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 the Indianapolis 500: Gordon Johncock, Larry Dickson, Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell Of those four drivers, three were able to…
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 “Back to the Future” sprint car in 1988. Others are remembered because of their performance, such Weld’s legendary No….
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 Mans endurance race and the world of show business. Over the course of a few months, the world witnessed…
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 hat brim is widely regarded as one of the greatest promoters that racing has ever known. Earl’s story is…