Gary Bettenhausen

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.

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

Personal life

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

Midgets

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

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
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

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
  • He was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1993.
  • He was a 1998 inductee in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.[3]

Motorsports career results

American open-wheel racing

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

USAC Championship Car
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
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
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

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

Grand National Series
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
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
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1967 Ranier Racing Ford 21 31
1974 Penske Racing AMC 34 12

References
  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. "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. 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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