2803 Obituaries. The following morning, in part because of Vogler's testimony, the penalty was overturned and Fittipaldi was credited with the runner-up position. Foremen worked for an hour and a half before Deputy Coroner Considered by drivers as one of the area's safer tracks, Lancaster falls prey to spectators sneaking into restricted areas or watching from behind the short fences that circle the outside of the oval. [1][3] Vogler had 170 total USAC wins, and won over 200 "outlaw" (non-USAC) midget races. I know that sounds corny, but thats the way it was. During 1947 Sweikert began mailing monthly accounts of his life to Veda Orr, through April 1956. Coming out of the 4th turn, the two cars started down the straightaway in front of the grandstand. 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. [1] In 1987 he won the inaugural Chili Bowl Midget Nationals race. "My stamina's not what it should be. 20,621 people follow this. The track has 33 degrees of banking in the corners. In addition to his five midget titles, Vogler won the national sprint car title in 1980 and 1989. "I still love to go to races," Cynthia says now. He was nicknamed "Rapid Rich". 4.3. The .555-Mile oval that features imposing 33-degree banked turns was built strictly for speed. A good Sunday was when every driver cheated death and went home alive.. 19,772 people like this. Eugene Gerber, bishop of Wichita's Roman Catholic diocese and a family friend, tried to console the mournful. Italics Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Racing is returning to Salem, Indiana. 1 sprint car, just one year after he won the worlds most famous race, tumbled over the turn one wall at Salem Speedway. Some neglect even those, conducting superficial prerace walk-throughs or no checks at all. He gained his first racing sponsorship in July 1947, when he became a track roadster race driver for Hubbard Auto Parts of Oakland. Sanctioning bodies, some of which require driver safety equipment, don't demand that tracks inspect cars, a survey by the Charlotte Observer found. There over the next couple years, he built his own track roadster. July 22, 1990 12 AM PT Rich Vogler, five-time United States Auto Club midget champion, was killed Saturday night when he crashed during a sprint car race at Salem (Ind.) Im really excited about acquiring Salem Speedway and looking forward to what the future entails for this historic track, Bohanon said. The tragic death of Bill Vukovich during the 1955 Indianapolis 500 unfairly cast a long, dark shadow over the career of the winner of that year's race Bob Sweikert. I wanted what he wanted, she said. Sweikert himself took the checkers at Indy in the face of None of todays safeguards existed then. I never talked about how brave I was. His "Indy 500" win was over-shadowed by the fatal crash of two-time winner Bill Vukovich during the race earlier that day. In between, she got her first taste of the sport and it terrified her. She searched for nearly an hour before finding the tricycles His 134 wins (95 Midget, 35 Sprint, and four Silver Crown wins) in national events is second only to A. J. Foyt's 169. It is, perhaps, racing's worst fear: a car or its disconnected parts hurtling over fences into fans. I saw him coming out of the fourth turn, he and Ed up so high, Dorie Sweikert said. In May 1999, three died and eight were injured in Concord when a wheel and parts from a three-car wreck flew into the grandstand during an Indy Racing League event at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Bohanon, a Southern Indiana native, has raced on the famous High Banks of Salem Speedway and looks forward to shaping the tracks future. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. The bodies were taken to the Conkle West 16th But Dorie didnt believe it would happen to Sweikert. He died a week later. He died the day after his sister, on his 10th birthday. 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. 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For over 65 years Salem Speedway has enjoyed the recognition of being one of the most unique and renowned racetracks in America. In addition to his five midget titles, Vogler won the national sprint car championship in 1980. I definitely want to clean the place up, paint it, do something with the signage out front. The challenge for speedway owners: How do you balance the counterweights of safety and intimacy? Vogler, who would have been 40 on Thursday, raced in five Indianapolis 500s. Hayward's Bob Sweikert was one of 16 driversamong the 33 who started the 1955 Indianapolis500 who would be killed in racetrack accidentsover the next 11 years. There are improvements that I want to make to the pavement, the pit area, lighting, infield concessions, infield restrooms and the scoreboard. Usually, his mother and his sons appear at the annual fund-raiser. "Some people said it went over the fence." [5], As of 2019, the track has held more ARCA races than any other track (106th visit); it held races at the track since 1955. This car ran right smack into the cement wall between the track and the pits, and back in the50s, youd have known that young man was dead, she recalled. beat that day. [2] A thunderstorm had ripped the roof off the grandstands and fences were damaged. Tony Floyd, an ambulance medic for the hospital, described the 39-year-old Vogler as having a "severe head injury." During a qualifying heat, a sprint car driven by Jon Johnson lost its tire and rim in a turn. During most of his IndyCar tenure he was sponsored by KFC, whom he had a longtime professional relationship with. Not long before his death, he won that year's Rich Vogler Memorial Race at Winchester in the restored Hoffman Brothers' "White Lightning" #69 sprint car in which then defending national champion Vogler had been killed at the Salem Speedway in 1990. Eight years later, 81 Speedway's owner seems to disagree. Times you just didnt want to look., Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Alameda County DAs new policy will reduce prison sentences through widespread elimination of sentencing enhancements. 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. firemen drained it before leaving the scene. From The Third Turn, an online resource for all news and results stock car racing. "Salem Speedway, Hoosier Lottery form partnership", "Salem Speedway on ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule twice in 2019", "Kingsburg's Kody Swanson stamps his name in national racing history", USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Championship race venues, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Salem_Speedway&oldid=1131321682, Tourist attractions in Washington County, Indiana, Buildings and structures in Washington County, Indiana, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 3 January 2023, at 16:45. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. In late 1944, Sweikert enrolled in the US Army Air Force, but suffered a severe knee injury while training at Lowry Field in Colorado. The Winston Cup season leader easily beat Schrader's 157.219 mph in qualifying Friday. The wheel, witnesses would say later, bounced through the unrepaired hole in the fence, then struck Baker above his right eye. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. His mother had married his stepfather, an electrician for the state of California, when Bob was an infant. "Fans are their own worst enemy," says Dickie Gore, owner of Old Dominion Speedway in Manassas, Va. From age 16 Sweikert worked after school as a mechanic at the local Ford dealership in Hayward. They are. For over 65 years Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery has enjoyed the recognition of being one of the most unique and renowned race tracks in America. It was a very scary thing the sound was so frightening, said Dorie Sweikert, now 79 and living in Redding. [5], Because of USAC rules on a red flag reverting to the previous completed lap, he was declared the winner of the event following his death, which was his 170th win. Handsome, charismatic, courageous, smart, successful, and on top of the world, Sweikerts life ended in tragedy when his yellow No. Perhaps in part because Bob Sweikert refused to accept fear, Dorie convinced herself he was safe from harm. Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious TV interview, Report: Houston ranked No. Drivers, nursing accumulated grudges, satisfy them on and off the track. And with good reason; with 33-degree banking in the corners, Salem Speedway was built in 1947 with all out speed in mind. The boys, only sons of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Tomlinson, had But I'm doing therapy every day.". While completing the third lap, Sweikert was running near the outside wall in 4th place, side by side with his past teenage East Bay streets rival, Ed Elisian, in 5th. He won the Fireman Nationals midget car race at Angell Park Speedway in 1985. He was one of the good guys. Learn how your comment data is processed. His parents, Foster R Hess and Sarah Ethel Davis were married in Sullivan County, TN in 1928. Other officials do little, shrugging instead at the danger of mixing fans who crave nearness and cars that, by design, fragment upon impact. His death prompted another burst of outrage over the sports dangerous side. Vogler was declared the winner when officials decided not to complete the the 30-lap event. Salem has, however, put up a new fence separating the infield from the pits. Of course, it saved a lot of lives.. Fencing, maybe, or car safety. 2980 N. National Road, Suite A, Columbus, IN 47201, Main Switchboard: (812) 372-7811 He entered at the 32nd starting position and ran for 77 laps in the McNamara Special car. Salem Speedway will be under new ownership for the 2023 racing season. Last edited on 17 December 2022, at 23:08, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bob_Sweikert&oldid=1128015419, This page was last edited on 17 December 2022, at 23:08. [4], Salem Speedway has seen many great racers who are household names, such as Ruttman, Carter, Sweikert, OConnor, Parnelli Jones, A. J. Foyt, Al Unser, Mario Andretti, Vogler, Allison, Parsons, Waltrip, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Busch, Kasey Kahne, Ken Schrader, Joey Logano, and the list goes on. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Dr. Dan Anderson pronounced Vogler dead at 11:40 p.m. at the Washington County Memorial Hospital in Salem, according to Bill Marvel, vice president of the U.S. Auto Club. Racing close with Elisian, both cars pushed high. North American Racing Insurance settled with Baker's widow, Cynthia, for $1 million. Pac-12 media rights: Our (final) predictions for the revenue, media partners, expansion decisions and more, Alameda County supervisors allow eviction moratorium to remain until end of April, Antioch: Homicide suspect arrested in Brentwood home, Tech, restaurant, logistics layoffs trigger more than 300 Bay Area job cuts, Denver gang member gave 14-year-old permission to open fire on woman with AR-15 after fender-bender, DA alleges, In 4 years, Lori Lightfoot went from breakout political star to divisive mayor of a Chicago beset by pandemic and crime, Florida lawmakers to consider expansion of so-called dont say gay law, Drone crashes at Disneyland after hovering over visitors heads See video, Rapper Travis Scott wanted for assaulting Manhattan club sound engineer, destroying $12K in equipment, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. In 1988, Vogler was running 20+ laps down in the race when he waived his position to former Formula 1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi. That year the family moved briefly to San Francisco, then across the bay to the rural town of Hayward, California. The tire hit a concrete barrier in front of the grandstand. On Memorial Day, May 26, 1947 Sweikert ran his first race for prize money at the Oakland Speedway, and finished second. Gil was a popular Cincinnati, Ohio driver who ran regularly in the area before joining the United States Auto Club sprint car circuit. Salem Speedway is a .555 miles (0.893km) long paved oval racetrack in Washington Township, Washington County, near Salem, Indiana, United States, approximately 100 miles (160km) south of Indianapolis. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. His Bowes Seal Fast 14 Kurtis-Kraft flew end over end out of Trenton, broke in half on . Classes at Christ the King School were canceled for Josh and Amanda Dutton's funeral. He had that charisma.. Johnson's car, said C. Ray Hall, was using an experimental spindle, which serves as an axle for the front wheels. [1] He competed in the Indianapolis 500 five times, and his best finish was eighth in 1989. Bob was raised through his early teen years with his older stepbrother, Ed, who enlisted in the US Navy, and then soon died in 1942, at the onset of World War II. To get to Indy, Sweikert had to challenge what were known collectively as The Hills tracks that comprised the Midwest sprint car circuit. Bob Sweikert participated in 5 World Championship races. Your email address will not be published. Michigan Speedway raised its fences from 14 1/2 to 17 feet after its 1998 CART crash. [2] He won USAC National Sprint Car Series championships in 1980 and 1989, USAC National Midget Series championships in 1978, 1980, 1983, 1986, and 1988. Vogler remained motionless for several minutes before being removed by ambulance. She never saw danger coming. 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