Dennis duke nalon, 87, a native chicago racecar driver who competed 10 times in the indianapolis 500, finishing in third place in 1948, died. Particularly quick when qualifying at indianapolis, where he scored pole twice, he never won a aaa race, but scored six podiums in 34 starts and finished fifth in the. I dont think this news is something for the book thread within the other forum, so i put it out here. Duke nalon takes victory lap get the latest car news, car. May 09, 2000 this brutish race car that enthralled racing fans from the late 1940s into the 1960s snarled at duke nalon in a 1949 crash.
Mar 02, 2001 dennis duke nalon, 87, a native chicago racecar driver who competed 10 times in the indianapolis 500, finishing in third place in 1948, died tuesday, feb. Norman graham hill obe 15 february 1929 29 november 1975 was a british racing driver and team owner from england who was twice formula one world champion this day in motorsport history. Us driver duke nalons biography published yes, the. Duke nalon born 2 march 19 in chicago, died 26 february 2001 was an american racing driver who competed in the aaa national championship from 1935 to 1954.
In 1982, a group of former wra members revived the group as a nonprofit to preserve the memory of these vintage race cars. Oct 05, 2016 a famous 1930s sprint car home built all the way. Nalon would miss the next year of racing recovering but was back at the indianapolis motor speedway in 1951, when he finished 10th in the greatest spectacle in racing. He won the national championship title in 1946, 1947, and 1948.
Jul 31, 2016 rodger ward, a dominant race car driver, twotime indianapolis 500 champion 1959, 1962 and twotine usac championship car champion 1958, 1962 is the subject of this 1964 color film, which. Duke nalon racing legend indy car racing, racing, vintage. Nalon was of french ancestry and initially worked in a steel mill before becoming a mechanic for wally zale. Features vintage sprint car pic thread, 1965 and older. Ayrton senna, one of the most talented formula 1 drivers of all time, was killed.
Sandwiched within that time frame, nalon was active with midgets, sprinters and championship cars. The iron duke the illustrious career of duke nalon 1934. Duke nalon, 87, who earned pole position at the indianapolis 500 in 1949 and 1951. Aug 22, 2012 this pin was discovered by barbara ream. This brutish race car that enthralled racing fans from the late 1940s intothe 1960s snarled at duke nalon in a 1949 crash. Nalon was a personable driver who was a popular ambassador for automobile racing. Motor racing old large photo duke nalon sprint car early1940s. I started to come up with a list who i thought would be considered great,but i know somebody else already has it. He won the pole position as the fastest qualifier in 1949 and 1951.
Jul 05, 2019 duke nalon, twotime indy 500 pole winner. This brutish race car that enthralled racing fans from the late 1940s into the 1960s snarled at duke nalon in a 1949 crash. Duke nalon full name dennis nalon nationality american born march 2, 19 hometown chicago, illinois died february 26, 2001 place of death indianapolis, indiana racing highlights. Autobiography of a race car driver rodger ward 1950s. His outstanding racing skills coupled with his very pleasing and. Dirt track legend killed a road crash, when his wife lost control of their car off the highway, crashing into a tree. They remember the track records he set, the 500mile races he nearly won and the fiery crash that he miraculously survived.
A texas driver born james howard cox, howdy was competing in a 25mile feature race on september 27, 1937 at the fairgrounds speedway in. Sentimental favorites year after year, the novis usually would qualify well, break track records and lead the race. But to race fans in 1940, the duke was already a legend. Russo won the first race held at the nutley velodrome in new jersey in 1938. The 1951 indianapolis 500 was the second race of the 1951 formula one season. Motor racing old large photo duke nalon indy novi 1953. The iron duke was an outstanding race driver in an era with no shortage of racing daredevils. Dukes grandson, by the same name, keeps up the racing tradition, as he races in sprint, dirt and midget cars.
Sorry to get so long winded but thats as far into wayne woodard stories as i am going. Mays joined nalon in welchs novi stable for the 49 race. Russo won the first race held at the nutley velodrome in new jersey in 1938 russo was part of midget racings chicago gang with emil andres, tony bettenhausen, duke nalon, cowboy. Particularly quick when qualifying at indianapolis, where he scored pole twice, he never won a aaa race, but scored six podiums in 34 starts and finished fifth in the championship in 1948. He persuades her to marry him on the promise that he will quit after racing once in.
Beloved by racing fans because of their excessive noise and sheer speed, the 183cubicinch v8 supercharged novi racing cars appeared in several forms at indianapolis between 1941 and 1966. They qualified 12, with nalon on the pole, and welch told them in a prerace conference that whichever driver led the first lap would. Dennis duke nalon was an american midget car, sprint car, and indy 500 driver from chicago, illinois, united states. Duke nalon, 87, who earned pole position at the indianapolis 500. Nalon was part of the chicago gang with tony bettenhausen. I brought duke to my desk, grabbed a chair for him, turned on a tape recorder and spent the next hour amazed at every word he said.
Click on the site to see duke nalons career results at that track glossary. Click on the number of races to see individual races for that year. Jan 17, 2008 i introduced him to duke nalon iii and he drove the car too. This man could race the numbers off the side of the cars. New listing 1951 wire photo midget race car driver duke nalon poses for publicity portrait. Sawyer in 1937, when he took the rookie driving test but did not make the race. Duke nalon was a classic example of these drivers who built their careers on. May 14, 2000 this brutish race car that enthralled racing fans from the late 1940s intothe 1960s snarled at duke nalon in a 1949 crash. You have great examples of the way they towed them to the races. Russo was part of midget racing s chicago gang with emil andres, tony bettenhausen, duke nalon, cowboy orourke, jimmy snyder, and wally zale. Nov 19, 2012 duke nalons fiery crash during the 1949 indy 500. Indy 500 legend delivered magical meeting for young reporter.
Duke nalon, henry banks, johnnie rogers and cowboy orourke at the eastern old timers auto racing club museum at flemington when the museum was located there. Jan 12, 2005 page 1 of 3 50 greatest midget drivers. He went with a contingent of midgetcar drivers to hawaii in the winter of 193435. Helping the likes of wally zale, who was the superman in chicago area midget racing in the late 1930s and early 40s, nalon got a ride in a big car at indianas roby speedway. A famous 1930s sprint car home built all the way hot rod. Johnny tracy, son of veteran race driver pop tracy, is working his way up on the racing circuit, but is urged by his sweetheart, marcy parker, to give up the track if he wants to marry her. Features vintage sprint car pic thread, 1965 and older only.
View f1 statistics and a f1 career summary of duke nalon, including career stats, yearly summary, stats per grands prix and circuits, and more. Click on the year to see the standings for that year. The iron duke, as he came to be known, was an outstanding race driver in an era with no shortage of racing daredevils. I introduced him to duke nalon iii and he drove the car too. His outstanding racing skills coupled with his pleasing and refreshing persona unquestionably made him a fan favorite from coasttocoast. Featured exhibit novi grooved piston special indianapolis.
Feb 26, 2001 dukes grandson, by the same name, keeps up the racing tradition, as he races in sprint, dirt and midget cars. With howard duff, helene stanley, dave willock, louise arthur. Motor racing old large photo duke nalon race driver. Click on the site to see duke nalon s career results at that track. George peters has published his book about duke nalon. This is a unique 1938 panoramic photo of the racers waiting at that pay window for the purse money they won after racing at the wisconsin state fair park, west allis, wisconsin. They remember how he tamed the powerful and legendary novis. Sentimental favorites year after year, the novis usually would qualify well, break track records and lead the race, only to have something go wrong. This account follows the extraordinary racing career of duke nalon from its beginning in 1934 through his last ridea 100 mile win in a midget over terre hautes action track in october, 1954.
It bit the drivers who tried, some worse than others. Duke nalon, 87, who earned pole position at the indianapolis. Russo was part of midget racings chicago gang with emil andres, tony bettenhausen, duke nalon, cowboy orourke, jimmy snyder, and wally zale. Race 1938 indianapolis 500 was part of the 1938 aaa national championship and was won by floyd roberts on 19380530 00. He became the first three time winner, during those years he placed third twice and fourth in the indianapolis 500 races, giving him ten straight finishes in the top four. Lv duke nalon in car 54 passes another car and goes into lead. It was the second time of 11 in total the indianapolis 500 was held as part of the formula one world championship, although none of the regular drivers who had taken part in the previous race entered the 1951 event.
Stokes was the son of a carpenter and wally picked up the trade himself to some degree before taking up racing properly. Motor racing old large photo duke nalon crash milwaukee 1941. Duke nalon was a classic example of these drivers who built their careers on tiny dirt tracks across the united states. Known as the iron duke, dennis nalon was born and raised in chicago and got involved in racing in the 1930s as a crewman for midget driver wally zale. I was wondering if marty or somebody else has a list of the 50greatest midget drivers.
When he got his first haircut at two, it was in the pits at indianapolis, and the barber was driver duke nalon. Marketing major at the university of central missouri and professional race car driver. Instead, the field was made up of 33 americans, including johnnie. Dennis duke nalon march 2, 19 february 26, 2001 was an american midget car, sprint car, and indy 500 driver from chicago, illinois, united states.
Nalon, dennis, 192001 thorne, joel, 19141955 indianapolis motor speedway speedway, ind. Rodger ward, a dominant race car driver, twotime indianapolis 500 champion 1959, 1962 and twotine usac championship car champion 1958, 1962 is the subject of this 1964 color film, which. Duke nalon was part of the chicago gang when midget auto racing was popular throughout the country especially in the chicago area before world war ii. Most race fans remember duke nalon from his many indianapolis races. Nalon was a 16time veteran of the indianapolis 500 classic.
The most frequent driver, though, was the legendary spider webb who wheeled the car to the. Duke nalon takes victory lap get the latest car news. Eylard theodore ted horn 19101948 find a grave memorial. Indianapolis speedway race automobiles, racing automobile racing drivers crowds further information on this record can be found at its source.