IRL: Hemelgarn Racing to provide test to USAC sprint winner in Toledo
INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, June 8, 2000 -- Ron Hemelgarn, whose Indy Racing Northern Light Series team leads the series standings with driver Buddy Lazier, has announced he will provide an Indy Racing League rookie test for the winning driver ...
INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, June 8, 2000 -- Ron Hemelgarn, whose Indy Racing Northern Light Series team leads the series standings with driver Buddy Lazier, has announced he will provide an Indy Racing League rookie test for the winning driver in the Stoops Freightliner/USAC Sprint Car race July 7 at the Toledo (Ohio) Speedway. A resident of the Toledo area, Hemelgarn remembers the rich heritage of Toledo racing and its connection to the sport of Indy Racing through drivers like Lee Kunzman, Gary Bettenhausen, Tom Sneva, Bruce Walkup, Pancho Carter, Tom Bigelow, Larry Dickson, Steve Chassey and Rich Vogler, all Toledo Sprint Car winners and Indianapolis 500 veterans. “I see this as an extension of our commitment to short-track oval racing as a stepping stone to Indy car racing,” said Hemelgarn. “Back in the 1970s, the road to Indy ran through the USAC Sprint Cars and Toledo Speedway. We have the opportunity to turn back the hands of time with this event and return some of the former glory to this series and Toledo Speedway by giving the winner a test in one of our Indy Racing cars.” Hemelgarn’s team, with Lazier at the controls, won the MCI WorldCom Indy 200 at Phoenix earlier this year and finished second in the Indianapolis 500 on May 28. The USAC race July 7 in Toledo will be sponsored by Hemelgarn Racing and will salute Toledo’s favorite son -- Rollie Beale -- who won the 1973 USAC National Sprint Car Championship but was never able to compete at Indy.
-IRNLS/IMS-
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