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Scott Brayton

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Scott Brayton
Nationality United States
Born(1959-02-20)February 20, 1959
Coldwater, Michigan, U.S.
DiedMay 17, 1996(1996-05-17) (aged 37)
Speedway, Indiana, U.S.
Related toLee Brayton (father)
CART IndyCar World Series
Years active1981–1996
TeamsBrayton Racing
Hemelgarn Racing
Dick Simon Racing
Team Menard
Starts147
Wins0
Poles2
Best finish12th in 1991
Previous series
1996Indy Racing League

Scott Everts Brayton (February 20, 1959 – May 17, 1996) was an American race car driver on the American open-wheel circuit. He competed in 14 Indianapolis 500s, beginning with the 1981 event. Brayton was killed in practice after qualifying in pole position for the 1996 race.

Career

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Brayton during qualifying for the 1987 Indianapolis 500

During the mid-1980s, Brayton helped introduce the Buick stock-block V-6 engine to Indianapolis. His father's firm, Brayton Engineering, was a major developer of the race engine. In 1985, he qualified 2nd and set the one-lap Indianapolis Motor Speedway track record in the process. He dropped out early and finished 30th when the engine expired. He would not finish the race again until 1989, when he scored his best finish at the Speedway, 6th place but seven laps down. He would equal this finishing position in 1993, driving a Lola-Cosworth for Dick Simon Racing.

When Buick pulled out of IndyCar racing in 1993, John Menard Jr. continued developing the engine, now badged as the Menard V-6. Brayton, now without a regular ride in the CART IndyCar series, joined the Indy-only Menards team in 1994. Their belief in the powerplant paid off when Brayton won his first Indy 500 pole position in 1995, at an average speed of 231.604 mph (372.731 km/h). Turbocharger boost and pop-off valve problems relegated him to a 17th-place finish.

Brayton was prepared to make his NASCAR debut at the 1995 Brickyard 400. However, he crashed his car during a private test session, and suffered a broken ankle and a concussion.[1]

In 1996, Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George established the Indy Racing League, and Team Menard signed up to compete in their first full season of IndyCar racing. Because the majority of the established teams and drivers of open-wheel racing competed in the rival CART series, Brayton (and rookie teammate Tony Stewart) were considered legitimate contenders for the IRL title. After a bad start to the season, Brayton asserted his competitiveness by winning his second Indy pole after a dramatic qualifying session in which he withdrew an already-qualified car to get a second chance at taking the top spot.

Death

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Brayton was making a practice run on May 17 in his backup car when a tire blew going into turn two.[2] The car spun and hit the outside retaining wall at more than 230 mph (370 km/h). Brayton's head also impacted the wall, and he was killed instantly by the severe impact. His funeral, held in his hometown of Coldwater, Michigan, was attended by a large contingent of drivers and racing personalities.

Teammate Tony Stewart, who qualified second, took over the pole starting position. A substitute driver, Danny Ongais, took over the car with which Brayton had qualified for the pole, and finished seventh.

Personal life

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Brayton began dating his future wife, Becky, in 1981 and an 11-year courtship followed.[3] The couple had a daughter, Carly, who was two years old at the time of Brayton's death.[4]

On Easter Sunday 1999,[5] Becky married another IRL driver, Robbie Buhl, who would later become a partner in Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.

Memorial Street Circuit

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A street course in Grand Rapids, Michigan, used for SCCA racing was known as the Scott Brayton Memorial Street Circuit. It was used for the West Michigan Grand Prix in 1998[6] and 1999,[7] after which the event folded.[8]

Scott Brayton Driver's Trophy

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Following Brayton's death, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced a new trophy for the Indianapolis 500 dedicated to the driver who best exemplifies the attitude, spirit and competitive drive of Brayton. A driver could only be awarded the trophy once in his/her Indy career. It was awarded through 2009.

Year Winner
1997 John Paul Jr.
1998 Roberto Guerrero
1999 Eliseo Salazar
2000 Eddie Cheever
2001 Davey Hamilton
2002 Arie Luyendyk
2003 Buddy Lazier
2004 Hélio Castroneves
2005 Kenny Bräck
2006 Sam Hornish Jr.
2007 Tony Kanaan
2008 Vítor Meira
2009 Sarah Fisher
Source:[9]

Racing record

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American open-wheel racing results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

PPG Indycar Series

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points Ref
1981 Brayton Racing PHX
15 		MIL
11 		ATL
9 		ATL
10 		MCH
7 		RIV
8 		MIL
21 		MCH
24 		WGL
20 		MEX
23 		PHX
DNQ 		13th 57 [10]
1982 Brayton Racing PHX
14 		ATL
 MIL
14 		CLE
 MCH
11 		MIL
 POC
24 		RIV
 ROA
 MCH
10 		PHX
 33rd 11 [11]
1983 Brayton Racing ATL
 INDY
9 		MIL
 CLE
24 		MCH
12 		ROA
 POC
28 		RIV
 MDO
 MCH
13 		CPL
26 		LAG
 PHX
 24th 5 [12]
1984 Brayton Racing LBH
 PHX
 INDY
18 		MIL
22 		POR
25 		MEA
14 		CLE
11 		MCH
13 		ROA
12 		POC
6 		MDO
12 		SAN
11 		MCH
DNS 		PHX
23 		LAG
15 		CPL
8 		23rd 19 [13]
1985 Brayton Racing LBH
11 		INDY
30 		MIL
DNQ 		POR
6 		MEA
15 		CLE
25 		MCH
8 		ROA
 POC
16 		MDO
 SAN
 MCH
22 		22nd 15 [14]
Hemelgarn Racing LAG
26 		PHX
18 		MIA
DNQ
1986 Hemelgarn Racing PHX
24 		LBH
 INDY
30 		MIL
 POR
 MEA
 CLE
 TOR
 MCH
13 		POC
27 		MDO
 SAN
 MCH
19 		ROA
 LAG
 PHX
 MIA
 NC 0 [15]
1987 Hemelgarn Racing LBH
 PHX
 INDY
12 		MIL
 POR
5 		MEA
10 		CLE
 TOR
 MCH
22 		POC
25 		ROA
 MDO
 NAZ
 LAG
 MIA
 22nd 14 [16]
1988 Hemelgarn Racing PHX
15 		LBH
23 		INDY
31 		MIL
10 		POR
9 		CLE
16 		TOR
14 		MEA
11 		MCH
26 		POC
10 		MDO
 ROA
 NAZ
18 		LAG
 MIA
24 		23rd 12 [17]
1989 Dick Simon Racing PHX
15 		LBH
12 		INDY
6 		MIL
18 		DET
DNQ 		POR
13 		CLE
28 		MEA
10 		TOR
14 		MCH
11 		POC
14 		MDO
15 		ROA
13 		NAZ
10 		LAG
20 		15th 17 [18]
1990 Dick Simon Racing PHX
13 		LBH
9 		INDY
7 		MIL
20 		DET
10 		POR
25 		CLE
22 		MEA
9 		TOR
14 		MCH
16 		DEN
12 		VAN
9 		MDO
8 		ROA
13 		NAZ
12 		LAG
24 		15th 28 [19]
1991 Dick Simon Racing SRF
6 		LBH
8 		PHX
13 		INDY
17 		MIL
6 		DET
9 		POR
15 		CLE
7 		MEA
9 		TOR
6 		MCH
9 		DEN
16 		VAN
10 		MDO
13 		ROA
11 		NAZ
19 		LAG
27 		12th 52 [20]
1992 Dick Simon Racing SRF
20 		PHX
9 		LBH
17 		INDY
22 		DET
12 		POR
22 		MIL
3 		NHA
17 		TOR
17 		MCH
10 		CLE
21 		ROA
12 		VAN
8 		MDO
10 		NAZ
8 		LAG
10 		15th 39 [21]
1993 Dick Simon Racing SRF
16 		PHX
25 		LBH
24 		INDY
6 		MIL
6 		DET
14 		POR
17 		CLE
18 		TOR
19 		MCH
11 		NHA
6 		ROA
7 		VAN
24 		MDO
9 		NAZ
15 		LAG
24 		15th 36 [22]
1994 Team Menard SRF PHX
 LBH
 INDY
20 		MIL
 DET
 POR
 CLE
 TOR
 MCH
 MDO
 NHA
 VAN
 ROA
 NAZ
 LAG
 49th 0 [23]
1995 Team Menard MIA
 SRF
 PHX
 LBH
 NAZ
 INDY
17 		MIL
 DET
 POR
 ROA
 TOR
 CLE
 MCH
 MDO
 NHA
 VAN
 LAG
 34th 1 [24]
Source:[25]

Indy Racing League

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Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 Rank Points Ref
1996 Team Menard Lola T95 Menard WDW
15 		PHX
18 		INDY
DNS 		18th 111 [26]
Sources:[25][27]

Indianapolis 500

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Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team
1981 Penske PC-6 Ford Cosworth DFX 29 16 Brayton Racing
1982 Penske PC-7 Ford Cosworth DFX DNQ Brayton Racing
1983 March 83C Ford Cosworth DFX 29 9 Brayton Racing
1984 March 84C Buick 26 18 Brayton Racing
1985 March 85C Buick 2 30 Brayton Racing
1986 March 86C Buick 23 30 Hemelgarn Racing
1987 March 87C Ford Cosworth DFX 13 12 Hemelgarn Racing
1988 Lola T88/00 Buick 7 31 Hemelgarn Racing
1989 Lola T89/00 Buick 6 6 Dick Simon Racing
1990 Lola T90/00 Ford Cosworth DFS 26 7 Dick Simon Racing
1991 Lola T91/00 Chevrolet 265A 19 17 Dick Simon Racing
1992 Lola T92/00 Buick 7 22 Dick Simon Racing
1993 Lola T93/00 Ford XB 11 6 Dick Simon Racing
1994 Lola T93/00 Buick 23 20 Team Menard
1995 Lola T95/00 Menard-Buick 1 17 Team Menard
1996 Lola T95/00 Menard-Buick 1 DNS‡ Team Menard
Source:[25]

‡ For the 1996 Indianapolis 500, Brayton qualified on the pole. The following Friday he was fatally injured driving a back-up car during practice. In the race Danny Ongais drove the pole car from the back of the field and finished seventh.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Bout with wall ends Brayton's Brickyard run". The Indianapolis Star. July 27, 1995. p. 46. Retrieved July 6, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  2. ^ Siano, Joseph (May 18, 1996). "AUTO RACING;Brayton Killed in Crash During Indy 500 Practice". The New York Times. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  3. ^ Miller, Jeff (May 27, 1999). "Brayton widow takes unlikely path". Lawrence Journal-World. Retrieved August 28, 2015 – via Google News Archive.
  4. ^ Glick, Shav; Biebrich Jr., Richard (May 18, 1996). "Brayton Dies In Crash". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on August 29, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  5. ^ Mittman, Dick (March 28, 1999). "IRL: Buhl, Harrington lead Infiniti to strong showing at Phoenix". motorsport.com. Archived from the original on July 13, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  6. ^ "West Michigan Grand Prix Fast Facts". motorsport.com. July 17, 1998. Archived from the original on August 29, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  7. ^ "West Michigan Grand Prix SCCA Pro Racing weekend Quick Facts". motorsport.com. August 24, 1999. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  8. ^ Fox, Amy (September 4, 2008). "West Michigan Grand Prix 10th anniversary". WZZM. Archived from the original on March 5, 2014.
  9. ^ "Award Winners: Scott Brayton Driver's Trophy Award Winners". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  10. ^ "Scott Brayton – 1981 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  11. ^ "Scott Brayton – 1982 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  12. ^ "Scott Brayton – 1983 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  13. ^ "Scott Brayton – 1984 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  14. ^ "Scott Brayton – 1985 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  15. ^ "Scott Brayton – 1986 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  16. ^ "Scott Brayton – 1987 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  17. ^ "Scott Brayton – 1988 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  18. ^ "Scott Brayton – 1989 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  19. ^ "Scott Brayton – 1990 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  20. ^ "Scott Brayton – 1991 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  21. ^ "Scott Brayton – 1992 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  22. ^ "Scott Brayton – 1993 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  23. ^ "Scott Brayton – 1994 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  24. ^ "Scott Brayton – 1995 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  25. ^ a b c "Scott Brayton". Motor Sport. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  26. ^ "Scott Brayton – 1996 Indy Racing League Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  27. ^ "Scott Brayton Results". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
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