R.I.P. Gary Bettenhausen

[The Long Shot]

Gary Bettenhausen, a member of both the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and the National Midget Auto Hall of Fame, as well as being a 21-time Indy 500 starter, has passed away at the age of 72. As ignorant of sprint car racing as I am, even I knew of Gary and his racing success, and it is with great sadness that I write this post. Please use this thread to express your well-wishes and condolences, as well as to share any stories about Bettenhausen that you might have.

 

[Nitro Dude]

I am very sorry to here this. I used to live just a couple miles from Gary about 30 years ago in Monrovia Indiana. We would eat breakfast and shoot the breeze at a local cafe and i would go with him to some of his sprint car races and hangout in his garage at the indy 500. I was just talking about him to someone a few weeks ago and i wonderd how he was doing. I haven't seen him in about 25 years but he will be deeply missed.

 

[Johali]

RIP

 

[VaDirt]

 

[aunty dive]

 

[ted@economy]

Cool shots aunty dive ,welcome to the forum. Are you a photographer ?

 

[aunty dive]

Thanks. I am not a photographer. Project manager for a civil construction company.

That shot is Bettenhausen in the foreground and Sheldon Kinser in the roadster on the high side. Pace lap. It's on Google Images and some of the nostalgia sites.

 

[Spike]

RIP.

 

[SpeedPagan]

RIP