postponed to later in 2008	100 L
4/6	Anderson, IN	Anderson Speedway	Winner: Bobby East	50 L
4/12	Kenly, NC	Southern National Raceway Park	Winner: Kody Swanson	40 L
5/10	Haubstadt, IN	Tri-State Speedway	Canceled	30 L
5/16	West Salem, WI	LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway	Winner: Dave Darland	30 L
5/17	Slinger, WI	Slinger Super Speedway	Winner: Bradley Galedrige	30 L
5/18	Rockford, IL	Rockford Speedway	Winner: Brian Olson	30 L
5/24	Indianapolis, IN	O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis	Winner: Bobby East	50 L
5/30	Beaver Dam, WI	Dodge County Fairgrounds Speedway	POSTPONED - August 29	25 L
6/20	Knoxville, IA	Knoxville Raceway	Winner: Brad Sweet	20 L
6/21	Knoxville, IA	Knoxville Raceway	Winner: Brad Sweet	25 L
7/24	Indianapolis, IN	O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis	Winner: Chuck Gurney, Jr	30 L
8/1	Belleville, KS	Belleville High Banks	Winner: Brad Sweet	25 L
8/2	Belleville, KS	Belleville High Banks	Winner: Brad Sweet	40 L
		INDIANA MIDGET WEEK
8/6	Gas City, IN	Gas City I-69 Speedway	Winner: Brad Kuhn	30 L
8/7	Liberty, IN	Union County Speedway	POSTPONED INDEFINITELY	30 L
8/8	Bloomington, IN	Bloomington Speedway	Winner: Davey Ray	30 L
8/9	Lawrenceburg, IN	Lawrenceburg Speedway	Winner: Brad Sweet	30 L
8/10	Kokomo, IN	Kokomo Speedway	Winner: Bryan Clauson	30 L
		IMW 2008 CHAMPION: Tracy Hines
8/15	Macon, IL	Macon Speedway	1/4 D	30 L
8/23	Sun Prairie, WI	Angell Park Speedway	1/3 D	30 L
8/24	Sun Prairie, WI	Angell Park Speedway	1/3 D	30 L
8/29	Beaver Dam, WI	Dodge County Fairgrounds Speedway	Winner: Cole Whitt	25 L
9/5	Joliet, IL	Route 66 Raceway	1/2 D	30 L
9/12	Indianapolis, IN	O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis	.686 P	30 L
9/13	Anderson, IN	Anderson Speedway	1/4 P	50 L
9/20	Rossburg, OH	Eldora Speedway	1/2 D	25 L
10/5	Terre Haute, IN	Terre Haute Action Track	1/2 D	100 L
11/1	Columbus, OH	State Fairgrounds Expo Center	1/10 P	60 L
11/6	Phoenix, AZ	Phoenix International Raceway	1 P	25 M
11/22	Bakersfield, CA	TBA	1/2 P	50 L
11/27	Irwindale, CA	Toyota Speedway at Irwindale	1/2 P	98 L
12/19	Toledo, OH	SeaGate Center	1/10 P	60 L
12/20	Toledo, OH	SeaGate Center	1/10 P	60 L
12/26	Fort Wayne, IN	Memorial Coliseum Expo Center	1/10 P	60 L
12/27	Fort Wayne, IN	Memorial Coliseum Expo Center	1/10 P	60 L

History

USAC was formed by Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Tony Hulman

American Automobile Association

1955 Le Mans disaster

The 1955 Le Mans disaster occurred during the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans when a racing car involved in an accident flew into the crowd, killing the driver and 80 spectators....
. USAC became the arbiter of rules, car design, and other matters for what it termed Championship automobile racing. This term, which sounds rather generic, in fact became a term of art describing a car built to be used in the highest level of USAC racing. For a while there was a separate series of specifications for Championship cars designed to be run on dirt, rather than paved, tracks.

USAC also became the sanctioning body for many lower levels of motor racing, including sports cars, sprint cars

Sprint car racing

Sprint cars are high-powered race cars designed primarily for the purpose of running on short oval or circular dirt track racing or paved tracks....
, midget cars, and others. Some of these series were used somewhat as a developmental league for Championship racing. USAC sanctioned stock car racing

Stock car racing

Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain and Brazil. Traditionally, races are run on oval track racing measuring approximately ? mile to 2.66 miles length, but are also raced on road courses....
from 1956 to 1984.

1978 Plane Crash

On April 23, 1978, eight key members of USAC, plus the pilot, were killed when their 10-seat Piper Navajo Chieftain crashed during a thunderstorm 25 miles southeast of Indianapolis.

Killed were:

Ray Marquette, USAC's vice-president of public affairs and a former sportswriter for the Indianapolis Star
Frank Delroy, chairman of the USAC technical committee
Shim Malone, starter for USAC races and head of its midget racer division
Judy Phillips, graphic artist and publication director of USAC's newsletter
Stan Worley, chief registrar
Ross Teeguarden, assistant technnical chairman
Don Peabody, head of the sprint division
Dr. Bruce White, assistant staff doctor
Don Mullendore, owner and pilot of the plane.

The effect on USAC, and for open wheel racing in the USA, was devastating, especially since it closely followed the death of Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman.

End of Championship car sanctioning

Unfortunately, the crash came at a time when Indy car owners and drivers were demanding changes from USAC. Aside from the Indy 500, USAC events were not well attended, and the owners felt that USAC poorly negotiated TV rights. The owners also wanted increases in payouts, especially Indy.

Also unpopular were USAC's attempts to keep the aging Offenhauser

Offenhauser

Offenhauser was an United States of America racing engine manufacturer that operated from 1933 to 1983.The Offenhauser engine, familiarly known as the "Offy", was developed by Fred Offenhauser and his employer Harry Arminius Miller, after maintaining and repairing a 1913 Peugeot Grand Prix motor racing car of the type which had won the Ind...
engine competitive with the newer, and much more expensive, Cosworth

Cosworth

Cosworth is an automotive engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in internal combustion engine for auto racing . It supplies a wide range of motorsport series, including the World Rally Championship, Superbike World Championship and, until the end of 2006, Formula One....
DFV engine using boost-limiting "pop off valves" and limiting the amount of fuel that could be used.

Finally, most car owners banded together to form Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART

Cart

A cart is a vehicle or device designed for transport, using two or four wheels and normally pulled by one or a pair of draught animals. A handcart is pulled or pushed by one or more people....
) in 1978, with the first race to be run in 1979. USAC tried unsuccessfully to ban all CART owners from the 1979 Indy 500, finally losing in court before the race began. Both USAC and CART ran race schedules in 1979.

IMS Speedway President John Cooper was instrumental in forming a joint body of CART and USAC with the creation of the Championship Racing League in March, 1980. However, in mid 1980, Cooper forced USAC to renounce their agreement with the CRL if they wanted to keep officiating the Indy 500. After USAC's disastrous attempt at a 500-mile races at Pocono – which was boycotted by the CART teams, forcing USAC to fill the field with sprint cars – USAC and CART eventually settled into a relatively peaceful co-existence, with the USAC continuing to sanction the Indianapolis 500, and CART including the race in its schedule.

IRL sanctioning body

In 1996, Tony George formed the Indy Racing League

Indy Racing League

The Indy Racing League, better known as IRL, is the sanctioning body of a predominantly American based open-wheel Auto racing.The League sanctions two series, the premier IndyCar Series , whose centerpiece is the Indianapolis 500, and Firestone Indy Lights, the official developmental series of the Indy Racing League....
, and chose USAC to be the sanctioning body. While most races were not plagued by sanctioning body controversy, there were notable races where USAC rulings proved to be controversial.

In the final moments of the long rain-delayed 1997 Indianapolis 500

1997 Indianapolis 500

Results of the 1997 Indianapolis 500 held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, scheduled for Sunday, May 25, delayed for rain until Monday, May 26. Laps 1-15 were completed Monday, but rain postponed the race again....
, a caution flag came out. It was assumed by most competitors that the race would finish under caution. USAC officials had a standard practice of giving a "one-to-go-before-green" signal before returning back to green flag racing. Since there was only one lap remaining in the entire race, the "one-to-go-before-green" signal was omitted, and the starter Bryan Howard was abruptly and unexpectedly instructed to simply display the green and white flag (final lap) as the cars came around. None of the cars in the race were anticipating the start. With only one lap to go, leader Arie Luyendyk

Arie Luyendyk

Arie Luyendyk, originally Arie Luijendijk is a Netherlands automobile racing driver, twice winner of the Indianapolis 500.Born in Sommelsdijk, Luyendyk started racing in the early 1970s, winning a number of Dutch national titles....
scrambled to accelerate. When the cars arrived in turn one, and until they arrived at the halfway point of the back stretch, the yellow caution lights still flashed despite the green having been displayed by the flagman. Runner-up Scott Goodyear

Scott Goodyear

Scott Goodyear is a former race car driver from Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. Goodyear ran the Indy Racing League and Champ Car series during his career from 1987, winning the Michigan 500 in 1992 and 1994....
claimed that he had assumed the race would end under caution and was surprised to see the green flag.

At the IRL's next race in Texas Motor Speedway

Texas Motor Speedway

Texas Motor Speedway is a Oval track racing located in the northernmost portion of the United States city of Fort Worth, Texas -- the portion located in Denton County, Texas....
, some of the scoring antennas in the track were malfunctioning. The malfunctioning antennas were due to the antennas being buried at an improper depth by the Texas Motor Speedway. Overemphasis on building luxury suites and not enough attention on the track itself is evident when the track was resurfaced only a few years after being built. Several cars were incorrectly scored, with laps omitted. Arie Luyendyk

Arie Luyendyk

Billy Boat

William "Billy" Leonard Boat is a former American open wheel driver who raced in the Indy Racing League.Boat is a graduate of Arizona State University....
. While Boat and car owner A.J. Foyt celebrated in victory lane, Luyendyk stormed victory lane and confronted the officials. Foyt slapped Luyendyk, and the latter fell over a flower bed. A day later after review, Luyendyk was scored as the race winner by nearly a lap, and USAC was subsequently removed as the IRL's sanctioning body.

Tony George

Tony George

Anton Hulman "Tony" George is the owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He is also the president of Hulman & Company makers of the famous Clabber Girl brand baking powder....
had been looking at going in-house for officiating the IRL races (like NASCAR

NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is the largest sanctioning body of stock cars in the United States. The three largest racing series sanctioned by NASCAR are the Sprint Cup Series, the Nationwide Series and the Camping World Truck Series....
) for some time and many feel that this event was used as the scapegoat for dropping USAC and bringing in his own people.

While USAC did not disappear, its influence was greatly lessened. It still continues today as a sanctioning body for some of the medium levels of motor racing, including the USAC Silver Crown series for tube-framed, alcohol-fueled open-wheel cars racing on dirt and paved ovals, as well as national championships for sprint and midget cars.

USAC Championship Car Series

USAC Championship Car Season Champions: (1956-1979)

1956 - Jimmy Bryan
Jimmy Bryan

James Ernest Bryan was an American racecar driver.Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Bryan died as a result of injuries sustained in a champ car race at Langhorne Speedway....
Phoenix, AZ
1957 - Jimmy Bryan
Jimmy Bryan

James Ernest Bryan was an American racecar driver.Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Bryan died as a result of injuries sustained in a champ car race at Langhorne Speedway....
Phoenix, AZ
1958 - Tony Bettenhausen
Tony Bettenhausen

Melvin E. "Tony" Bettenhausen was an American racing driver, who won the American Championship Car Racing in 1951 and 1958.Bettenhausen was nicknamed the "Tinley Park Express" in honor of his hometown....
Tinley Park, IL
1959 - Rodger Ward
Rodger Ward

Rodger Ward was an United States racecar driver who won the 1959 and 1962 Indianapolis 500. He also was the 1959 and 1962 USAC Championship Car champion....
Beloit, KS
1960 - A.J. Foyt Houston, TX
1961 - A.J. Foyt Houston, TX
1962 - Rodger Ward
Rodger Ward

Rodger Ward was an United States racecar driver who won the 1959 and 1962 Indianapolis 500. He also was the 1959 and 1962 USAC Championship Car champion....
Beloit, KS
1963 - A.J. Foyt Houston, TX
1964 - A.J. Foyt Houston, TX
1965 - Mario Andretti
Mario Andretti

Mario Gabriele Andretti is an Italian American former automobile auto racing driver, and one of the most successful United States in the history of the sport....
Montona, Italy
1966 - Mario Andretti
Mario Andretti

Mario Gabriele Andretti is an Italian American former automobile auto racing driver, and one of the most successful United States in the history of the sport....
Montona, Italy
1967 - A.J. Foyt Houston, TX
1968 - Bobby Unser
Bobby Unser

Robert William "Bobby" Unser is a retired United States automobile racer. He is the brother of Al Unser and Jerry Unser, the father of Robby Unser, and the uncle of Al Unser, Jr....
Colorado Springs, CO
1969 - Mario Andretti
Mario Andretti

Mario Gabriele Andretti is an Italian American former automobile auto racing driver, and one of the most successful United States in the history of the sport....
Montona, Italy
1970 - Al Unser
Al Unser

Alfred Unser is a former United States of America automobile racing driver, the younger brother of Bobby Unser and father of Al Unser, Jr.. He is the second of three men to have won the Indianapolis 500 four times, the fourth of five to have won the race in consecutive years, and is the only person to have both a sibling and child as fello...
Albuquerque, NM
1971 - Joe Leonard
Joe Leonard

Joe Leonard , is a retired American motorcycle racer and racecar driver.Leonard won the first American Motorcyclist Association Grand National Championship Series in 1954 and won it again in 1956 and 1957....
San Diego, CA
1972 - Joe Leonard
Joe Leonard

Joe Leonard , is a retired American motorcycle racer and racecar driver.Leonard won the first American Motorcyclist Association Grand National Championship Series in 1954 and won it again in 1956 and 1957....
San Diego, CA
1973 - Roger McCluskey
Roger McCluskey

Roger McCluskey was an United States race car driver. He was from Tucson, Arizona.He won championship titles in three divisions of USAC -Sprints, Stocks, and Champ Cars....
San Antonio, TX
1974 - Bobby Unser
Bobby Unser

Robert William "Bobby" Unser is a retired United States automobile racer. He is the brother of Al Unser and Jerry Unser, the father of Robby Unser, and the uncle of Al Unser, Jr....
Colorado Springs, CO
1975 - A.J. Foyt Houston, TX
1976 - Gordon Johncock
Gordon Johncock

Gordon Johncock is a former racing driver, best known as a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and the 1976 United States Automobile Club Marlboro Championship Trail champion....
Hastings, MI
1977 - Tom Sneva
Tom Sneva

Tom Sneva is a former American Championship Car Racing driver that was named to the prestigious Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2005. Sneva is best remembered for winning the 1983 Indianapolis 500....
Spokane, WA
1978 - Tom Sneva
Tom Sneva

Tom Sneva is a former American Championship Car Racing driver that was named to the prestigious Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2005. Sneva is best remembered for winning the 1983 Indianapolis 500....
Spokane, WA
1979 - A.J. Foyt Houston, TX

USAC Silver Crown Series

USAC Silver Crown Series Champions

1971 - George Snider
George Snider

George "Ziggy" Snider is a retired United States race car driver. A longtime driver in the United States Automobile Club Silver Crown series, Snider is also a 22-time starter of the Indianapolis 500, the most starts without winning the race....
Fresno, CA Wilke #4
1972 - A.J. Foyt Houston, TX Foyt #3
1973 - Al Unser
Al Unser

Alfred Unser is a former United States of America automobile racing driver, the younger brother of Bobby Unser and father of Al Unser, Jr.. He is the second of three men to have won the Indianapolis 500 four times, the fourth of five to have won the race in consecutive years, and is the only person to have both a sibling and child as fello...
Albuquerque, NM Miletich/Jones #2
1974 - Mario Andretti
Mario Andretti

Mario Gabriele Andretti is an Italian American former automobile auto racing driver, and one of the most successful United States in the history of the sport....
Montona, Italy Miletich/Jones #2
1975 - Jimmy Caruthers
Jimmy Caruthers

Douglas "Jimmy" Caruthers was an American racecar driver from Anaheim, California. He raced Midget car racing, Sprint car racing, and Champ cars....
Anaheim, CA Middleton #55
1976 - Billy Cassella Weirton, WV Seymour #29
1977 - Larry Rice
Larry Rice

Larry Rice , is a former driver in the United States Automobile Club and CART Championship Car series....
Linden, IN Lefevre #4
1978 - Pancho Carter
Pancho Carter

Duane "Pancho" Carter, Jr. is a retired American race car driver. He is most famous for his participation in CART races....
Racine, WI Capels #21
1979 - Bobby Olivero
Bobby Olivero

Bobby Olivero , is a former driver in the United States Automobile Club Championship Car series. He raced in the 1976-1978 seasons, with 17 career starts, including the 1977 Indianapolis 500....
Lakewood, CA Kurtz #30
1980 - Gary Bettenhausen
Gary Bettenhausen

Gary Bettenhausen is a retired American auto racing driver. He was born in Blue Island, Illinois, raised in Tinley Park, Illinois and lives in Monrovia, Indiana, Indiana....
Tinley Park, IL Delrose/Holt #12
1981 - Larry Rice
Larry Rice

Larry Rice , is a former driver in the United States Automobile Club and CART Championship Car series....
Linden, IN Knepper #55
1982 - Ken Schrader
Ken Schrader

Kenneth Schrader is a second-generation race car driver. He is currently driving in the Sprint Cup series part time for Phoenix Racing. He occasionally appears as a television analyst on This Week In NASCAR on the Speed Channel....
Fenton, MO Fortune #39
1983 - Gary Bettenhausen
Gary Bettenhausen

Gary Bettenhausen is a retired American auto racing driver. He was born in Blue Island, Illinois, raised in Tinley Park, Illinois and lives in Monrovia, Indiana, Indiana....
Tinley Park, IL Delrose/Holt #9
1984 - Dave Blaney
Dave Blaney

David Blaney is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver. He currently pilots the #66 Toyota Camry for Prism Motorsports. Blaney was a successful Sprint car racing driver before he started racing in NASCAR....
Wooster, OH DePalma #58
1985 - Rick Hood Phoenix, AZ Fortune #39
1986 - Jack Hewitt
Jack Hewitt

File:JackHewittMay2007.jpgFile:JackHewittUSACHagerstownMD.jpgJack Hewitt , is a former driver and two-time champion in the United States Automobile Club....
Troy, OH Hampshire #63
1987 - Jack Hewitt
Jack Hewitt

File:JackHewittMay2007.jpgFile:JackHewittUSACHagerstownMD.jpgJack Hewitt , is a former driver and two-time champion in the United States Automobile Club....
Troy, OH Hampshire #63
1988 - Steve Butler
Steve Butler

Steve Butler won six national driving championships in United States Automobile Club Sprint Car and Silver Crown open-wheel racing....
Amarillo, TX Jarrett #10
1989 - Chuck Gurney Heyward, CA Kurtz #30
1990 - Jimmy Sills Placerville, CA Consani #54
1991 - Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon

Jeffery Michael Gordon is a professional United States of America race car driver. He was born in Vallejo, California, raised in Pittsboro, Indiana, and currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina....
Vallejo, CA Ede #35
1992 - Steve Butler
Steve Butler

Steve Butler won six national driving championships in United States Automobile Club Sprint Car and Silver Crown open-wheel racing....
Amarillo, TX Jarrett #10
1993 - Mike Bliss
Mike Bliss

Michael Bliss is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #1 Miccosukee Indian Gaming Chevrolet for Phoenix Racing in the Nationwide Series. He began racing at age 10....
Milwaukie, OR McClure #69
1994 - Jimmy Sills Placerville, CA Stanton #75
1995 - Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart

Anthony Wayne Stewart is an American race car driver/car owner/entrepreneur, in NASCAR's Sprint Cup . During his career he has won championships in the Winston Cup, Nextel Cup and IndyCar Series....
Columbus, IN Boles #25
1996 - Jimmy Sills Placerville, CA Stanton #75
1997 - Dave Darland
Dave Darland

David Lee Darland in Kokomo, Indiana, is an United States auto racing driver who was the 1997 United States Automobile Club Silver Crown Champion, 1999 United States Automobile Club National Sprint Car Champion, and 2001 and 2002 United States Automobile Club National Midget Champion....
Lincoln, IN Foxco #56
1998 - Jason Leffler
Jason Leffler

Jason Leffler is a NASCAR driver from Long Beach, California. Leffler moved from the open-wheel ranks to NASCAR's three major series. Best known for his reckless driving and faux hawk hairstyle, Leffler currently drives the #38 Great Clips Toyota for Braun Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series....
Long Beach, CA Goetz #9
1999 - Ryan Newman
Ryan Newman

Ryan Joseph Newman is a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He drives the #39 United States Army Chevrolet Impala for Stewart Haas Racing under crew chief Tony Gibson....
South Bend, IN Ede #14
2000 - Tracy Hines
Tracy Hines

Tracy Lee Hines is an United States auto racing driver. He was the 2000 United States Automobile Club Silver Crown Champion and 2002 USAC National Sprint Car Champion....
New Castle, IN Riggs #37
2001 - Paul White Temple, TX Cook #10
2002 - J. J. Yeley
J. J. Yeley

Christopher Beltram Hernandez Yeley is a NASCAR racecar driver from Phoenix, Arizona. He is currently a free agent....
Phoenix, AZ Stewart/East #9
2003 - J. J. Yeley
J. J. Yeley

Christopher Beltram Hernandez Yeley is a NASCAR racecar driver from Phoenix, Arizona. He is currently a free agent....
Phoenix, AZ Stewart/East #9
2004 - Dave Steele
Dave Steele

Dave Steele , is an American racecar driver....
Tampa, FL Stewart/East #9
2005 - Dave Steele
Dave Steele

Dave Steele , is an American racecar driver....
Tampa, FL Stewart/East #9
2006 - Bud Kaeding Campbell, CA BK/Leffler #29
2007 - Bud Kaeding Campbell, CA BK #29
2008 - Jerry Coons, Jr. Tucson, AZ RW #27

USAC Sprint Car Series

USAC Sprint Car Series Champions From 1956-1960 the USAC National Sprint Car Championship was divided into two divisions (Midwest and East).

1956 - Pat O'Connor
Pat O'Connor (auto racer)

Pat O'Connor was an United States racecar driver. He was killed in a 15-car pileup, after sustaining a fatal head injury after rolling his car and catching fire on the first lap of the 1958 Indianapolis 500....
North Vernon, IN (Midwest Champion) Estes #9
1956 - Tommy Hinnershitz
Tommy Hinnershitz

Thomas Paul Hinnershitz was an American race car driver.Hinnershitz was active through the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s on dirt track racing, asphalt and board track racing, driving Sprint Cars, at that time slightly smaller versions of Indianapolis cars that could be raced on half mile dirt race tracks....
Muhlenberg, PA (East Champion) #1
1957 - Elmer George
Elmer George

Elmer George was an United States racecar driver.Born in Hockerville, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, George died in Terre Haute, Indiana. He drove in the American Automobile Association and United States Automobile Club Championship Car series, racing in the 1956-1963 seasons with 64 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in 1957, 1962, and 19...
Hockerville, OK (Midwest Champion) Hulman #21
1957 - Bill Randall North Reading, MA (East Champion)
1958 - Eddie Sachs
Eddie Sachs

Edmund Sachs was a United States Auto Club driver who was known as the "Caped Crusader of Auto Racing" and "Clown Prince of Auto Racing" for his personality at the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race....
Allentown, PA (Midwest Champion) Cheesman #25
1958 - Johnny Thomson
Johnny Thomson

Johnny Thomson was an American racecar driver. Thomson was nicknamed "the Flying Scot."...
Lowell, MA (East Champion) Traylor #3
1959 - Don Branson
Don Branson

Don Branson was an American racecar driver.Born in Rantoul, Illinois, Branson was killed in a racing crash at Ascot Park in Gardena, California....
Rantoul, IL (Midwest Champion) Estes #4
1959 - Tommy Hinnershitz
Tommy Hinnershitz

Thomas Paul Hinnershitz was an American race car driver.Hinnershitz was active through the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s on dirt track racing, asphalt and board track racing, driving Sprint Cars, at that time slightly smaller versions of Indianapolis cars that could be raced on half mile dirt race tracks....
Muhlenberg, PA (East Champion) Pfrommer #4
1960 - Parnelli Jones
Parnelli Jones

Rufus Parnell "Parnelli" Jones , is a retired American racing driver and racecar owner. He is most remembered for his 1963 Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis 500 win, and almost winning the 1967 Indianapolis 500 Indy 500 in a turbine car....
Texarkana, AR (Midwest Champion) Fike #51
1960 - A.J. Foyt Houston, TX (East Champion) Watson #2
1961 - Parnelli Jones
Parnelli Jones

Rufus Parnell "Parnelli" Jones , is a retired American racing driver and racecar owner. He is most remembered for his 1963 Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis 500 win, and almost winning the 1967 Indianapolis 500 Indy 500 in a turbine car....
arkana, AR Fike #1
1962 - Parnelli Jones
Parnelli Jones

Rufus Parnell "Parnelli" Jones , is a retired American racing driver and racecar owner. He is most remembered for his 1963 Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis 500 win, and almost winning the 1967 Indianapolis 500 Indy 500 in a turbine car....
Texarkana, AR Fike #1
1963 - Roger McCluskey
Roger McCluskey

Roger McCluskey was an United States race car driver. He was from Tucson, Arizona.He won championship titles in three divisions of USAC -Sprints, Stocks, and Champ Cars....
San Antonio, TX Homeyer #2
1964 - Don Branson
Don Branson

Don Branson was an American racecar driver.Born in Rantoul, Illinois, Branson was killed in a racing crash at Ascot Park in Gardena, California....
Rantoul, IL Phillips #3
1965 - Johnny Rutherford
Johnny Rutherford

John Sherman Rutherford, III is a retired United States of America automobile racer.The Texas-raised "Lonestar J.R." is one of eight drivers to win the prestigious Indianapolis 500 mile race at least three times: in 1974 Indianapolis 500, 1976 Indianapolis 500, and 1980 Indianapolis 500....
Coffeyville, KS Meskowski #9
1966 - Roger McCluskey
Roger McCluskey

Roger McCluskey was an United States race car driver. He was from Tucson, Arizona.He won championship titles in three divisions of USAC -Sprints, Stocks, and Champ Cars....
San Antonio, TX Anderson #51
1967 - Greg Weld
Greg Weld

Greg Weld was an United States of America racecar driver.Weld won the 1963 Knoxville Nationals, the premiere event in sprint car racing. Weld raced in the United States Automobile Club Championship Car series in the 1965-1972 seasons, with 36 career starts, including the 1970 Indianapolis 500....
Kansas City, MO Leffler #92
1968 - Larry Dickson
Larry Dickson

Larry Dickson , is a former driver in the United States Automobile Club and Champ Car Championship Car series. He raced in the 1965-1981 seasons, with 105 combined career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1966-1969, 1971, 1978-1979, and 1981....
Marietta, OH Smith #4 & Stapp #27
1969 - Gary Bettenhausen
Gary Bettenhausen

Gary Bettenhausen is a retired American auto racing driver. He was born in Blue Island, Illinois, raised in Tinley Park, Illinois and lives in Monrovia, Indiana, Indiana....
Tinley Park, IL Davis #2
1970 - Larry Dickson
Larry Dickson

Larry Dickson , is a former driver in the United States Automobile Club and Champ Car Championship Car series. He raced in the 1965-1981 seasons, with 105 combined career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1966-1969, 1971, 1978-1979, and 1981....
Marietta, OH Lay #2
1971 - Gary Bettenhausen
Gary Bettenhausen

Gary Bettenhausen is a retired American auto racing driver. He was born in Blue Island, Illinois, raised in Tinley Park, Illinois and lives in Monrovia, Indiana, Indiana....
Tinley Park, IL Davis #2
1972 - Sammy Sessions
Sammy Sessions

Allen Dale "Sammy" Sessions was an American racecar driver.Born in Nashville, Michigan, Sessions died in a snowmobile racing accident in Alexandria, Minnesota....
Nashville, MI Amerling #4
1973 - Rollie Beale Toledo, OH Kilman #2
1974 - Pancho Carter
Pancho Carter

Duane "Pancho" Carter, Jr. is a retired American race car driver. He is most famous for his participation in CART races....
Racine, WI Stapp #6
1975 - Larry Dickson
Larry Dickson

Larry Dickson , is a former driver in the United States Automobile Club and Champ Car Championship Car series. He raced in the 1965-1981 seasons, with 105 combined career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1966-1969, 1971, 1978-1979, and 1981....
Marietta, OH Ensign #80
1976 - Pancho Carter
Pancho Carter

Duane "Pancho" Carter, Jr. is a retired American race car driver. He is most famous for his participation in CART races....
Racine, WI Stapp #4
1977 - Sheldon Kinser
Sheldon Kinser

Sheldon Kinser , was an American race-car driver.Kinser, a Bloomington, Indiana native, died of cancer. He was a three-time United States Automobile Club Sprint car racing Series Champion ....
Bloomington, IN Hammond #56
1978 - Tom Bigelow
Tom Bigelow

Tom Bigelow , USA, is a former driver in the United States Automobile Club and CART Championship Car series....
Whitewater, WI Armstrong #43
1979 - Greg Leffler
Greg Leffler

Greg Leffler , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1980-1983 seasons, with 13 career starts, including the 1980 Indianapolis 500....
Winchester, IN Armstrong #43
1980 - Rich Vogler
Rich Vogler

Rich Vogler was a champion Sprint car racing and midget car racing driver. He was nicknamed "Rapid Rich". He competed in the Indianapolis 500 five times, his best finish was eighth in 1989 Indianapolis 500....
Chicago, IL Seibert #2
1981 - Sheldon Kinser
Sheldon Kinser

Sheldon Kinser , was an American race-car driver.Kinser, a Bloomington, Indiana native, died of cancer. He was a three-time United States Automobile Club Sprint car racing Series Champion ....
Bloomington, IN Leyba #6
1982 - Sheldon Kinser
Sheldon Kinser

Sheldon Kinser , was an American race-car driver.Kinser, a Bloomington, Indiana native, died of cancer. He was a three-time United States Automobile Club Sprint car racing Series Champion ....
Bloomington, IN Leyba #1
1983 - Ken Schrader
Ken Schrader

Kenneth Schrader is a second-generation race car driver. He is currently driving in the Sprint Cup series part time for Phoenix Racing. He occasionally appears as a television analyst on This Week In NASCAR on the Speed Channel....
Fenton, MO Fortune #39
1984 - Rick Hood Phoenix, AZ Fortune #39
1985 - Rick Hood Phoenix, AZ Fortune #39
1986 - Steve Butler
Steve Butler

Steve Butler won six national driving championships in United States Automobile Club Sprint Car and Silver Crown open-wheel racing....
Amarillo, TX Stoops #6
1987 - Steve Butler
Steve Butler

Steve Butler won six national driving championships in United States Automobile Club Sprint Car and Silver Crown open-wheel racing....
Amarillo, TX Stoops #1
1988 - Steve Butler
Steve Butler

Steve Butler won six national driving championships in United States Automobile Club Sprint Car and Silver Crown open-wheel racing....
Amarillo, TX Stoops #1
1989 - Rich Vogler
Rich Vogler

Rich Vogler was a champion Sprint car racing and midget car racing driver. He was nicknamed "Rapid Rich". He competed in the Indianapolis 500 five times, his best finish was eighth in 1989 Indianapolis 500....
Chicago, IL Dynamics #69
1990 - Steve Butler
Steve Butler

Steve Butler won six national driving championships in United States Automobile Club Sprint Car and Silver Crown open-wheel racing....
Amarillo, TX Dynamics #69
1991 - Robbie Stanley
Robbie Stanley

Robbie Stanley, born November 16, 1967 in Brownsburg, Indiana died May 26, 1994 in Winchester, Indiana was an United States auto racing driver....
Brownsburg, IN Stanley #7
1992 - Robbie Stanley
Robbie Stanley

Robbie Stanley, born November 16, 1967 in Brownsburg, Indiana died May 26, 1994 in Winchester, Indiana was an United States auto racing driver....
Brownsburg, IN Stanley #1
1993 - Robbie Stanley
Robbie Stanley

Robbie Stanley, born November 16, 1967 in Brownsburg, Indiana died May 26, 1994 in Winchester, Indiana was an United States auto racing driver....
Brownsburg, IN Dynamics #69
1994 - Doug Kalitta
Doug Kalitta

Doug Kalitta is an United States auto racing driver from Ypsilanti, Michigan.He was the 1994 United States Automobile Club National Sprint Car Champion and is a current NHRA top fuel drag racer....
Ypsilanti, MI Kalitta #22k
1995 - Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart

Anthony Wayne Stewart is an American race car driver/car owner/entrepreneur, in NASCAR's Sprint Cup . During his career he has won championships in the Winston Cup, Nextel Cup and IndyCar Series....
Columbus, IN Niebel #20
1996 - Brian Tyler Parma, MI Contos #4c
1997 - Brian Tyler Parma, MI Contos #4c
1998 - Tony Elliott Warsaw, IN Walker/Vance #2 & Conroy #12
1999 - Dave Darland
Dave Darland

David Lee Darland in Kokomo, Indiana, is an United States auto racing driver who was the 1997 United States Automobile Club Silver Crown Champion, 1999 United States Automobile Club National Sprint Car Champion, and 2001 and 2002 United States Automobile Club National Midget Champion....
Lincoln, IN Hoffman #69
2000 - Tony Elliott Warsaw, IN Walker #66
2001 - J. J. Yeley
J. J. Yeley

Christopher Beltram Hernandez Yeley is a NASCAR racecar driver from Phoenix, Arizona. He is currently a free agent....
Phoenix, AZ GT #76
2002 - Tracy Hines
Tracy Hines

Tracy Lee Hines is an United States auto racing driver. He was the 2000 United States Automobile Club Silver Crown Champion and 2002 USAC National Sprint Car Champion....
New Castle, IN Dynamics #69
2003 - J. J. Yeley
J. J. Yeley

Christopher Beltram Hernandez Yeley is a NASCAR racecar driver from Phoenix, Arizona. He is currently a free agent....
Phoenix, AZ Stewart #20
2004 - Jay Drake
Jay Drake

Jay Scott Drake is an United States auto racing driver....
Santa Maria, CA Stewart #20
2005 - Levi Jones Olney, IL Benic #2B
2006 - Josh Wise Riverside, CA Stewart #20
2007 - Levi Jones Olney, IL Stewart #20
2008 - Jerry Coons, Jr. Tucson, AZ Dynamics #69

USAC National Midget Series

USAC National Midget Series Champions

1956 - Shorty Templeman
Shorty Templeman

Clark "Shorty" Templeman was an United States racecar driver....
Pueblo, CA
1957 - Shorty Templeman
Shorty Templeman

Clark "Shorty" Templeman was an United States racecar driver....
Pueblo, CA
1958 - Shorty Templeman
Shorty Templeman

Clark "Shorty" Templeman was an United States racecar driver....
Pueblo, CA
1959 - Gene Hartley
Gene Hartley

Leslie "Gene" Hartley was an United States racecar driver. He was born and died in Roanoke, Indiana.Hartley was the son of midget car racing driver Ted Hartley, who competed into his 60s....
Roanoke, IN
1960 - Jimmy Davies
Jimmy Davies

Jimmy Davies was an United States racecar driver in Champ Car and midget car racing. He was the second man to win three United States Automobile Club National Midget Championships....
Glendale, CA
1961 - Jimmy Davies
Jimmy Davies

Jimmy Davies was an United States racecar driver in Champ Car and midget car racing. He was the second man to win three United States Automobile Club National Midget Championships....
Glendale, CA
1962 - Jimmy Davies
Jimmy Davies

Jimmy Davies was an United States racecar driver in Champ Car and midget car racing. He was the second man to win three United States Automobile Club National Midget Championships....
Glendale, CA
1963 - Bob Wente
Bob Wente

Bob Wente, was an American racecar driver.Midget carHe started racing midget car racing in 1953 at the St. Louis Auto Racing Association....
St. Louis, MO
1964 - Mel Kenyon
Mel Kenyon

Mel Kenyon is a former midget car racing driver. He is known as the "King of the Midgets" , "Miraculous Mel" , and "Champion of Midget Auto Racing." The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America says "Many consider him to be midget car racing's greatest driver ever." ...
Lacon, IL
1965 - Mike McGreevy Hoosick, NY
1966 - Mike McGreevy Hoosick, NY #1
1967 - Mel Kenyon
Mel Kenyon

Mel Kenyon is a former midget car racing driver. He is known as the "King of the Midgets" , "Miraculous Mel" , and "Champion of Midget Auto Racing." The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America says "Many consider him to be midget car racing's greatest driver ever." ...
Lacon, IN Kenyon #1
1968 - Mel Kenyon
Mel Kenyon

Mel Kenyon is a former midget car racing driver. He is known as the "King of the Midgets" , "Miraculous Mel" , and "Champion of Midget Auto Racing." The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America says "Many consider him to be midget car racing's greatest driver ever." ...
Lacon, IN Kenyon #1
1969 - Bob Tattersall Pennsbury, PA Stroud #3
1970 - Jimmy Caruthers
Jimmy Caruthers

Douglas "Jimmy" Caruthers was an American racecar driver from Anaheim, California. He raced Midget car racing, Sprint car racing, and Champ cars....
Anaheim, CA Caruthers #5
1971 - Danny Caruthers Caruthers #5
1972 - Pancho Carter
Pancho Carter

Duane "Pancho" Carter, Jr. is a retired American race car driver. He is most famous for his participation in CART races....
Racine, WI Rieder #81
1973 - Larry Rice
Larry Rice

Larry Rice , is a former driver in the United States Automobile Club and CART Championship Car series....
Linden, IN Shannon #2
1974 - Mel Kenyon
Mel Kenyon

Mel Kenyon is a former midget car racing driver. He is known as the "King of the Midgets" , "Miraculous Mel" , and "Champion of Midget Auto Racing." The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America says "Many consider him to be midget car racing's greatest driver ever." ...
Lacon, IL Kenyon #61
1975 - Sleepy Tripp
Sleepy Tripp

Ron "Sleepy" Tripp is an American Hall of Fame midget car racing driver. Tripp got his nickname as a youth when he would fall asleep in his quarter midget car while waiting for his next race to start....
Costa Mesa, CA #5
1976 - Sleepy Tripp
Sleepy Tripp

Ron "Sleepy" Tripp is an American Hall of Fame midget car racing driver. Tripp got his nickname as a youth when he would fall asleep in his quarter midget car while waiting for his next race to start....
Costa Mesa, CA #1
1977 - Mel Kenyon
Mel Kenyon

Mel Kenyon is a former midget car racing driver. He is known as the "King of the Midgets" , "Miraculous Mel" , and "Champion of Midget Auto Racing." The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America says "Many consider him to be midget car racing's greatest driver ever." ...
Lacon, IL Armstrong #43
1978 - Rich Vogler
Rich Vogler

Rich Vogler was a champion Sprint car racing and midget car racing driver. He was nicknamed "Rapid Rich". He competed in the Indianapolis 500 five times, his best finish was eighth in 1989 Indianapolis 500....
Chicago, IL Caruthers #2
1979 - Steve Lotshaw Piascik #2
1980 - Rich Vogler
Rich Vogler

Rich Vogler was a champion Sprint car racing and midget car racing driver. He was nicknamed "Rapid Rich". He competed in the Indianapolis 500 five times, his best finish was eighth in 1989 Indianapolis 500....
Chicago, IL Lockard #69
1981 - Mel Kenyon
Mel Kenyon

Mel Kenyon is a former midget car racing driver. He is known as the "King of the Midgets" , "Miraculous Mel" , and "Champion of Midget Auto Racing." The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America says "Many consider him to be midget car racing's greatest driver ever." ...
Lacon, IL Kenyon #61
1982 - Kevin Olson Machesney Park, IL Carey #5
1983 - Rich Vogler
Rich Vogler

Rich Vogler was a champion Sprint car racing and midget car racing driver. He was nicknamed "Rapid Rich". He competed in the Indianapolis 500 five times, his best finish was eighth in 1989 Indianapolis 500....
Chicago, IL Streicher #4
1984 - Tom Bigelow
Tom Bigelow

Tom Bigelow , USA, is a former driver in the United States Automobile Club and CART Championship Car series....
Whitewater, WI Sandy #16
1985 - Mel Kenyon
Mel Kenyon

Mel Kenyon is a former midget car racing driver. He is known as the "King of the Midgets" , "Miraculous Mel" , and "Champion of Midget Auto Racing." The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America says "Many consider him to be midget car racing's greatest driver ever." ...
Lacon, IL Burns #66
1986 - Rich Vogler
Rich Vogler

Rich Vogler was a champion Sprint car racing and midget car racing driver. He was nicknamed "Rapid Rich". He competed in the Indianapolis 500 five times, his best finish was eighth in 1989 Indianapolis 500....
Chicago, IL Byrd #2
1987 - Kevin Olson Machesney Park, IL Wilke #11
1988 - Rich Vogler
Rich Vogler

Rich Vogler was a champion Sprint car racing and midget car racing driver. He was nicknamed "Rapid Rich". He competed in the Indianapolis 500 five times, his best finish was eighth in 1989 Indianapolis 500....
Chicago, IL Byrd #1
1989 - Russ Gamester
Russ Gamester

Russell Gamester, born on January 9, 1965 in Lombard, Illinois is an United States auto racing driver.A long time competitor in United States Auto Club racing, Gamester collected the USAC National Midget title in 1989....
Peru, IN Gamester #46
1990 - Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon

Jeffery Michael Gordon is a professional United States of America race car driver. He was born in Vallejo, California, raised in Pittsboro, Indiana, and currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina....
Vallejo, CA Helmling #4
1991 - Mike Streicher
Mike Streicher

Mike Streicher is an American auto racing driver . He is the United States Automobile Club National Midget Champion of 1991 when he fielded the Streicher #8....
Findlay, OH Streicher #8
1992 - Stevie Reeves
Stevie Reeves

Stevie Reeves born on May 16, 1967 in Speedway, Indiana is an United States auto racing driver.After several seasons racing on the bullrings of Indiana, Reeves traveled nationally with the United States Automobile Club and wound up winning back-to-back USAC National Midget cars titles in 1992 for the Wilke Racers and in 1993 for legendary...
Speedway, IN Wilke #11
1993 - Stevie Reeves
Stevie Reeves

Stevie Reeves born on May 16, 1967 in Speedway, Indiana is an United States auto racing driver.After several seasons racing on the bullrings of Indiana, Reeves traveled nationally with the United States Automobile Club and wound up winning back-to-back USAC National Midget cars titles in 1992 for the Wilke Racers and in 1993 for legendary...
Speedway, IN Lewis #9
1994 - Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart

Anthony Wayne Stewart is an American race car driver/car owner/entrepreneur, in NASCAR's Sprint Cup . During his career he has won championships in the Winston Cup, Nextel Cup and IndyCar Series....
Columbus, IN Potter #6
1995 - Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart

Anthony Wayne Stewart is an American race car driver/car owner/entrepreneur, in NASCAR's Sprint Cup . During his career he has won championships in the Winston Cup, Nextel Cup and IndyCar Series....
Columbus, IN Lewis #9
1996 - Kenny Irwin, Jr.
Kenny Irwin, Jr.

Kenneth Dale Irwin, Jr. was a NASCAR stock car driver. He had driven in all three major of forms of NASCAR and had two total victories. Before that, he raced in the United States Auto Club against Tony Stewart who was one of his fiercest rivals....
Indianapolis, IN Lewis #91
1997 - Jason Leffler
Jason Leffler

Jason Leffler is a NASCAR driver from Long Beach, California. Leffler moved from the open-wheel ranks to NASCAR's three major series. Best known for his reckless driving and faux hawk hairstyle, Leffler currently drives the #38 Great Clips Toyota for Braun Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series....
Long Beach, CA Willoughby #71
1998 - Jason Leffler
Jason Leffler

Jason Leffler is a NASCAR driver from Long Beach, California. Leffler moved from the open-wheel ranks to NASCAR's three major series. Best known for his reckless driving and faux hawk hairstyle, Leffler currently drives the #38 Great Clips Toyota for Braun Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series....
Long Beach, CA Lewis #9
1999 - Jason Leffler
Jason Leffler

Jason Leffler is a NASCAR driver from Long Beach, California. Leffler moved from the open-wheel ranks to NASCAR's three major series. Best known for his reckless driving and faux hawk hairstyle, Leffler currently drives the #38 Great Clips Toyota for Braun Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series....
Long Beach, CA Lewis #9
2000 - Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kahne

Kasey Kenneth Kahne is a Auto racing driver in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. For the 2009 season, he drives the #9 Budweiser Dodge Charger for Richard Petty Motorsports with teammates Elliott Sadler, Reed Sorenson, and AJ Allmendinger....
Enumclaw, WA Lewis #91
2001 - Dave Darland
Dave Darland

David Lee Darland in Kokomo, Indiana, is an United States auto racing driver who was the 1997 United States Automobile Club Silver Crown Champion, 1999 United States Automobile Club National Sprint Car Champion, and 2001 and 2002 United States Automobile Club National Midget Champion....
Lincoln, IN Lewis #9
2002 - Dave Darland
Dave Darland

David Lee Darland in Kokomo, Indiana, is an United States auto racing driver who was the 1997 United States Automobile Club Silver Crown Champion, 1999 United States Automobile Club National Sprint Car Champion, and 2001 and 2002 United States Automobile Club National Midget Champion....
Lincoln, IN Lewis #9
2003 - J. J. Yeley
J. J. Yeley

Christopher Beltram Hernandez Yeley is a NASCAR racecar driver from Phoenix, Arizona. He is currently a free agent....
Phoenix, AZ Lewis #9
2004 - Bobby East
Bobby East

Bobby East, born in Torrance, California on December 17, 1984, is an United States auto racing driver. He has raced in the United States Auto Club, the Auto Racing Club of American, and NASCAR....
Torrance, CA Lewis #9
2005 - Josh Wise Riverside, CA Stewart #20w
2006 - Jerry Coons Jr. Tucson, AZ Wilke #11
2007 - Jerry Coons Jr. Tucson, AZ Wilke-Pak #11
2008 - Cole Whitt Alpine, CA Kunz #71

USAC Stock Cars

The United States Automobile Club

United States Automobile Club

The United States Automobile Club is an open-wheel auto racing sanctioning body. From 1956 to 1979, the USAC sanctioned the United States American Championship Car Racing, and from 1956 to 1997 it sanctioned the Indianapolis 500....
featured a Stock Car Series division from 1956-1984.

Past Champions
Year	Champion	2nd Place	3rd Place	Rookie Of The Year
1956¹	Johnny Mantz Johnny Mantz Johnny Mantz was an United States racecar driver....	Marshall Teague Marshall Teague Marshall Teague was an United States auto racing.He was nicknamed by NASCAR fans as the "King of the Beach" for his performances at the Daytona Beach Road Course....	Les Snow	None
1957	Jerry Unser Jerry Unser Jerry Unser was an United States racecar driver. He was the 1957 United States Automobile Club Stock Car champion.Jerry was the first of the Unser family to compete at Indianapolis....	Ralph Moody Ralph Moody Ralph Moody was a NASCAR early driver, but became most famous as team co-owner of Holman Moody....	Sam Hanks Sam Hanks Sam Hanks was an United States racecar driver who won the 1957 Indianapolis 500. He was a barnstorming, and raced Midget car racing and Champ Car cars....	None
1958	Fred Lorenzen Fred Lorenzen Fred Lorenzen , is a former NASCAR driver. He first caught the car bug young, and had built his first car at the age of 13. After graduating from high school, he began racing modifieds and late models, and made his NASCAR debut in 1956 at Langhorne Speedway, finishing 26th after suffering a broken fuel pump, winning $25....	Mike Klapak	Norm Nelson	None
1959	Fred Lorenzen Fred Lorenzen Fred Lorenzen , is a former NASCAR driver. He first caught the car bug young, and had built his first car at the age of 13. After graduating from high school, he began racing modifieds and late models, and made his NASCAR debut in 1956 at Langhorne Speedway, finishing 26th after suffering a broken fuel pump, winning $25....	Mike Klapak	Nelson Stacy	None
1960	Norm Nelson	Paul Goldsmith Paul Goldsmith Paul Goldsmith is a motorcycle Motorcycle Hall of Fame and former USAC and NASCAR driver....	Tony Bettenhausen Tony Bettenhausen Melvin E. "Tony" Bettenhausen was an American racing driver, who won the American Championship Car Racing in 1951 and 1958.Bettenhausen was nicknamed the "Tinley Park Express" in honor of his hometown....	None
1961	Paul Goldsmith Paul Goldsmith Paul Goldsmith is a motorcycle Motorcycle Hall of Fame and former USAC and NASCAR driver....	Norm Nelson	Elmer Musgrave	None
1962	Paul Goldsmith Paul Goldsmith Paul Goldsmith is a motorcycle Motorcycle Hall of Fame and former USAC and NASCAR driver....	Don White Don White Don White or Donald White may refer to:* Donald C. White, Pennsylvania state senator* Don White , English rugby union footballer* Donald White , head basketball coach at Rutgers university...	Norm Nelson	None
1963	Don White Don White Don White or Donald White may refer to:* Donald C. White, Pennsylvania state senator* Don White , English rugby union footballer* Donald White , head basketball coach at Rutgers university...	A.J. Foyt	Norm Nelson	Sal Tovella
1964	Parnelli Jones Parnelli Jones Rufus Parnell "Parnelli" Jones , is a retired American racing driver and racecar owner. He is most remembered for his 1963 Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis 500 win, and almost winning the 1967 Indianapolis 500 Indy 500 in a turbine car....	Norm Nelson	Don White Don White Don White or Donald White may refer to:* Donald C. White, Pennsylvania state senator* Don White , English rugby union footballer* Donald White , head basketball coach at Rutgers university...	Joe Leonard Joe Leonard Joe Leonard , is a retired American motorcycle racer and racecar driver.Leonard won the first American Motorcyclist Association Grand National Championship Series in 1954 and won it again in 1956 and 1957....
1965	Norm Nelson	Paul Goldsmith Paul Goldsmith Paul Goldsmith is a motorcycle Motorcycle Hall of Fame and former USAC and NASCAR driver....	Don White Don White Don White or Donald White may refer to:* Donald C. White, Pennsylvania state senator* Don White , English rugby union footballer* Donald White , head basketball coach at Rutgers university...	Billy Foster Billy Foster Billy Foster , was a Canadian racecar driver.Born in Victoria, British Columbia, Foster died in a crash during practice at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California....
1966	Norm Nelson	Don White Don White Don White or Donald White may refer to:* Donald C. White, Pennsylvania state senator* Don White , English rugby union footballer* Donald White , head basketball coach at Rutgers university...	Billy Foster Billy Foster Billy Foster , was a Canadian racecar driver.Born in Victoria, British Columbia, Foster died in a crash during practice at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California....	Butch Hartman Butch Hartman (racer) Larry "Butch" Hartman was an American stock car racing national champion in the United States Automobile Club from Zanesville, Ohio. After winning the USAC Stock Car Rookie of the Year award in 1966, the series' Most Improved Driver in 1967, and its Most Outstanding Driver the following year....
1967	Don White Don White Don White or Donald White may refer to:* Donald C. White, Pennsylvania state senator* Don White , English rugby union footballer* Donald White , head basketball coach at Rutgers university...	Parnelli Jones Parnelli Jones Rufus Parnell "Parnelli" Jones , is a retired American racing driver and racecar owner. He is most remembered for his 1963 Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis 500 win, and almost winning the 1967 Indianapolis 500 Indy 500 in a turbine car....	Jack Bowsher	Al Unser Al Unser Alfred Unser is a former United States of America automobile racing driver, the younger brother of Bobby Unser and father of Al Unser, Jr.. He is the second of three men to have won the Indianapolis 500 four times, the fourth of five to have won the race in consecutive years, and is the only person to have both a sibling and child as fello...
1968	A.J. Foyt	Roger McCluskey Roger McCluskey Roger McCluskey was an United States race car driver. He was from Tucson, Arizona.He won championship titles in three divisions of USAC -Sprints, Stocks, and Champ Cars....	Don White Don White Don White or Donald White may refer to:* Donald C. White, Pennsylvania state senator* Don White , English rugby union footballer* Donald White , head basketball coach at Rutgers university...	Dick Trickle Dick Trickle Richard "Dick" Trickle is a retired American auto racing. He raced for decades around the Short track motor racing of Wisconsin, winning many championships along the way....
1969	Roger McCluskey Roger McCluskey Roger McCluskey was an United States race car driver. He was from Tucson, Arizona.He won championship titles in three divisions of USAC -Sprints, Stocks, and Champ Cars....	A.J. Foyt	Don White Don White Don White or Donald White may refer to:* Donald C. White, Pennsylvania state senator* Don White , English rugby union footballer* Donald White , head basketball coach at Rutgers university...	Verlin Eaker
1970	Roger McCluskey Roger McCluskey Roger McCluskey was an United States race car driver. He was from Tucson, Arizona.He won championship titles in three divisions of USAC -Sprints, Stocks, and Champ Cars....	Norm Nelson	A.J. Foyt	Billy Reis
1971	Butch Hartman Butch Hartman (racer) Larry "Butch" Hartman was an American stock car racing national champion in the United States Automobile Club from Zanesville, Ohio. After winning the USAC Stock Car Rookie of the Year award in 1966, the series' Most Improved Driver in 1967, and its Most Outstanding Driver the following year....	Jack Bowsher	Roger McCluskey Roger McCluskey Roger McCluskey was an United States race car driver. He was from Tucson, Arizona.He won championship titles in three divisions of USAC -Sprints, Stocks, and Champ Cars....	J. Booher/B. Schroyer
1972	Butch Hartman Butch Hartman (racer) Larry "Butch" Hartman was an American stock car racing national champion in the United States Automobile Club from Zanesville, Ohio. After winning the USAC Stock Car Rookie of the Year award in 1966, the series' Most Improved Driver in 1967, and its Most Outstanding Driver the following year....	Roger McCluskey Roger McCluskey Roger McCluskey was an United States race car driver. He was from Tucson, Arizona.He won championship titles in three divisions of USAC -Sprints, Stocks, and Champ Cars....	Paul Feldner	Chuck McWilliams
1973	Butch Hartman Butch Hartman (racer) Larry "Butch" Hartman was an American stock car racing national champion in the United States Automobile Club from Zanesville, Ohio. After winning the USAC Stock Car Rookie of the Year award in 1966, the series' Most Improved Driver in 1967, and its Most Outstanding Driver the following year....	Ramo Stott Ramo Stott Ramo Stott is a retired American stock car racing from Keokuk, Iowa. He competed in NASCAR Winston Cup, United States Automobile Club stock car, and Automobile Racing Club of America....	Bay Darnell	Irv Janey
1974	Butch Hartman Butch Hartman (racer) Larry "Butch" Hartman was an American stock car racing national champion in the United States Automobile Club from Zanesville, Ohio. After winning the USAC Stock Car Rookie of the Year award in 1966, the series' Most Improved Driver in 1967, and its Most Outstanding Driver the following year....	Norm Nelson	Ramo Stott Ramo Stott Ramo Stott is a retired American stock car racing from Keokuk, Iowa. He competed in NASCAR Winston Cup, United States Automobile Club stock car, and Automobile Racing Club of America....	Ken Rowley Ken Rowley Kenneth Francis "Ken" Rowley was an England association football who played as an inside forward. He made 44 appearances in the Football League playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C., Birmingham City F.C....
1975	Ramo Stott Ramo Stott Ramo Stott is a retired American stock car racing from Keokuk, Iowa. He competed in NASCAR Winston Cup, United States Automobile Club stock car, and Automobile Racing Club of America....	Butch Hartman Butch Hartman (racer) Larry "Butch" Hartman was an American stock car racing national champion in the United States Automobile Club from Zanesville, Ohio. After winning the USAC Stock Car Rookie of the Year award in 1966, the series' Most Improved Driver in 1967, and its Most Outstanding Driver the following year....	Sal Tovella	Len Gittemeier
1976	Butch Hartman Butch Hartman (racer) Larry "Butch" Hartman was an American stock car racing national champion in the United States Automobile Club from Zanesville, Ohio. After winning the USAC Stock Car Rookie of the Year award in 1966, the series' Most Improved Driver in 1967, and its Most Outstanding Driver the following year....	Ramo Stott Ramo Stott Ramo Stott is a retired American stock car racing from Keokuk, Iowa. He competed in NASCAR Winston Cup, United States Automobile Club stock car, and Automobile Racing Club of America....	Sal Tovella	Wayne Watercutter
1977	Paul Feldner	Ramo Stott Ramo Stott Ramo Stott is a retired American stock car racing from Keokuk, Iowa. He competed in NASCAR Winston Cup, United States Automobile Club stock car, and Automobile Racing Club of America....	Sal Tovella	Dave Watson Dave Watson David "Dave" Watson is an England former professional Association football who made 12 appearances for the England national football team. He is now the youth team coach at Wigan Athletic F.C.....
1978	A.J. Foyt	Terry Ryan	Bay Darnell	Joe Ruttman Joe Ruttman Joe Ruttman , is an American former racecar driver in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and Camping World Truck Series and is a 13 time winner in the Truck Series, the seventh most wins by any driver in the Truck Series....
1979	A.J. Foyt	Bay Darnell	Rusty Wallace Rusty Wallace Russell William "Rusty" Wallace is a former NASCAR champion, NASCAR Nationwide Series car owner, and television broadcaster with NASCAR on ESPN and ESPN on ABC and co-host of NASCAR Angels....	Rusty Wallace Rusty Wallace Russell William "Rusty" Wallace is a former NASCAR champion, NASCAR Nationwide Series car owner, and television broadcaster with NASCAR on ESPN and ESPN on ABC and co-host of NASCAR Angels....
1980	Joe Ruttman Joe Ruttman Joe Ruttman , is an American former racecar driver in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and Camping World Truck Series and is a 13 time winner in the Truck Series, the seventh most wins by any driver in the Truck Series....	Rusty Wallace Rusty Wallace Russell William "Rusty" Wallace is a former NASCAR champion, NASCAR Nationwide Series car owner, and television broadcaster with NASCAR on ESPN and ESPN on ABC and co-host of NASCAR Angels....	Bay Darnell	Ken Schrader Ken Schrader Kenneth Schrader is a second-generation race car driver. He is currently driving in the Sprint Cup series part time for Phoenix Racing. He occasionally appears as a television analyst on This Week In NASCAR on the Speed Channel....
1981	Dean Roper	Sal Tovella	Ken Schrader Ken Schrader Kenneth Schrader is a second-generation race car driver. He is currently driving in the Sprint Cup series part time for Phoenix Racing. He occasionally appears as a television analyst on This Week In NASCAR on the Speed Channel....	Rick Hanley
1982	Dean Roper	Bay Darnell	Rick O'Brien	J. Schwister/J. Lindhorst
1983	Dean Roper	Butch Garner	Rick O'Brien	Roger Drake Roger Drake Roger Drake was an administrator of the British East India Company. He served as President of Bengal in the mid-eighteenth century. He was succeeded by Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive who was to transform the fortunes of the company after the Battle of Plassey and firmly establish Company rule in India....
1984	David Goldsberry	Ken Rowley Ken Rowley Kenneth Francis "Ken" Rowley was an England association football who played as an inside forward. He made 44 appearances in the Football League playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C., Birmingham City F.C....	Jim Hall Jim Hall (race car driver) Jim Hall is a former racecar driver and constructor from the United States. He competed in Formula One from to , participating in 12 World Championship Grands Prix and numerous non-Championship races....	David Goldsberry

¹ - The inaugural season featured two subtitles: Pacific Coast (won by Sam Hanks

Sam Hanks

Sam Hanks was an United States racecar driver who won the 1957 Indianapolis 500. He was a barnstorming, and raced Midget car racing and Champ Car cars....
) and Short Track (Troy Ruttman

Troy Ruttman

Troy Ruttman was an American race car driver. He was the older brother of NASCAR driver Joe Ruttman.Ruttman won the Indianapolis 500 in 1952 Indianapolis 500, and , he is the youngest winner of the race....
).

United States Automobile Club

2008 USAC National Schedules

History

1978 Plane Crash

End of Championship car sanctioning

IRL sanctioning body

USAC Championship Car Series

USAC Silver Crown Series

USAC Sprint Car Series

USAC National Midget Series

USAC Stock Cars

External links