The first National Open was held in 1963, won by eventual two time Indianapolis 500 champion Gordon Johncock. 32 different drivers have won the National Open. Of those 32 drivers, four have attempted to qualify for…
vintage sprint cars |
NASCAR’s Speedway Division
There are a few iconic, one-of-a-kind racecars that stand out in racing history. Some of these cars are famous for their structure, such as Tom Johnson’s wicked sprint car designs of the 1980’s and Kenny Weld’s…
1955: Tragedy, Change & James Dean
There are many dark chapters in the history of auto racing, but few compare to the devastation and tragedy that took place in 1955. In the same season, horrific crashes overshadowed the Indianapolis 500, the Le…
The Eldora Mile: The House that Earl Almost Built
Eldora and Earl Baltes. In many corners of the racing world, these names are synonymous, representing both risk and respect in every regard. A musician turned racetrack owner and promoter, the charismatic man with a flipped-up…
The Test: Hodnett’s Brush with the IRL
Before I dive in, I feel the need to share some personal commentary in regards to this piece. This story is very personal for me, and here’s why… My best friend Brandon Dupert and I helped…
The Lebanon Gang: The Original PA Posse
Knoxville, Iowa may be known as “The Sprint Car Capital of the World”, but for many the soul of sprint car racing lies further east in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania. It’s here, among the corn…
Super Heroes Never Die
Numb. That was the first thought that I managed to compose in the moments after Greg Hodnett’s passing. I was numb. I felt hollow. Nothing was real. This isn’t real. The accident, my friends and…
Marlboro & USAC: The One That Got Away
Winston and NASCAR. For decades, these two brands were synonymous with one another. The R.J. Reynolds company promoted their Winston cigarette brand via sponsoring NASCAR’s premier Grand National Division from 1971- 2002, and quickly became the…
Ranger Powered Sprint Cars: How WWII Airplane Engines Found a Home in Sprint Car Racing
Imagine you’re in 1960’s America. The price of a gallon of gas is $0.34. Republican candidate Richard Nixon is running for office as the President of the United States. The Beatles’ latest tune plays on the…
NASCAR in Central Pennsylvania
Take a glance at the Lincoln Speedway all-time winners list. As you likely already know, Fred Rahmer tops the list with an astounding 169 career wins. ‘The Black Bandit’ Steve Smith sits second on the list…