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Chicago, Ill.-Cancer has claimed the life of Bob Dotter, three-time Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) National Stock Car Champion. Dotter, 64, passed away on Monday, September 1.
A product of Chicago area short track racing, Dotter, who began driving in 1963 at the old O'Hare Stadium in Schiller Park, raced with only one hand, the result of a 1962 industrial accident, which cost him his left hand. With a steel hook replacing his missing hand, Dotter raced successfully on both the local and national stock car racing scenes.
Dotter won his ARCA championships in 1980, 1983 and 1984, driving for three different car owners. Dotter wheeled Bill Hahnlein's Buick to the title in 1980, Jeff Fortier's Pontiac to the crown in 1983 and finally Bill Goudie's Pontiac in 1984. Dotter captured six ARCA victories during his career, the first coming behind the wheel of a Hahnlein-owned Chevelle at Illiana Motor Speedway in Schererville, Ind. on June 24, 1978. Dotter also raced on the old United States Auto Club (USAC) circuit after several years of convincing USAC officials to give him a license.
For 13 straight seasons, Dotter was ranked in the "top 10" of ARCA's final point standings, spanning 1980 through 1992. After his driving career was over, Dotter crew chiefed Andy Hillenburg to the 1995 ARCA title.
Dotter came on the local Chicago racing scene as a car owner in O'Hare's Cadet division. After taking over the driving chores of his Cadet car, Dotter moved into the late model stock car ranks at O'Hare in 1964, finishing eighth in the point standings. Dotter was voted O'Hare's "Most Popular" late model driver in 1965. Dotter captured his first career late model feature victory at O'Hare on May 13, 1967, driving his '64 Chevy "hardtop" to the win. Despite his handicap, Dotter competed in several of O'Hare's annual 500 lappers, finishing third in the 1965 battle.
Dotter was pretty much a regular at O'Hare, which featured convertible-only racing for several seasons, with the track closing its doors after the 1968 season. For a number of years, Dotter's own driving career was put on hold with Dotter helping several area speedsters, including Chicagoland frontrunner, Ed Hoffman, with the mechanical end of the sport. Years later, Dotter would work on Hoffman's son Eddie's cars, bringing a lot of success to young Hoffman's Lisa Thomas Salon racing team.
In recent years, Dotter was involved in the replica-building and restoration of several NASCAR Winston Cup cars.
Dotter is survived by his wife, Lynda, and his two sons, Bobby and David. Bobby Dotter enjoyed success on the local racing scene, before moving on to American Speed Association competition and later NASCAR Busch Grand National and Craftsman Truck Series racing. Bobby Dotter currently manages a NASCAR truck team. David Dotter, who also raced on Chicago area short track for a few seasons in addition to Mid American Stock Car Series action, has built and crewed various stock cars over the years. David Dotter is currently a member of Lisa Thomas Salon team, which Eddie Hoffman drives for.
A memorial service will be held at Schroeder-Lauer Funeral Home, 3227 Ridge Rd., Lansing, Ill. from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 7. For additional information, call the funeral home at (708) 474-0024
A product of Chicago area short track racing, Dotter, who began driving in 1963 at the old O'Hare Stadium in Schiller Park, raced with only one hand, the result of a 1962 industrial accident, which cost him his left hand. With a steel hook replacing his missing hand, Dotter raced successfully on both the local and national stock car racing scenes.
Dotter won his ARCA championships in 1980, 1983 and 1984, driving for three different car owners. Dotter wheeled Bill Hahnlein's Buick to the title in 1980, Jeff Fortier's Pontiac to the crown in 1983 and finally Bill Goudie's Pontiac in 1984. Dotter captured six ARCA victories during his career, the first coming behind the wheel of a Hahnlein-owned Chevelle at Illiana Motor Speedway in Schererville, Ind. on June 24, 1978. Dotter also raced on the old United States Auto Club (USAC) circuit after several years of convincing USAC officials to give him a license.
For 13 straight seasons, Dotter was ranked in the "top 10" of ARCA's final point standings, spanning 1980 through 1992. After his driving career was over, Dotter crew chiefed Andy Hillenburg to the 1995 ARCA title.
Dotter came on the local Chicago racing scene as a car owner in O'Hare's Cadet division. After taking over the driving chores of his Cadet car, Dotter moved into the late model stock car ranks at O'Hare in 1964, finishing eighth in the point standings. Dotter was voted O'Hare's "Most Popular" late model driver in 1965. Dotter captured his first career late model feature victory at O'Hare on May 13, 1967, driving his '64 Chevy "hardtop" to the win. Despite his handicap, Dotter competed in several of O'Hare's annual 500 lappers, finishing third in the 1965 battle.
Dotter was pretty much a regular at O'Hare, which featured convertible-only racing for several seasons, with the track closing its doors after the 1968 season. For a number of years, Dotter's own driving career was put on hold with Dotter helping several area speedsters, including Chicagoland frontrunner, Ed Hoffman, with the mechanical end of the sport. Years later, Dotter would work on Hoffman's son Eddie's cars, bringing a lot of success to young Hoffman's Lisa Thomas Salon racing team.
In recent years, Dotter was involved in the replica-building and restoration of several NASCAR Winston Cup cars.
Dotter is survived by his wife, Lynda, and his two sons, Bobby and David. Bobby Dotter enjoyed success on the local racing scene, before moving on to American Speed Association competition and later NASCAR Busch Grand National and Craftsman Truck Series racing. Bobby Dotter currently manages a NASCAR truck team. David Dotter, who also raced on Chicago area short track for a few seasons in addition to Mid American Stock Car Series action, has built and crewed various stock cars over the years. David Dotter is currently a member of Lisa Thomas Salon team, which Eddie Hoffman drives for.
A memorial service will be held at Schroeder-Lauer Funeral Home, 3227 Ridge Rd., Lansing, Ill. from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 7. For additional information, call the funeral home at (708) 474-0024
