Gary Bettenhausen

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. 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. 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.

Wildcat Mk 2 DGS 158 ci t ONT

MEX

Orbitor 80C Cosworth DFX V8t

1981 Rhoades Racing Wildcat Mk 8 Cosworth DFX V8t PHX MIL ATL ATL

RIV

MCH WGL MEX PHX

Gohr Racing Penske PC7 Chevrolet 355 ci V8 PHX ATL MIL CLE

Bettenhausen Racing March 82C Cosworth DFX V8t

Lightning 80 Chevrolet V6t ATL

Spirit 83 Chevrolet 355 ci V8

CLE MCH ROA

RIV

MCH CPL LAG

Bettenhausen Racing March 82C Cosworth DFX V8t

H & R Racing March 84C

LBH PHX

MEA

MOH SAN

Pabst Racing

BC Pace Racing

LAG CPL 1985 Leader Card Racers March 85C Cosworth DFX V8t LBH INDY MIL POR MEA CLE MCH ROA POC MOH

LAG

MIA

March 85C

LBH

ROA LAG

March 86C

POR MEA CLE TOR

MOH

MIA 1987 Gohr Racing March 86C Cosworth DFX V8t LBH

POR MEA CLE TOR

ROA MOH NAZ LAG MIA

1988 Scheid Tire Centers March 87C Cosworth DFX V8t PHX LBH

MIL POR CLE TOR MEA MCH POC MOH ROA NAZ LAG MIA

NA 1989 Mann Motorsports Lola T87/00 Buick 3300 V6t PHX LBH

MIL DET POR CLE MEA TOR MCH POC MOH ROA NAZ LAG

1990 Team Menard Lola T89/00 Buick 3300 V6t PHX LBH

MIL DET POR CLE MEA TOR MCH DEN VAN MOH ROA NAZ LAG

1991 Team Menard Lola T91/00 Buick 3300 V6t SRF LBH PHX

MIL DET POR CLE MEA TOR MCH DEN VAN MOH ROA NAZ LAG

1992 Team Menard Lola T92/00 Buick 3300 V6t SRF PHX LBH

DET POR MIL NHA TOR MCH CLE ROA VAN MOH NAZ LAG

1993 Team Menard Lola T93/00 Menard V6t SRF PHX LBH

MIL DET POR CLE TOR MCH NHA ROA VAN MOH NAZ LAG

1994 Bettenhausen Motorsports Penske PC-22 Ilmor 265C V8t SRF PHX LBH

MIL DET POR CLE TOR MCH MOH NHA VAN ROA NAZ LAG NA 1996 nowrap| Bettenhausen Motorsports nowrap| Penske PC-23 nowrap| Mercedes-Benz IC108B V8t MIA RIO SRF LBH NAZ

MIL DET POR CLE TOR MCH MOH ROA VAN LAG

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