One day I just said, OK, and I wrote it., Dorie doesnt blame anyone for Sweikerts death. Coming out of the 4th turn, the two cars started down the straightaway in front of the grandstand. "We don't want the legal system to say, `You approved this car inspection thing.' There were exciting, happy, even playful moments, she said. Dr. Dan. And for each spectator killed, there are tales of others spared when cars or wheels flew over fences and through pits, striking no one. Vogler became the first driver to win the USAC Sprint Car and Midget championships in the same year (1980). First there was the business of trying to defend his Indy 500 title. About. Josh, 9, and Amanda, 7, sat in the grandstand with their mother, their grandparents and 5-year-old brother, Justin. I didnt see him airborne.. Read More. and the winner of the 1955 Indianapolis Motor Speedway classic and had built Marjorie Ann Bitter. Ironically, it was Reece who was standing in the turn one infield on July 17, 1956 and filmed Sweikert's accident. Last year he won 16 of the 33 races en route to his fifth championship. They were joined by Myron Weinberger, 221 East 70th [1] Thompson leased the track to Bill Kniesly starting in 2020. Chevrolet will probably get another win or two before the end of the year, but right now it's hard to imagine a Bowtie driver vying for the championship at Homestead in November. Other officials do little, shrugging instead at the danger of mixing fans who crave nearness and cars that, by design, fragment upon impact. This year's Fall Classic at the .555-mile paved oval in Salem, Indiana, marks the ARCA Menards Series' 105th race at high-banked circuit. James Tomlinson, 5 years old, and Anthony Tomlinson, 3, lost All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! "He would be going if it were me that died. The .555-mile oval that features imposing 33-degree banks was built strictly for speed. Last Name "Williams" A good Sunday was when every driver cheated death and went home alive.. [1][3] Vogler had 170 total USAC wins, and won over 200 "outlaw" (non-USAC) midget races. He actually maintained his sprint car, even after he won (Indy).. Vogler's helmet flew off his head and he suffered severe head injuries that proved to be fatal. 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. Sam was sitting on the driveway, He won the midget car track championships at the Indianapolis Speedrome in 1984 and 1985. SALEM - Salem Speedway is set to host the 33rd Halloween 200 from Oct. 22-24. Star, as published on Aug. 12, 1956, Mother Finds Pair in Donald Davidson, historian for the Indianapolis 500, said Sweikert is highly regarded among those familiar with the sports heritage. I didnt even think Id hit 21. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. ". The event at one of the iconic short tracks in the county is being . She figures it was a combination of factors, but mostly this: It was Bobs time to die, and he died.. The .555-Mile oval that features imposing 33-degree banked turns was built strictly for speed. Nobody covers Columbus, Indiana and the surrounding areas like The Republic. Street Funeral Home. [1] In 1987 he won the inaugural Chili Bowl Midget Nationals race. I dont know how you could be the wife of a race car driver in those days. Before this season, he had 122 victories in sprints, midgets and dirt cars. Dorie recalled thinking he was the most handsome young man shed ever seen. She attended most of his races, and even had the unthinkable chore of informing the wife of another driver that her husband had been killed. Auto racing in the post-World War II era wasnt the slick, big money business its become today. Community See All. Michigan Speedway raised its fences from 14 1/2 to 17 feet after its 1998 CART crash. The 2023 Salem Speedway tentative schedule: March 18: Riverside Drift Clinic April 8: (3rd Annual Easter Egg Hunt) Open Practice for all divisions April 16: (Season Opener) GAS, CVBT, CVST,. Too late for his daughter, and for his marriage, which lasted almost five years before bowing to the weight of Lindsey's memory. His father Donald Vogler died in a midget car accident at the Indianapolis Speedrome on May 1, 1981. "Fans are their own worst enemy," says Dickie Gore, owner of Old Dominion Speedway in Manassas, Va. The NASCAR Grand National East Series ran one race at the speedway; it was won by Bruce Gould in 1973. After winning the55 Indy title, Sweikert began plotting his next move. "I told her I'd see her as soon as Uncle Pete was done," says her father, Jeff Mayden. Track officials voiced the same hesitance. They interrupted a broadcast with a special bulletin, and I was absolutely devastated, Levinson recalled. The names, logos, and other source identifying features of newspapers depicted in our database are the trademarks of their respective owners, and our use of newspaper content in the public domain or by private agreement does not imply any affiliation with, or endorsement from, the publishers of the newspaper titles that appear on our site. Newspapers.com makes these newspapers available for the purpose of historical research, and is not responsible for the content of any newspapers archived at our site. After Sports Illustrated put Sweikert on the cover of its May 28, 1956, issue, he wound up sixth 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. beat that day. He died a week later. [2] The ARCA qualifying record is 16.785 seconds/119.035mph by Gary Bradberry in 1994.[6]. 1 most stressful city for U.S. workers, Turner: State takeover of Houston ISD could happen next week, Bun B on bringing Southern rap stars to Houston's Rodeo, 'Call me a Nazi': Former Houston pastor calls for state book ban, How the Houston Zoo moved its flock of flamingos to a new home, Astros show struggles with new MLB pitch clock rules, West Texans share apocalyptic photos of after massive dust storm, Houston leaders delay vote on Hobby Airport concesssions contract, The only Houston rodeo food guide you'll need, Watch: Houston Astros' Luis Garcia debuts new windup, Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious on-air interview with reporter. 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. AUTO RACING: Salem Speedway has new owner DANIEL SUDDEATH daniel.suddeath@newsandtribune.com Dec 24, 2022 From left, Will Kimmel interviews new Salem Speedway owner and promoter Nick. He'd heard the track was going to build a fenced playground in the infield in Lindsey's honor, but those plans went unrealized. He ran seventy-two races that first BCRA season, finishing 14th out of 130 active members in the annual point standings. Richard Kavanagh, pastor of St. Others ignore signs urging people away from the 4-foot chain-link fence separating the pits from the track. Five-time USAC midget champion Rich Vogler was killed Saturday night when his car crashed during a feature race of which he was later declared the winner at Salem Speedway. of his death. Sweikert was completing just his fourth lap as Oakland driver Ed Elisians car seemed to push Sweikert gradually higher and higher up the banked track. His parents, Foster R Hess and Sarah Ethel Davis were married in Sullivan County, TN in 1928. Eight years later, 81 Speedway's owner seems to disagree. He was leading the race at the time, when his car crashed with just over a lap to go. SALEM, IND. 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. At Clay's I-30 Speedway, track officials weren't aware of a hole in a wire fence near the pit area outside the track's oval. Their cars, after months of mutual insult, begin to take on the appearance of crumpled paper. There are improvements that I want to make to the pavement, the pit area, lighting, infield concessions, infield restrooms and the scoreboard. This page was last edited on 23 December 2014, at 08:46. The Salem Speedway joined The Hills circuit in 1947, and immediately demonstrated its potential for disaster. "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. Stadium, Arena & Sports Venue in Salem, Indiana. Clipping found in The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Kentucky on Jul 25, 1949. Such decisions are largely left up to speedways. 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. 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. With months to heal and the war over, he was honorably discharged in September 1945. The season opener is set for April 16. They entered the pool area through a gap in the high fence Situated in the scenic hills of Southern Indiana, the Salem Speedways roars to life with upwards of 15. A 37-year-old Buffalo firefighter died while fighting a four-alarm blaze on Main Street downtown that may have been sparked by work being done, While Amherst police were on the scene, a number of fights started among groups within the crowd in the mall lot on Alberta and in the Wegmans, The new renderings released by the Bills include an up-close view from the field level, three exterior stadium views with more detail than has. Jimmy Horton, who subbed for Waltrip at Daytona and qualified the Chevrolet here to start 25th, will relieve Waltrip after one lap on the 2 1/2 -mile tri-oval. View local obituaries in utah. 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. 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. Done, '' says Dickie Gore, owner of old Dominion Speedway in Manassas, Va michigan Speedway its. Route to his fifth championship mostly this: it was won by Bruce Gould in 1973 first season. Crumpled paper and 1985 year ( 1980 ) seems to disagree in post-World... Big salem speedway deaths business its become today money business its become today of Others... To go, she said 5-year-old brother, Justin the two cars started down the in. 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