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Gary Bettenhausen

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Gary Bettenhausen
Bettenhausen in 1984
NationalityUnited States American
BornGary Clyde Bettenhausen
(1941-11-18)November 18, 1941
Blue Island, Illinois, U.S.
DiedMarch 16, 2014(2014-03-16) (aged 72)
Monrovia, Indiana, U.S.
Champ Car career
188 races run over 30 years
Years active1966–1994, 1996
Best finish5th – 1979
First race1966 Bobby Ball Memorial (Phoenix)
Last race1996 U.S. 500 (Michigan)
First win1968 Bobby Ball Memorial (Phoenix)
Last win1983 Ted Horn Memorial (DuQuoin)
Wins Podiums Poles
6 24 4
NASCAR Cup Series career
8 races run over 2 years
First race1967 Daytona 500 (Daytona)
Last race1974 Motor State 360 (Michigan)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 4 0

Gary Bettenhausen[1] (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.

Personal life

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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.[2]

Racing career

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Midgets

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Bettenhausen began as a midget car driver. He finished third in the midget car national points in 1967.[3] 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

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Bettenhausen won the 1969 and 1971 sprint car championships.[3]

He won the 1980 and 1983 USAC Dirt Track champions in a Silver Crown car.[3]

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.

Bettenhausen racing in CART at Pocono Raceway in 1984

Indy/Championship Cars & Indianapolis 500

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Bettenhausen qualifying for the 1987 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.[3] 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

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Bettenhausen competed in eight career NASCAR Winston Cup events.[4] 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.[4]

Awards

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Motorsports career results

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American open-wheel racing

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

USAC Championship Car

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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

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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 Ref
1979 J. C. Agajanian Kingfish 73 Chevrolet V8t PHX ATL ATL INDY
DNQ 		TRE TRE MCH MCH WGL TRE ONT MCH ATL PHX NA - [5]
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 [6]
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 [7]
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 [8]
Bettenhausen Racing March 82C Cosworth DFX V8t MIL
13 		PHX
9
1983 H & R Racing Lightning 80 Chevrolet V6t ATL INDY
DNQ 		34th 1 [9]
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 [10]
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 [11]
1986 Leader Card Racers March 85C Cosworth DFX V8t PHX
21 		LBH MCH
20 		ROA LAG 32nd 2 [12]
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 [13]
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 - [14]
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 [15]
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 [16]
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 [17]
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 [18]
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 [19]
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 - [20]
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 [21]
Indianapolis 500
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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

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(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Grand National Series

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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 Ref
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 [22]

Winston Cup Series

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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 Ref
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 [23]
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 - [24]
Daytona 500
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Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1967 Ranier Racing Ford 21 31
1974 Penske Racing AMC 34 12

References

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  1. ^ "Gary Bettenhausen". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  2. ^ Cavin, Curt (March 17, 2014). "Former Indy 500 driver Gary Bettenhausen dies at 72". USA Today. McLean, VA. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Gary Bettenhausen". Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2006-09-23. Biography at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame
  4. ^ a b http://racing-reference.info/driver?id=bettega01 Biography at racing-reference.info
  5. ^ "Gary Bettenhousen – 1979 USAC Champ Car Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  6. ^ "Gary Bettenhousen – 1980 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  7. ^ "Gary Bettenhousen – 1981 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  8. ^ "Gary Bettenhousen – 1982 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  9. ^ "Gary Bettenhousen – 1983 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  10. ^ "Gary Bettenhousen – 1984 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  11. ^ "Gary Bettenhousen – 1985 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  12. ^ "Gary Bettenhousen – 1986 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  13. ^ "Gary Bettenhousen – 1987 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  14. ^ "Gary Bettenhousen – 1988 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  15. ^ "Gary Bettenhousen – 1989 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  16. ^ "Gary Bettenhousen – 1990 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  17. ^ "Gary Bettenhousen – 1991 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  18. ^ "Gary Bettenhousen – 1992 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  19. ^ "Gary Bettenhousen – 1993 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  20. ^ "Gary Bettenhousen – 1994 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  21. ^ "Gary Bettenhousen – 1996 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  22. ^ "Gary Bettenhausen – 1967 NASCAR Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  23. ^ "Gary Bettenhausen – 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  24. ^ "Gary Bettenhausen – 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
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