David Jay Hamilton (born June 13, 1962, in Nampa, Idaho) is a race car driver who competed in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series and Stadium Super Trucks. He has made 56 series starts and while never winning a race, finished second three times. He placed second in series points in the 1996–1997 season and again in 1998 season.
Hamilton had been proficient in supermodified racing, as a frequent winner in various supermodified races, usually held in the northern areas of the United States.
Early career Hamilton's IndyCar career started in 1991. His father Ken traded the Eagle Aircraft Flyer Special he attempted to qualify at the 1982 Indianapolis 500 for a rookie test with Hemelgarn Racing for Davey.
Hamilton attempted to qualify for the Indy 500 in 1991, 1993 and 1995. He made his first IndyCar start at the 1996 Indy 200 at Walt Disney World, the first ever Indy Racing League race.
Accident In 2001 at the Texas Motor Speedway, Jeret Schroeder lost an engine exiting turn 2. This caused him to lose control of his car and make contact with Davey Hamilton's machine. Hamilton's car slammed into the wall, nearly getting caught in the catch fence, and beginning to spin a number of times before coming to rest against the inside retaining wall. Also involved in the crash was Sarah Fisher. Hamilton suffered such severe injuries to his legs and feet, that doctors at one time believed that amputation would be the best option for him.
After the crash, Hamilton took a retirement from driving, and underwent 23 operations to reconstruct his feet and legs. He began standing after five months of the crash, and spent a year requiring the use of a wheelchair. He did, however, desire to return to racing, and in 2005, started taking steps to return to the cockpit.
In 2010, after retiring from the 2010 Indianapolis 500 on the first lap, Hamilton referenced his 2001 crash while commenting on his early exit from the 500 by saying, "It’s the second-worst day of my racing career...and everyone knows my worst one."
Life after retirement Hamilton became the color commentator for Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network broadcasts in 2003. He later began driving the 2-seater IndyCar, which gives rides to VIPs and celebrities at IndyCar Series races.
Hamilton partnered with the new American Speed Association, partnering with ASA owner Dennis Huth, to take over control of the popular Southwest Tour for 2007, shortly after NASCAR terminated the popular AutoZone Elite division, which includes the popular Southwest series. The Speedco Southwest Tour series uses the same cars as the former NASCAR-sanctioned series.
Hamilton also owns his own racing team, "Davey Hamilton Apex Racing." This team consists of two winged sprint drivers: his father Ken Hamilton and friend Mike Cullum. Also on the team is Davey's son DJ who races Outlaw Karts and Go Karts. Mike's daughter Jenna rounds out the team and she drives Outlaw Karts. In 2008, Hamilton became a partner in a group that purchased Terre Haute Action Track.
In 2014, Hamilton co-founded King of the Wing, a national pavement sprint car series.King of the Wing Schedule & Midwest Dates Revealed - Speed51, 12 February 2015
Return to racing
In 2005, Hamilton started courting sponsors and perusing the paddock in an effort to return to racing. After settling several personal and business issues, he landed a ride for the 2007 Indianapolis 500, driving for Vision Racing. Qualifying 20th, Hamilton placed ninth after the race was ended early on lap 166 due to rain. For 2008, Hamilton re-signed with Vision Racing. He finished fourteenth in the 2008 Indianapolis 500. For the 2009 season, he drove for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, and was the only one of the team's four drivers to qualify during the first weekend of qualifications. However he crashed out of the race on lap 79.
In 2010, Hamilton competed in the 2010 Indianapolis 500 for de Ferran Dragon Racing. He was involved in an incident with Tomas Scheckter on the first lap of the race, and was classified in 33rd, last place.Cavin, Curt. Davey crashed on the first lap of the Indy 500 when he lost control of his car in turn two and struck the inside wall. Hamilton lands part-time ride, Indianapolis Star, February 25, 2010, Retrieved 2010-02-28
Hamilton's final season of races would be 2011. He finished 24th in the 2011 Indianapolis 500. He also raced in the Twin 275's at Texas for unfinished business. His final start would be at the tragic 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship at Las Vegas. Hamilton was fortunate enough to escape the major accident on lap eleven that killed Dan Wheldon, but the race was abandoned, and the results were scratched from official record. When the new chassis and engine package was introduced for the 2012 season, Hamilton was unable to secure a car for the 2012 Indianapolis 500 due to a lack of available rides.
In 2013, Hamilton joined the Stadium Super Trucks, serving as a substitute for Jimmy Vasser at Honda Indy Toronto; Hamilton started first in the event, but engine trouble forced him to finish seventh. In 2014, he made his season debut at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, where he placed eighth in the first race and ninth in the second race.
Personal life Davey has a son named Davey Jay Hamilton Jr. (D.J.) who was born on March 15, 1997, in Idaho. D.J. is also a racing driver, racing in sprint cars and Stadium Super Trucks. Davey also has a daughter named Hailey Hamilton, who was born on November 16th 1999, in Las Vegas, NV.
Career results
American open–wheel results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
Indy Lights Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points 1995 Dick Simon Racing MIA PHX LBH NAZ MIL DET POR TOR CLE NHA VAN LSNC0
CART IndyCar Year Team No. Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points Ref 1991 Hemelgarn Racing 81 Lola T88/00 Buick 3300 V6t SRF LBH PHX INDY MIL DET POR CLE MEA TOR MIS DEN VAN MDO ROA NAZ LSNC0 1993 Senter Sculley Lola T90/00 Buick 3300 V6t SRF PHX LBH INDY MIL DET POR CLE TOR MIS NHA ROA VAN MDO NAZ LSNC0 1995 Hemelgarn Racing 95 Reynard 94i Ford XB V8t MIA SRF PHX LBH NAZ INDY MIL DET POR ROA TOR CLE MIS MDO NHA VAN LSNC0
IndyCar Series / Indy Racing League Year Team No. Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Rank Points Ref 1996 A. J. Foyt Enterprises 14 Lola T95/00 Ford XB V8tWDWPHXINDY 9th 192 1996–97 Ford XB V8tNHMLVS 2nd 272 Dallara IR7 Oldsmobile Aurora V8WDW G-Force GF01PHXINDYTXSPPIRCHRNH2LV2 1998 Nienhouse Motorsports 6 G-Force GF01BWDWPHXINDYTXSNHMDOVPPIR 2nd 292 Dallara IR8CLTATLTX2LVS 1999 Galles Racing 9 G-Force GF01CWDW 4th 237 Dallara IR8INDYTXSPPIRATLDOVPPI2LVSTX2 Barnhart Motorsports 25PHXCLT 2000 Sinden Racing 44 Dallara OldsmobileWDW 23rd 98 Team Xtreme 16 G-Force GF05PHXLVSINDY20TXSPPIRATLKTY Mid America Motorsports 43 Dallara TX2 2001 Sam Schmidt Motorsports 99 Dallara IR-01 Oldsmobile Aurora V8PHXHMSATLINDYTXSPPIRRIRKANNSHKTYSTLCHITX2 26th 54 2007 Vision Racing 02 Dallara IR-05 Honda HI7R V8 HMS STP MOT KANINDY MIL TXS IOW RIR WGL NSH MDO MIS KTY SNM DET CHI 26th 22 2008 22 HMS STP MOT1 LBH1 KANINDY MIL TXS IOW RIR WGL NSH MDO EDM KTY SNM DET CHI SRF2 36th 16 2009 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 44STPLBHKANINDYMILTXSIOWRIRWGLTOREDMKTYMDOSNMCHIMOTHMS 40th 10 2010 de Ferran Dragon Racing 21SAOSTPALALBHKANINDYTXSIOWWGLTOREDMMDOSNMCHIKTYMOTHMS 36th 26 2011 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 11STPALALBHSAOINDYTXS1TXS2MIL IOW TOR EDM MDO NHM SNM BAL MOT KTYLVS3 41st 26 1 Races run on same day. 2 Non-points-paying, exhibition race. 3 The Las Vegas Indy 300 was abandoned after Dan Wheldon died from injuries sustained in a 15-car crash on lap 11.
Years Teams Races Poles Wins Podiums(Non-win) Top 10s(Non-podium) Indianapolis 500Wins Championships118560081500
Indianapolis 500 Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team 1991 Lola T88/00 Buick 3300 V6t DNQ Hemelgarn Racing 1993 Lola T90/00 Buick 3300 V6t DNQ Senter Sculley 1995 Reynard 94i Ford XB V8t DNQ Hemelgarn Racing 1996 Lola T95/00 Ford XB V8t 10 12 A. J. Foyt Enterprises 1997 G-Force GF01 Oldsmobile Aurora V8 8 6 A. J. Foyt Enterprises 1998 G-Force GF01B Oldsmobile Aurora V8 8 4 Nienhouse Motorsports 1999 Dallara IR9 Oldsmobile Aurora V8 11 11 Barnhart Motorsports 2000 G-Force GF05 Oldsmobile Aurora V8 28 20 TeamXtreme 2001 Dallara IR-01 Oldsmobile Aurora V8 26 23 Sam Schmidt Motorsports 2007 Dallara IR-05 Honda HI7R V8 20 9 Vision Racing 2008 Dallara IR-05 Honda HI7R V8 18 14 Vision Racing 2009 Dallara IR-05 Honda HI7R V8 22 29 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 2010 Dallara IR-05 Honda HI7R V8 14 33 de Ferran Dragon Racing 2011 Dallara IR-05 Honda HI7R V8 15 24 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
Stadium Super Trucks (key) (Bold – Pole position. Italics – Fastest qualifier. * – Most laps led.) Stadium Super Trucks results Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Pts Ref 2013 PHO LBH LAN SDG SDG STL TOR7 TOR3 CRA CRA OCF OCF OCF CPL 20th 38 2014 STP8 STP9 LBH IMS IMS DET DET DET AUS TOR TOR OCF OCF CSS LVV LVV 22nd 25 2016 ADE ADE ADE STP STP LBH8 LBH11 DET DET DET TOW TOW TOW TOR TOR CLT CLT OCF OCF SRF SRF SRF 35th 23
References
External links
Davey Hamilton Racing IndyCar Driver Page