Gary Clyde Bettenhausen (November 18, 1941 – March 16, 2014) was an American racing car driver. He was the winner the 1967 and 1970 Turkey Night Grand Prix, the 1972 Astro Grand Prix, and the 1976 Hut Hundred.

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.

Bettenhausen 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.

Bettenhausen died on March 16, 2014, in Monrovia, Indiana.

Racing career

Midgets Bettenhausen began as a midget car driver. He finished third in the midget car national points in 1967. Biography at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame 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.

Bettenhausen won the 1980 and 1983 USAC Dirt Track championships in a Silver Crown car.

Bettenhausen suffered a crash at a Championship Dirt Car race (AKA Silver Crown Car) in Syracuse, New York on July 4, 1974, which crushed his left arm and left it paralyzed. He regained enough mobility to drive but never fully recovered from the injury.

Indy/Championship Cars & 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. 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 fourteenth.

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.http://racing-reference.info/driver?id=bettega01 Biography at racing-reference.info He had four top-ten finishes. His highest career finish was a fourth-place finish at the 1974 Motor State 360 at the Michigan International Speedway. Twenty years after his last NASCAR race, he attempted to qualify for the inaugural Brickyard 400, but failed to make the field.

Awards Bettenhausen was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1993. Bettenhausen was a 1998 inductee in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.

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 Pts 1966 American Eagle Racing Meskowski 59 D Offenhauser PHXDNQ TREDNQ INDY IRPDNQ LANDNQ ISFDNQ DSFDNQ INF TREDNQ SACDNQ NC 0 Halibrand Shrike 65 MILDNQ LANDNQ ATLDNQ PPR MILDNQ Clyde Lynch PHX19 1967 American Eagle Racing Meskowski 59 D Offenhauser PHX TRE INDY MIL LAN PPR MOS MOS IRP LAN MTR MTR ISF MIL DSF INFDNQ TRE 47th 60 Joe Hunt Lesovsky 58 D SAC11 HAN11 PHX19 RSDDNQ 1968 Joe Hunt Lesovsky 58 D Offenhauser HAN10 LVS10 PHX13 TRE 8th 1595 Don Gerhardt Gerhardt Offy 159 ci t INDY24 MIL LAN3 PPR LAN13 LAN12 MIL5 TRE12 MCH21 HAN21 PHX1 Don Gerhardt Ford 255 ci V8 MOS10 MOS13 CDR7 IRP21 IRP12 MTR13 MTR13 RSD19 Ward D Offenhauser NAZ4 ISF13 DSF4 INF4 SAC2 1969 Fred Gerhardt Gerhardt 68 Offy 159 ci t PHX20 HAN10 LAN6 PPR CDR TRE16 14th 970 Gerhardt 69 INDY26 MIL21 IRPDNQ IRP MIL13 DOV5 TRE19 PHX20 Ward D Offenhauser NAZ2 ISF6 DSF10 INF2 BRN BRN SAC2 SIR SIR Gerhardt 69 Chevrolet 320 ci V8 RSDDNQ 1970 Fred Gerhardt Gerhardt 69 Offy 159 ci t PHX17 TRE12 17th 710 Chevrolet 320 ci V8 SON21 Gerhardt 70 Offy 159 ci t INDY26 MIL9 LAN5 CDR MCH1 IRP22 MIL17 ONT19 TREDNQ PHX19 Ward D Ford ISF20 Offenhauser DSF9 INFDNQ SED16 Edmunds 68 D Offy 159 ci t SAC9 1971 Fred Gerhardt Gerhardt 70 Offy 159 ci t RAF11 RAF7 PHX20 TRE16 INDY10 MIL16 POC6 MCH22 MIL3 ONT3 TRE24 PHX5 7th 1800 1972 Roger Penske Enterprises McLaren M16A Offy 159 ci t PHX4 TRE1 MIL3 12th 790 McLaren M16B INDY14 MCH24 POC19 MILDNS ONT TRE PHX 1973 Penske Racing McLaren M16B Offy 159 ci t TWS2 TRE6 TRE17 8th 2093 McLaren M16C INDY5 MIL3 POC27 MCH24 MIL20 ONT ONT2 ONT19 MCH2 MCH8 TRE24 TWS1 Eagle 72 PHX6 1974 Penske Racing McLaren M16C Offy 159 ci t ONT ONT11 ONT20 TREDNS INDY32 MIL2 POC31 MCH MIL MCH TRE TRE PHX 22nd 260 Eagle 72 PHX14 1975 Don Gerhardt Eagle 72 Offy 159 ci t ONT11 ONT ONT14 PHX10 TRE INDY15 MIL9 POC5 MCH MIL MCH TRE PHX6 14th 745 1976 Don Gerhardt Eagle 72 Offy 159 ci t PHXDNS TRE INDY28 MILDNQ POC33 MCH TWS TRE MIL NC 0 Joe Hunt Eagle 73 ONT27 MCH TWS PHX 1977 Joe Hunt Eagle 73 Offy 159 ci t ONT10 PHX11 TWS 14th 850 J. C. Agajanian Dragon 76 TRE11 INDY16 MIL20 POC7 MOS2 MCH17 TWS ONT17 MCH PHX14 Kingfish 73 MIL8 1978 J. C. Agajanian Dragon 76 Offy 159 ci t PHX21 ONT12 TWS TRE19 INDY16 MOS6 MILDNQ POC29 MCH ATL TWS MIL22 ONT MCH TRE9 SIL BRH PHX21 29th 294 1979 Armstrong Mould Wildcat Mk 2 DGS 158 ci t ONT18 TWS2 TWS5 MIL6 5th 1008 J. C. Agajanian Kingfish 73 Chevrolet V8t INDYDNQ MIL6 POC9 1980 Armstrong Mould Wildcat Mk 2 DGS 158 ci t ONT INDY3 MIL12 POC33 MOH20 8th 726 1981-82 Lindsey Hopkins Racing Lightning 80 Cosworth DFX V8t INDY26 INDY12 18th 366 Vollstedt Enterprises Vollstedt 73 Offy 159 ci t POC27 ISF20 DSF18 INF3 1982-83 King Chevrolet ISF DSF1 NAZ24 8th 406 H & R Racing Lightning 80 Chevrolet V6t INDYDNQ 1983-84 DSF1 6th 400 H & R Racing March 84C Cosworth DFX V8t INDYDNQ

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 Pts Ref 1979 J. C. Agajanian Kingfish 73 Chevrolet V8t PHX ATL ATL INDYDNQ TRE TRE MCH MCH WGL TRE ONT MCH ATL PHX NA - 1980 Armstrong Mould Wildcat Mk 2 DGS 158 ci t ONT INDY3 MIL12 POC33 MOH20 MCH9 WGL11 MILDNQ ONT31 MCH19 MEX 9th 1057 Orbitor 80C Cosworth DFX V8t PHX3 1981 Rhoades Racing Wildcat Mk 8 Cosworth DFX V8t PHX MIL ATL ATL MCH6 RIV MIL19 MCH WGL MEX PHX 15th 42 1982 Gohr Racing Penske PC7 Chevrolet 355 ci V8 PHX ATL MIL CLE MCH6 POC8 RIVDNQ ROA20 MCH17 15th 48 Bettenhausen Racing March 82C Cosworth DFX V8t MIL13 PHX9 1983 H & R Racing Lightning 80 Chevrolet V6t ATL INDYDNQ 34th 1 Spirit 83 Chevrolet 355 ci V8 MIL22 CLE MCH ROA POC27 RIV MOHDNS MCH CPL LAG Bettenhausen Racing March 82C Cosworth DFX V8t PHX12 1984 H & R Racing March 84C Cosworth DFX V8t LBH PHX INDYDNQ MIL15 POR13 MEA MCH23 ROADNQ POC10 MOH SAN 37th 1 Pabst Racing March 83C CLEDNQ BC Pace Racing MCHDNQ PHXDNQ LAG CPL 1985 Leader Card Racers March 85C Cosworth DFX V8t LBH INDY MIL POR MEA CLE MCH ROA POC MOH SAN22 MCHDNS LAG PHX16 MIA NC 0 1986 Leader Card Racers March 85C Cosworth DFX V8t PHX21 LBH MCH20 ROA LAG 32nd 2 March 86C INDY11 MIL23 POR MEA CLE TOR MCH26 POC13 MOH SAN21 PHX19 MIA 1987 Gohr Racing March 86C Cosworth DFX V8t LBH PHX16 INDY5 MIL15 POR MEA CLE TOR MCH13 POC13 ROA MOH NAZ LAG MIA 24th 10 1988 Scheid Tire Centers March 87C Cosworth DFX V8t PHX LBH INDYDNQ MIL POR CLE TOR MEA MCH POC MOH ROA NAZ LAG MIA NA - 1989 Mann Motorsports Lola T87/00 Buick 3300 V6t PHX LBH INDY33 MIL DET POR CLE MEA TOR MCH POC MOH ROA NAZ LAG NC 0 1990 Team Menard Lola T89/00 Buick 3300 V6t PHX LBH INDY31 MIL DET POR CLE MEA TOR MCH DEN VAN MOH ROA NAZ LAG NC 0 1991 Team Menard Lola T91/00 Buick 3300 V6t SRF LBH PHX INDY22 MIL DET POR CLE MEA TOR MCH DEN VAN MOH ROA NAZ LAG 29th 1 1992 Team Menard Lola T92/00 Buick 3300 V6t SRF PHX LBH INDY17 DET POR MIL NHA TOR MCH CLE ROA VAN MOH NAZ LAG NC 0 1993 Team Menard Lola T93/00 Menard V6t SRF PHX LBH INDY17 MIL DET POR CLE TOR MCH NHA ROA VAN MOH NAZ LAG NC 0 1994 Bettenhausen Motorsports Penske PC-22 Ilmor 265C V8t SRF PHX LBH INDYDNQ MIL DET POR CLE TOR MCH MOH NHA VAN ROA NAZ LAG NA - 1996 Bettenhausen Motorsports Penske PC-23 Mercedes-Benz IC108B V8t MIA RIO SRF LBH NAZ 50021 MIL DET POR CLE TOR MCH MOH ROA VAN LAG NC 0

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 Pts Ref 1967 Ranier Racing 68 Ford AUG RSD DAY10 DAY DAY31 AWS BRI GPS BGS ATL CLB HCY NWS MAR SVH RCH DAR BLV LGY CLT ASH MGR SMR BIR CAR GPS MGY DAY33 TRN OXF FDA ISP BRI SMR NSV ATL BGS CLB SVH DAR HCY RCH BLV HBO MAR NWS CLT CAR AWS NA 0

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 Pts Ref 1974 Penske Racing 16 AMC RSD7 DAY12 RCH CAR BRI ATL9 DAR NWS MAR TAL37 NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH4 DAY BRI NSV ATL POC TAL MCH DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR ONT 43rd 49 1994 Barkdoll Racing 60 Chevy DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL INDDNQ GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL NA -

Daytona 500 Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish 1967 Ranier Racing Ford 21 31 1974 Penske Racing AMC 34 12

Notes

References

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