Gary Bettenhausen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gary Bettenhausen
|
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bettenhausen in 1984
|
|||||||
Born | |||||||
Died | March 16, 2014 |
(aged 72)||||||
Nationality | American | ||||||
Relatives | Tony Bettenhausen (father) Tony Bettenhausen Jr. (brother) Merle Bettenhausen (brother) |
||||||
Achievements | 1969, 1971 Sprint car champion 1980, 1983 USAC Silver Crown Series champion |
||||||
Awards | 1993 National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Inductee 1998 National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame inductee |
||||||
Champ Car career | |||||||
179 races run over 28 years | |||||||
Best finish | 5th (1979) | ||||||
First race | 1966 Bobby Ball Memorial (Phoenix) | ||||||
Last race | 1996 U.S. 500 (Michigan) | ||||||
First win | 1968 Bobby Ball Memorial (Phoenix) | ||||||
Last win | 1973 Texas 200 (College Station) | ||||||
|
|||||||
NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
8 races run over 2 years | |||||||
Best finish | 43rd (1974) | ||||||
First race | 1967 Daytona 500 (Daytona) | ||||||
Last race | 1974 Motor State 360 (Michigan) | ||||||
|
Gary Bettenhausen (November 18, 1941 – March 16, 2014) was an American midget car driver. He was the winner the 1967 and 1970 Turkey Night Grand Prix, the 1972 Astro Grand Prix, and the 1976 Hut Hundred
Contents
Personal life
Bettenhausen was born in Blue Island, Illinois, raised in Tinley Park, Illinois, he graduated in 1962 from Bremen High School in Midlothian, Illinois .
Bettenhausen's father was Indianapolis 500 and sprint car legend Tony Bettenhausen. His brother was former CART driver and team owner Tony. Another brother, Merle, lost his arm in a fiery crash.
He married his wife Wavelyn on January 4, 1964, and the family had three children, Gary Jr., and twin sons Cary and Todd. They had two grandchildren. Cary and Todd run a medical products company in Indiana and have numerous patents. In addition, Todd is a well-known eSports gamer involved in motorsport simulation equipment. According to Indianapolis 500 radio broadcaster Mark Jaynes, the twins attended Monrovia High School with him and current Team Penske crew chief Kyle Moyer. graduating together in 1982.
Bettenhausen died on March 16, 2014 in Monrovia, Indiana.
Racing career
Midgets
Bettenhausen began as a midget car driver. He finished third in the midget car national points in 1967. He won the first leg of the Astro Grand Prix in 1969, which was held in the Astrodome. He won the 1967 and 1970 Turkey Night Grand Prix, the 1972 Astro Grand Prix, and the 1976 Hut Hundred, on his way to a total of 27 career wins in USAC midget car competition.
Sprint cars
Bettenhausen won the 1969 and 1971 sprint car championships.
He won the 1980 and 1983 USAC Dirt Track champions in a Silver Crown car.
A crash at a Championship Dirt Car race (AKA Silver Crown Car) in Syracuse, New York on July 4, 1974 crushed his left arm and left it paralyzed. He regained enough mobility to drive but never fully recovered from the injury.
Indy/Championship Cars & Indianapolis 500
Bettenhausen competed in Champ/Indy style cars from the mid-1960s until 1996. During this time he won six USAC Indy Car races. He made 21 starts in the Indianapolis 500, contesting each event from 1968 until 1982 (with the exception of 1979 when he failed to qualify), and again from 1986 to 1993. His best finish came in 1980 when he finished third after starting 32nd in the 33-car field.
In the 1972 Indianapolis 500, Bettenhausen led 138 laps (of 200), and appeared on his way to victory. But he suffered a blown engine with only 24 laps remaining, and dropped out to finish 14th.
In the 1991 Indianapolis 500, Bettenhausen was the fastest qualifier at 224.468 mph. As his time was recorded on the second day of qualifying, Rick Mears, who had qualified slower (224.113 mph), started on the pole position.
NASCAR
Bettenhausen competed in eight career NASCAR Winston Cup events. He had four Top 10 finishes. His highest career finish was a fourth-place finish at the 1974 Motor State 360 at the Michigan International Speedway.
Awards
- He was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1993.
- He was a 1998 inductee in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.
Motorsports career results
American open-wheel racing
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
USAC Championship Car
USAC Championship Car results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | Pos. | Pts |
1966 | American Eagle Racing | Meskowski 59 D | Offenhauser | PHX DNQ |
TRE DNQ |
INDY | IRP DNQ |
LAN DNQ |
ISF DNQ |
DSF DNQ |
INF | TRE DNQ |
SAC DNQ |
NC | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
Halibrand Shrike 65 | MIL DNQ |
LAN DNQ |
ATL DNQ |
PPR | MIL DNQ |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Clyde Lynch | PHX 19 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1967 | American Eagle Racing | Meskowski 59 D | Offenhauser | PHX | TRE | INDY | MIL | LAN | PPR | MOS | MOS | IRP | LAN | MTR | MTR | ISF | MIL | DSF | INF DNQ |
TRE | 47th | 60 | |||||||||||
Joe Hunt | Lesovsky 58 D | SAC 11 |
HAN 11 |
PHX 19 |
RSD DNQ |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1968 | Joe Hunt | Lesovsky 58 D | Offenhauser | HAN 10 |
LVS 10 |
PHX 13 |
TRE | 8th | 1595 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Don Gerhardt | Gerhardt | Offy 159 ci t | INDY 24 |
MIL | LAN 3 |
PPR | LAN 13 |
LAN 12 |
MIL 5 |
TRE 12 |
MCH 21 |
HAN 21 |
PHX 1 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Don Gerhardt | Ford 255 ci V8 | MOS 10 |
MOS 13 |
CDR 7 |
IRP 21 |
IRP 12 |
MTR 13 |
MTR 13 |
RSD 19 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ward D | Offenhauser | NAZ 4 |
ISF 13 |
DSF 4 |
INF 4 |
SAC 2 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1969 | Fred Gerhardt | Gerhardt 68 | Offy 159 ci t | PHX 20 |
HAN 10 |
LAN 6 |
PPR | CDR | TRE 16 |
14th | 970 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Gerhardt 69 | INDY 26 |
MIL 21 |
IRP DNQ |
IRP | MIL 13 |
DOV 5 |
TRE 19 |
PHX 20 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ward D | Offenhauser | NAZ 2 |
ISF 6 |
DSF 10 |
INF 2 |
BRN | BRN | SAC 2 |
SIR | SIR | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Gerhardt 69 | Chevrolet 320 ci V8 | RSD DNQ |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1970 | Fred Gerhardt | Gerhardt 69 | Offy 159 ci t | PHX 17 |
TRE 12 |
17th | 710 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chevrolet 320 ci V8 | SON 21 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gerhardt 70 | Offy 159 ci t | INDY 26 |
MIL 9 |
LAN 5 |
CDR | MCH 1 |
IRP 22 |
MIL 17 |
ONT 19 |
TRE DNQ |
PHX 19 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Ward D | Ford | ISF 20 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offenhauser | DSF 9 |
INF DNQ |
SED 16 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Edmunds 68 D | Offy 159 ci t | SAC 9 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1971 | Fred Gerhardt | Gerhardt 70 | Offy 159 ci t | RAF 11 |
RAF 7 |
PHX 20 |
TRE 16 |
INDY 10 |
MIL 16 |
POC 6 |
MCH 22 |
MIL 3 |
ONT 3 |
TRE 24 |
PHX 5 |
7th | 1800 | ||||||||||||||||
1972 | Roger Penske Enterprises | McLaren M16A | Offy 159 ci t | PHX 4 |
TRE 1 |
MIL 3 |
12th | 790 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
McLaren M16B | INDY 14 |
MCH 24 |
POC 19 |
MIL DNS |
ONT | TRE | PHX | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1973 | Penske Racing | McLaren M16B | Offy 159 ci t | TWS 2 |
TRE 6 |
TRE 17 |
8th | 2093 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
McLaren M16C | INDY 5 |
MIL 3 |
POC 27 |
MCH 24 |
MIL 20 |
ONT | ONT 2 |
ONT 19 |
MCH 2 |
MCH 8 |
TRE 24 |
TWS 1 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Eagle 72 | PHX 6 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1974 | Penske Racing | McLaren M16C | Offy 159 ci t | ONT | ONT 11 |
ONT 20 |
TRE DNS |
INDY 32 |
MIL 2 |
POC 31 |
MCH | MIL | MCH | TRE | TRE | PHX | 22nd | 260 | |||||||||||||||
Eagle 72 | PHX 14 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1975 | Don Gerhardt | Eagle 72 | Offy 159 ci t | ONT 11 |
ONT | ONT 14 |
PHX 10 |
TRE | INDY 15 |
MIL 9 |
POC 5 |
MCH | MIL | MCH | TRE | PHX 6 |
14th | 745 | |||||||||||||||
1976 | Don Gerhardt | Eagle 72 | Offy 159 ci t | PHX DNS |
TRE | INDY 28 |
MIL DNQ |
POC 33 |
MCH | TWS | TRE | MIL | NC | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
Joe Hunt | Eagle 73 | ONT 27 |
MCH | TWS | PHX | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1977 | Joe Hunt | Eagle 73 | Offy 159 ci t | ONT 10 |
PHX 11 |
TWS | 14th | 850 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. C. Agajanian | Dragon 76 | TRE 11 |
INDY 16 |
MIL 20 |
POC 7 |
MOS 2 |
MCH 17 |
TWS | ONT 17 |
MCH | PHX 14 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Kingfish 73 | MIL 8 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1978 | J. C. Agajanian | Dragon 76 | Offy 159 ci t | PHX 21 |
ONT 12 |
TWS | TRE 19 |
INDY 16 |
MOS 6 |
MIL DNQ |
POC 29 |
MCH | ATL | TWS | MIL 22 |
ONT | MCH | TRE 9 |
SIL | BRH | PHX 21 |
29th | 294 | ||||||||||
1979 | Armstrong Mould | Wildcat Mk 2 | DGS 158 ci t | ONT 18 |
TWS 2 |
TWS 5 |
MIL 6 |
5th | 1008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. C. Agajanian | Kingfish 73 | Chevrolet V8t | INDY DNQ |
MIL 6 |
POC 9 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1980 | Armstrong Mould | Wildcat Mk 2 | DGS 158 ci t | ONT | INDY 3 |
MIL 12 |
POC 33 |
MDO 20 |
8th | 726 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1981-82 | Lindsey Hopkins Racing | Lightning 80 | Cosworth DFX V8t | INDY 26 |
INDY 12 |
18th | 366 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vollstedt Enterprises | Vollstedt 73 | Offy 159 ci t | POC 27 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ISF 20 |
DSF 18 |
INF 3 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1982-83 | King | Chevrolet | ISF | DSF 1 |
NAZ 24 |
8th | 406 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
H & R Racing | Lightning 80 | Chevrolet V6t | INDY DNQ |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1983-84 | DSF 1 |
6th | 400 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
H & R Racing | March 84C | Cosworth DFX V8t | INDY DNQ |
PPG Indy Car World Series
PPG Indy Car World Series results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Pos. | Pts | |||||||||||
1979 | J. C. Agajanian | Kingfish 73 | Chevrolet V8t | PHX | ATL | ATL | INDY DNQ |
TRE | TRE | MCH | MCH | WGL | TRE | ONT | MCH | ATL | PHX | NA | - | ||||||||||||||
1980 | Armstrong Mould | Wildcat Mk 2 | DGS 158 ci t | ONT | INDY 3 |
MIL 12 |
POC 33 |
MDO 20 |
MCH 9 |
WGL 11 |
MIL DNQ |
ONT 31 |
MCH 19 |
MEX | 9th | 1057 | |||||||||||||||||
Orbitor 80C | Cosworth DFX V8t | PHX 3 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1981 | Rhoades Racing | Wildcat Mk 8 | Cosworth DFX V8t | PHX | MIL | ATL | ATL | MCH 6 |
RIV | MIL 19 |
MCH | WGL | MEX | PHX | 15th | 42 | |||||||||||||||||
1982 | Gohr Racing | Penske PC7 | Chevrolet 355 ci V8 | PHX | ATL | MIL | CLE | MCH 6 |
POC 8 |
RIV DNQ |
ROA 20 |
MCH 17 |
15th | 48 | |||||||||||||||||||
Bettenhausen Racing | March 82C | Cosworth DFX V8t | MIL 13 |
PHX 9 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1983 | H & R Racing | Lightning 80 | Chevrolet V6t | ATL | INDY DNQ |
34th | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spirit 83 | Chevrolet 355 ci V8 | MIL 22 |
CLE | MCH | ROA | POC 27 |
RIV | MDO DNS |
MCH | CPL | LAG | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Bettenhausen Racing | March 82C | Cosworth DFX V8t | PHX 12 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1984 | H & R Racing | March 84C | Cosworth DFX V8t | LBH | PHX | INDY DNQ |
MIL 15 |
POR 13 |
MEA | MCH 23 |
ROA DNQ |
POC 10 |
MDO | SAN | 37th | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
Pabst Racing | March 83C | CLE DNQ |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BC Pace Racing | MCH DNQ |
PHX DNQ |
LAG | CPL | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1985 | Leader Card Racers | March 85C | Cosworth DFX V8t | LBH | INDY | MIL | POR | MEA | CLE | MCH | ROA | POC | MDO | SAN 22 |
MCH DNS |
LAG | PHX 16 |
MIA | NC | 0 | |||||||||||||
1986 | Leader Card Racers | March 85C | Cosworth DFX V8t | PHX 21 |
LBH | MCH 20 |
ROA | LAG | 32nd | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
March 86C | INDY 11 |
MIL 23 |
POR | MEA | CLE | TOR | MCH 26 |
POC 13 |
MDO | SAN 21 |
PHX 19 |
MIA | |||||||||||||||||||||
1987 | Gohr Racing | March 86C | Cosworth DFX V8t | LBH | PHX 16 |
INDY 5 |
MIL 15 |
POR | MEA | CLE | TOR | MCH 13 |
POC 13 |
ROA | MDO | NAZ | LAG | MIA | 24th | 10 | |||||||||||||
1988 | Scheid Tire Centers | March 87C | Cosworth DFX V8t | PHX | LBH | INDY DNQ |
MIL | POR | CLE | TOR | MEA | MCH | POC | MDO | ROA | NAZ | LAG | MIA | NA | - | |||||||||||||
1989 | Mann Motorsports | Lola T87/00 | Buick 3300 V6t | PHX | LBH | INDY 33 |
MIL | DET | POR | CLE | MEA | TOR | MCH | POC | MDO | ROA | NAZ | LAG | NC | 0 | |||||||||||||
1990 | Team Menard | Lola T89/00 | Buick 3300 V6t | PHX | LBH | INDY 31 |
MIL | DET | POR | CLE | MEA | TOR | MCH | DEN | VAN | MDO | ROA | NAZ | LAG | NC | 0 | ||||||||||||
1991 | Team Menard | Lola T91/00 | Buick 3300 V6t | SRF | LBH | PHX | INDY 22 |
MIL | DET | POR | CLE | MEA | TOR | MCH | DEN | VAN | MDO | ROA | NAZ | LAG | 29th | 1 | |||||||||||
1992 | Team Menard | Lola T92/00 | Buick 3300 V6t | SRF | PHX | LBH | INDY 17 |
DET | POR | MIL | NHA | TOR | MCH | CLE | ROA | VAN | MDO | NAZ | LAG | NC | 0 | ||||||||||||
1993 | Team Menard | Lola T93/00 | Menard V6t | SRF | PHX | LBH | INDY 17 |
MIL | DET | POR | CLE | TOR | MCH | NHA | ROA | VAN | MDO | NAZ | LAG | NC | 0 | ||||||||||||
1994 | Bettenhausen Motorsports | Penske PC-22 | Ilmor 265C V8t | SRF | PHX | LBH | INDY DNQ |
MIL | DET | POR | CLE | TOR | MCH | MDO | NHA | VAN | ROA | NAZ | LAG | NA | - | ||||||||||||
1996 | Bettenhausen Motorsports | Penske PC-23 | Mercedes-Benz IC108B V8t | MIA | RIO | SRF | LBH | NAZ | 500 21 |
MIL | DET | POR | CLE | TOR | MCH | MDO | ROA | VAN | LAG | NC | 0 |
Indianapolis 500
Year | Chassis | Engine | Start | Finish | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1968 | Gerhardt | Offenhauser | 22 | 24 | Don Gerhardt |
1969 | Gerhardt | Offenhauser | 9 | 26 | Fred Gerhardt |
1970 | Gerhardt | Offenhauser | 20 | 26 | Fred Gerhardt |
1971 | Gerhardt | Offenhauser | 13 | 10 | Fred Gerhardt |
1972 | McLaren | Offenhauser | 4 | 14 | Roger Penske Enterprises |
1973 | McLaren | Offenhauser | 5 | 5 | Penske Racing |
1974 | McLaren | Offenhauser | 11 | 32 | Penske Racing |
1975 | Eagle | Offenhauser | 19 | 15 | Don Gerhardt |
1976 | Eagle | Offenhauser | 8 | 28 | Don Gerhardt |
1977 | Dragon | Offenhauser | 21 | 16 | J. C. Agajanian |
1978 | Dragon | Offenhauser | 31 | 16 | J. C. Agajanian |
1979 | Wildcat | DGS | DNQ | J. C. Agajanian | |
1980 | Wildcat | DGS | 32 | 3 | Armstrong Mould |
1981 | Lightning | Cosworth | 11 | 26 | Lindsey Hopkins Racing |
1982 | Lightning | Cosworth | 30 | 12 | Lindsey Hopkins Racing |
1983 | Lightning | Chevrolet | DNQ | H & R Racing | |
1984 | March | Cosworth | DNQ | H & R Racing | |
1986 | March | Cosworth | 29 | 11 | Leader Card Racers |
1987 | March | Cosworth | 15 | 5 | Gohr Racing |
1988 | March | Cosworth | DNQ | Scheid Tire Centers | |
1989 | Lola | Buick | 14 | 33 | Mann Motorsports |
1990 | Lola | Buick | 18 | 31 | Team Menard |
1991 | Lola | Buick | 13 | 22 | Team Menard |
1992 | Lola | Buick | 5 | 17 | Team Menard |
1993 | Lola | Menard | 18 | 17 | Team Menard |
1994 | Penske | Ilmor | DNQ | Bettenhausen Motorsports |
NASCAR
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Grand National Series
NASCAR Grand National Series results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | NGNC | Pts | |||||||||||||
1967 | Ranier Racing | 68 | Ford | AUG | RSD | DAY 10 |
DAY | DAY 31 |
AWS | BRI | GPS | BGS | ATL | CLB | HCY | NWS | MAR | SVH | RCH | DAR | BLV | LGY | CLT | ASH | MGR | SMR | BIR | CAR | GPS | MGY | DAY 33 |
TRN | OXF | FDA | ISP | BRI | SMR | NSV | ATL | BGS | CLB | SVH | DAR | HCY | RCH | BLV | HBO | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | AWS | NA | 0 |
Winston Cup Series
NASCAR Winston Cup Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | NWCC | Pts | ||||||||
1974 | Penske Racing | 16 | AMC | RSD 7 |
DAY 12 |
RCH | CAR | BRI | ATL 9 |
DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL 37 |
NSV | DOV | CLT | RSD | MCH 4 |
DAY | BRI | NSV | ATL | POC | TAL | MCH | DAR | RCH | DOV | NWS | MAR | CLT | CAR | ONT | 43rd | 49 | |||||||||
1994 | Barkdoll Racing | 60 | Chevy | DAY | CAR | RCH | ATL | DAR | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL | SON | CLT | DOV | POC | MCH | DAY | NHA | POC | TAL | IND DNQ |
GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | PHO | ATL | NA | - |
Daytona 500
Year | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
---|---|---|---|---|
1967 | Ranier Racing | Ford | 21 | 31 |
1974 | Penske Racing | AMC | 34 | 12 |
See also
In Spanish: Gary Bettenhausen para niños