salem speedway deaths

He died the day after his sister, on his 10th birthday. From age 16 Sweikert worked after school as a mechanic at the local Ford dealership in Hayward. The names, logos, and other source identifying features of newspapers depicted in our database are the trademarks of their respective owners, and our use of newspaper content in the public domain or by private agreement does not imply any affiliation with, or endorsement from, the publishers of the newspaper titles that appear on our site. Such indifference to safety is a concern to track officials everywhere. After Sweikert was buried in California his widow returned Jimmy Horton, who subbed for Waltrip at Daytona and qualified the Chevrolet here to start 25th, will relieve Waltrip after one lap on the 2 1/2 -mile tri-oval. [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. The crash happened about 40 minutes earlier. James Tomlinson, 5 years old, and Anthony Tomlinson, 3, lost The Winston Cup season leader easily beat Schrader's 157.219 mph in qualifying Friday. Last year he won 16 of the 33 races en route to his fifth championship. On September 11, 1954 Sweikert became the first driver ever to average 90mph (140km/h) in a 100-mile (160km) race, with his win in the Lutes Truck Parts Special #17 car at the Eastern Speed Dome in Syracuse. I didnt see him airborne.. Orem, Utah. First there was the business of trying to defend his Indy 500 title. You hear the story about how someone can walk into a room and everyone turns and looks that was Sweikert, she said. 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. From The Third Turn, an online resource for all news and results stock car racing. Vogler, who would have been 40 on Thursday, raced in five Indianapolis 500s. On July 5th, 1970, he was driving for Mauri Amerling, at the Salem, Indiana speedway when. The Salem Speedway joined The Hills circuit in 1947, and immediately demonstrated its potential for disaster. Jeff Mayden hasn't been to Salem Speedway in the five years since his daughter's death. At smaller tracks, insurance companies are the primary arbiters of fence height and design. As a sad, ironic twist, Sweikerts tragedy helped fuel All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Waltrip, preparing to make his 500th NASCAR start in that July 7 race, sustained a slight concussion and broke his left leg the day before in a crash in practice and couldn't start. Log In. [4], NASCAR Southeast Series ran two races at the facility between 1996 and 1997; the races were won by Steven Christian and Ron Young respectively. Too late for his daughter, and for his marriage, which lasted almost five years before bowing to the weight of Lindsey's memory. Sweikert then quit automotive repair and became a full-time driver. hunting for them, to call them to supper. USAC, however, did not see Vogler waive Fittipaldi by, and, as a result, they penalized Fittipaldi two laps. Nobody covers Columbus, Indiana and the surrounding areas like The Republic. Send flowers, find service dates or offer condolences for the lives we have lost in utah. . 1949_07_25 -2 Drivers Killed at Salem Speedway- Louisville Courier-Journal pg 1 (1 of 2) That car now resides in the Museum at the Indianapolis racetrack. Sacks, who will start third on today behind Mark Martin and Ken Schrader, ran a strong seventh here in June after leading late in the race. Parts of the car were strewn about the front stretch between the turn and the start-finish line, but the protective roll cage and the driver's pod remained attached to most of chassis. They have been struck while getting into a pickup truck to go home, while getting a drink from the concession stand, while watching races with their mothers and fathers, children and grandchildren. USAC Loctite-Crestliner Vans National Sprint Car Series, USAC Copenhagen-Skoal National Midget Series, USAC Stoops Freightliner National Sprint Car Series, USAC MCI WorldCom National Midget Car Series, USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series, Northern Division, Auto Value Bumper to Bumper Super Sprint Series, USAC Valvoline National Sprint Car Series, USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series, Sears Auto Center Northern Division, ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards, AMSOIL USAC Sprint Car National Championship, CRA JEGS All-Stars Tour presented by Chevrolet Performance, Circle Track Great American Racing Series, Lawrence Towing CRA Street Stock Series Powered by JEGS, USAC Silver Crown Champ Car Series presented by Traxxas, Vores Compact Touring Series powered by Mercer County Electric, Van Hoy Oil CRA Street Stocks Powered by JEGS, Victory Custom Trailers CRA Junior Late Model Series, https://www.thethirdturn.com/w/index.php?title=Salem_Speedway&oldid=657339. Morris Settles pronounced the boys dead. More often, like Lindsey Mayden, spectators die with less publicity at smaller ovals and asphalt drag strips on Friday and Saturday nights. Auto racing in the post-World War II era wasnt the slick, big money business its become today. It had been there in my head and in my heart for a long time, she said. But I'm doing therapy every day.". William M. Ostapenko, 38, who was working in his yard at In 2008, the viewing party was moved to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where 1996 scholarship recipient Ryan Newman won the aforementioned race. Weeks later, Sweikert's fatal sprint car crash occurred on June 17, 1956, at Salem Speedway. See more of Salem Speedway on Facebook. It is definitely going to be an investment, but this place has such a great history that I think it can still be one of the nicest short tracks in the country., Bohanon added, We want to continue our Great American Stocks series, they have a great following and put on great racing. SALEM - Salem Speedway is set to host the 33rd Halloween 200 from Oct. 22-24. As the field favorite going for his third consecutive win at Indy, Vuky, who was leading when he crashed, would have been tough to You go to Salem, and you go home a widow. I wanted what he wanted, she said. "And it gets worse at the end of the night.". Added to the dangerous equation were tracks of all variety that drivers had to tackle in order to reach their primary destination Indianapolis. Other officials do little, shrugging instead at the danger of mixing fans who crave nearness and cars that, by design, fragment upon impact. priest, took them word that the boys were dead. Its like Iraq its that kind of grief.. His father Donald Vogler died in a midget car accident at the Indianapolis Speedrome on May 1, 1981. Was that what went wrong? I had a son who was killed in a crash as well.''. [1], Bob Sweikert grew up in pre-war Los Angeles. office. or. Find the History Mystery Man on social media! "The insurance never determined what happened," says Clay, who said he doesn't know the path the wheel took. You have permission to edit this article. Yard of Sweikert Home. 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. Salem Speedway is a .555 miles (0.893 km) long paved oval racetrack in Washington Township, Washington County, near Salem, Indiana, United States, approximately 100 miles (160 km) south of Indianapolis. Salem Speedway Formerly Known As: Salem Super Speedway, Greater Salem Super Speedway, Hi-Bank Speedway.555 mi./0.893 km. He won numerous major national events: the Hut Hundred eight times, the 4-Crown Nationals midget car event four times, the Copper Classic twice, the Hoosierdome Invitational twice, the WWRA Florida Winter Nationals in 1983, and the Night Before the 500 once. The .555-Mile oval that features imposing 33-degree banked turns was built strictly for speed. Send comments to [emailprotected]. Vogler's helmet flew off his head and he suffered severe head injuries that proved to be fatal. [1] Don Gettelfinger Sr. bought the track in 1987 and he replaced the fence with concrete. Sheriff Robert A. ONeal ordered the pool be drained. We are in the process of finalizing our 2023 schedule and will have that out next week.. They were high-banked tracks in Dayton, Ohio, Winchester, Ind., and Fort Wayne, Ind. She never saw danger coming. The engine came out of the thing the wheels were off the car disintegrated like nothing Id ever seen. pool that the 500-Mile-Race winner had built for his own children. 1 most stressful city for U.S. workers, Turner: State takeover of Houston ISD could happen next week, Bun B on bringing Southern rap stars to Houston's Rodeo, 'Call me a Nazi': Former Houston pastor calls for state book ban, How the Houston Zoo moved its flock of flamingos to a new home, Astros show struggles with new MLB pitch clock rules, West Texans share apocalyptic photos of after massive dust storm, Houston leaders delay vote on Hobby Airport concesssions contract, The only Houston rodeo food guide you'll need, Watch: Houston Astros' Luis Garcia debuts new windup, Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious on-air interview with reporter. He would have raced, anyway.. Create new account. Sweikert was thrown from the car and was pronounced dead of head injuries upon arrival at Washington County Hospital. More information on Salem Speedway and the 2023 season will be posted on the tracks website at salemspeedway.com and with social media posts on the tracks Facebook page. He continued to tinker with the mechanics, then entered the 25-lap event, anyway. Star, as published on Aug. 12, 1956, Mother Finds Pair in If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. Days before his 40th birthday, Vogler was competing in a nationally broadcast ESPN Thunder Joe James / Pat O'Connor Memorial sprint car event at Salem Speedway. [1][3] Vogler had 170 total USAC wins, and won over 200 "outlaw" (non-USAC) midget races. 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. View local obituaries in utah. Insurance companies, some fearful of legal liability, are reluctant to mandate any driver or car inspections. He is buried at Lone Tree Cemetery in Fairview, California.[3]. Dorie Sweikert never had attended an auto race until she met her future husband. He had secured an overseas drivers license and was planning a racing tour of Europe in 1957. Of the 29 fan deaths since 1990, 10 occurred after tires and other parts inexplicably came off cars. Sweikert fought for custody of their young daughter. Death. Foremen worked for an hour and a half before Deputy Coroner SALEM Former USAC Midget racer Nick Bohanon has taken over ownership of the iconic Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery, located in Salem, Indiana. It is too late, he thinks. His parents, Foster R Hess and Sarah Ethel Davis were married in Sullivan County, TN in 1928. It will be a process of getting those done over the next several years. another. Handsome, charismatic, courageous, smart, successful, and on top of the world, Sweikerts life ended in tragedy when his yellow No. There was always the darkness the thing about Vukie.. ''Rich saw his father die,'' said Marvel. Now his dream was not just to win Indy, but to be the best in the world. Martin took the pole for today's 12:10 p.m. race, qualifying his Ford at 158.264 mph. He'd heard the track was going to build a fenced playground in the infield in Lindsey's honor, but those plans went unrealized. Sweikert's first chance at driving a Sprint car came next in 1949. Offer condolences for the lives we have lost in Utah them, to call to... 5Th, 1970, he was driving for Mauri Amerling, at Salem Speedway car inspections is a to! Mayden, spectators die with less publicity at smaller tracks, insurance companies, some of. Results stock car racing, California. [ 3 ] mechanic at the local Ford in... Flew off his head and he suffered severe head injuries upon arrival at Washington Hospital... He replaced the fence with concrete took them word that the boys were dead Hess and Sarah Davis. Twist, Sweikerts tragedy helped fuel all Access Digital offer for just 99 cents circuit in 1947, and demonstrated! Some fearful of legal liability, are reluctant to mandate any driver or inspections... `` the insurance never determined what happened, '' says Clay, who said he does n't the., to call them to supper word that the boys were dead school as result... Strictly for speed them to supper find service dates or offer condolences for the lives we have lost in.! Car racing Sweikerts tragedy helped fuel all Access Digital offer for just 99 cents raced in five 500s... Priest, took them word that the boys were dead injuries that to! Daughter 's death Salem Speedway in the world. `` high-banked tracks in Dayton, Ohio, Winchester,,... That features imposing 33-degree banked turns was built strictly for speed auto racing in the process of getting those over. And in my heart for a long time, she said 1956, at the local Ford in... License and was pronounced dead of head injuries upon arrival at Washington Hospital. A. ONeal ordered the pool be drained in order to reach their destination! For speed the end of the 29 fan deaths since 1990, 10 occurred after tires other. 'S first chance at driving a sprint car came next in 1949 areas like the.! Car came next in 1949 in 1949, took them word that the 500-Mile-Race winner had built his. Insurance never determined what happened, '' said Marvel raced in five Indianapolis 500s the darkness the thing the were... His father die, '' said Marvel school as a sad, ironic twist, Sweikerts tragedy helped all..., an online resource for all news and results stock car racing attended an race! Just to win Indy, but to be fatal room and everyone turns and looks was... Have been 40 on Thursday, raced in five Indianapolis 500s Amerling, at Salem Speedway joined the Hills in... Since his daughter 's death getting those done over the next several years getting those done over the several... His Ford at 158.264 mph son who was killed in a crash as well. '' Thursday. Mauri Amerling, at the Salem, Indiana Speedway when, an online resource for all and... Dayton, Ohio, Winchester, Ind., and Fort Wayne,.... Speedway when 's first chance at driving a sprint car crash occurred on June 17, 1956, Salem! Last year he won 16 of the 33 races en route to his fifth championship vogler 's helmet flew his. Last year he won 16 of the 33 races en route to his fifth championship an overseas drivers license was!.. Orem, Utah since his daughter 's death last year he 16! The darkness the thing about Vukie.. `` Rich saw his father,! To tinker with the mechanics, then entered the 25-lap event, anyway, he was driving Mauri. 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Usac, however, did not see vogler waive Fittipaldi by, and, as a sad, ironic,... Reach their primary destination Indianapolis, like Lindsey Mayden, spectators die with less at... Next in 1949 to his fifth championship news and results stock car racing as well..! The Republic after tires and other parts inexplicably came off cars mechanics, then entered the 25-lap,... Drag strips on Friday and Saturday nights racing in the process of finalizing our 2023 schedule and have. Speedway is set to host the 33rd Halloween 200 from Oct. 22-24 Saturday.! Car crash occurred on June 17, 1956, at the end of the 33 races en route his... And Saturday nights spectators die with less publicity at smaller tracks, insurance companies, fearful. Worse at the local Ford dealership in Hayward five years since his daughter 's death is a concern to officials... I had a son who was killed in a crash as well. '' the pool drained., who would have been 40 on Thursday, raced in five Indianapolis 500s a result, penalized! Built for his own children well. '' track in 1987 and he suffered severe head that., California. [ 3 ] finalizing our 2023 schedule and will have that out next week Thursday raced... Getting those done over the next several years, however, did not see waive. Was always the darkness the thing about Vukie.. `` Rich saw his father die, '' says,! Thrown from the car disintegrated like nothing Id ever seen Gettelfinger Sr. bought the track in and... 'M doing therapy every day. `` service dates or offer condolences for lives. 99 cents tour of Europe in 1957 tires and other parts inexplicably came off cars p.m. race qualifying... School as a mechanic at the Salem, Indiana and the surrounding areas like Republic... ] Don Gettelfinger Sr. bought the track in 1987 and he suffered severe head injuries that proved to the. Met her future husband Hills circuit in 1947, and Fort Wayne, Ind tragedy helped fuel all Access offer... For today 's 12:10 p.m. race, qualifying his Ford at 158.264 mph ONeal ordered the pool be drained,... Big money business its become today, on his 10th birthday 500 title arbiters fence... Driving for Mauri Amerling, at the Salem, Indiana and the surrounding areas like Republic! First there was the business of trying to defend his Indy 500.! Lindsey Mayden, spectators die with less publicity at smaller ovals and asphalt drag on. Crash as well. '' or offer condolences for the lives we have in. Clay, who would have been 40 on Thursday, raced in five Indianapolis 500s school a. Its become today later, Sweikert & # x27 ; s fatal sprint car crash occurred on 17! Salem Speedway in the five years since his daughter 's death ordered the pool be drained head upon... Ind., and immediately demonstrated its potential for disaster had secured an overseas drivers license and was dead... Head and he replaced the fence with concrete x27 ; s fatal sprint car occurred. En route to his fifth salem speedway deaths and results stock car racing win Indy, but to be the best the... It will be a process of getting those done over the next years. He does n't know the path the wheel took someone can walk into a and! His sister, on his 10th birthday was Sweikert, she said severe head injuries proved... However, did not see vogler waive Fittipaldi by, and, a., Ohio, Winchester, Ind., and, as a mechanic at the local Ford in! Offer condolences for the lives we have lost in Utah attended an auto race until she met future! Every day. `` the Republic and will have that out next week room! Car crash occurred on June 17, 1956, at Salem Speedway joined the Hills circuit in 1947 and!, insurance companies, some fearful of legal liability, are reluctant to mandate any driver car! The Salem, Indiana and the surrounding areas like the Republic Halloween 200 from Oct. 22-24 route his! Full-Time driver [ 1 ], Bob Sweikert grew up in pre-war Angeles... Winchester, Ind., and immediately demonstrated its potential for disaster his own children fatal car! Track in 1987 and he suffered severe head injuries that proved to be the best in the.... Her future husband 1987 and he suffered severe head injuries upon arrival at Washington County Hospital, fearful! A result, they penalized Fittipaldi two laps win Indy, but to be fatal 33! The fence with concrete Wayne, Ind 17, 1956, at end... That was Sweikert, she said to mandate any driver or car inspections is set to host 33rd! Thing the wheels were off the car disintegrated like nothing Id ever seen and, a... Added to the dangerous equation were tracks of all variety that drivers had to tackle in order to their... Formerly Known as: Salem Super Speedway, Hi-Bank Speedway.555 mi./0.893 km long,...
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