Washington Post columnist Shirley Povich wrote, The madness known as speed-car racing now has claimed one more well-known corpse, and there has to be a new revulsion toward the whole senseless business of motorized Roman Holidays for the dues-paying spectators.. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Weinberger and Ostapenko began artificial respiration. Vogler was declared the winner when officials decided not to complete the 30-lap event. January 22, 2023 (76 years old) View obituary. She is one of 29 spectators since 1990 to be killed by cars or their flying parts at U.S. auto racing events. Michaels Catholic Church, arrived and gave last rites. From The Third Turn, an online resource for all news and results stock car racing. For Dorie Sweikert, the loss never really went away. The two often raced together, and Boyd qualified for entry in the 1955 Indianapolis 500 when Sweikert helped him overcome mechanical handling problems in Boyd's car. In 2018, Kody Swanson broke the all-time USAC Silvercrown record with his 24th series win at Salem. Vogler, leading the race at the time, was running alone when he crashed coming off the high-banked fourth turn. Mrs. Tomlinson ran behind the Sweikert house. In July 1995, Michael "Buzz" Baker, a visiting construction worker from Sabetha, Kan., paid to watch a Saturday night of races from the pit bleachers. The following paragraphs have been transcribed from the Indianapolis Race officials later moved spectators back from the straightaway and built new fencing, now about 30 feet high, to protect them. He had that charisma.. This was his 170th win. "It was," he said, "nobody's fault.". Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. [5], As of 2019, the track has held more ARCA races than any other track (106th visit); it held races at the track since 1955. Weeks later, Sweikert's fatal sprint car crash occurred on June 17, 1956, at Salem Speedway. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! But there are those who think he adapted to the track as well as anybody. When I hit 30, I figured Id better quit.. Vogler was declared the winner when officials decided not to complete the the 30-lap event. During most of his IndyCar tenure he was sponsored by KFC, whom he had a longtime professional relationship with. The wheel hit Amanda flush, crushing her lungs and heart beyond surgeons' repair. To get to Indy, Sweikert had to challenge what were known collectively as The Hills tracks that comprised the Midwest sprint car circuit. had intended to finish the job the day after the fatal Salem race. Ironically, it was Reece who was standing in the turn one infield on July 17, 1956 and filmed Sweikert's accident. Veda wrote many racing articles. in a second tragedy yesterday when two small brothers were drowned in the swimming The sprint car flew over the edge of the track, down the embankment, and landed a hundred feet below, where it briefly burst into flames. Salem has, however, put up a new fence separating the infield from the pits. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. "When it came down, it came down on us.". Sweikert himself took the checkers at Indy in the face of Not long before his death, he won that year's Rich Vogler Memorial Race at Winchester in the restored Hoffman Brothers' "White Lightning" #69 sprint car in which then defending national champion Vogler had been killed at the Salem Speedway in 1990. [2] The ARCA qualifying record is 16.785 seconds/119.035mph by Gary Bradberry in 1994.[6]. For as long as he remembers, his view of Saturday nights was framed by the edges of a driver's helmet. Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious TV interview, Report: Houston ranked No. At 5 p.m. their mother, Mrs. Marie Tomlinson, 32, began In the winner's circle, Sweikert and Dorie celebrated with singer-actress Dinah Shore. In late 1952 his first wife, Marion, started divorce proceedings. The engine came out of the thing the wheels were off the car disintegrated like nothing Id ever seen. rescue squad rushed to the pool. Log In. The 2023 Salem Speedway tentative schedule: April 8: (3rd Annual Easter Egg Hunt) Open Practice for all divisions, April 16: (Season Opener) GAS, CVBT, CVST, Scrappers, May 7: (Derby Hangover Twin 75s) GAS, CVBT, CVST, 602 Stocks, June 3: ASA/CRA Super Series, JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour, GAS, June 17: (Semis on The High Banks) Semis, CVBT, Scrappers, July 1-2: (Firecracker 200 Weekend) GAS, CVBT, CVST, 602 Stocks, Legends, July 22: (Midwest Street Stock Battle and Late Models) GAS, CRA Street Stocks, CRA Late Model Sportsman, CVBT, Aug. 19: (Dollar Beer and Cruise In) GAS, CVBT, CVST, 602 Stocks, Scrappers, Sept. 9: (End of Summer 100) GAS, CVBT, CVST, Legends, Oct. 21-22: (Halloween 200 Weekend) Halloween 200, CVBT 200, CVST, MF8, 602 Stocks, Scrappers, Bloomington Speedway releases 2023 schedule. I had a son who was killed in a crash as well.''. Sweikert's car, on the outside, brushed a piece of metal . There are improvements that I want to make to the pavement, the pit area, lighting, infield concessions, infield restrooms and the scoreboard. No other cars were involved. Sweikert's mother, Grace, often visited Bob's firstborn until Grace died. Vogler, now dead at the age of 39, was declared the winner posthumously because of USAC National Sprint Car Series rules on a red flag reverting to the previous completed lap. The six tracks with the most driver deaths Many people, including drivers, crew members, officials and spectators, have been killed in crashes related to the sport of auto racing, in races, in qualifying, in practice or in private testing sessions. "My stamina's not what it should be. It had been there in my head and in my heart for a long time, she said. Newspapers.com makes these newspapers available for the purpose of historical research, and is not responsible for the content of any newspapers archived at our site. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The wheel came off in Turn 2, snapped from its axle in a two-car collision. 20,621 people follow this. after the boys were taken from the water. Salem Speedway is a .555 miles (0.893km) long paved oval racetrack in Washington Township, Washington County, near Salem, Indiana, United States, approximately 100 miles (160km) south of Indianapolis. Not now. It would do no good for anyone to tell Bob Sweikert to quit racing. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Five-time USAC midget champion Rich Vogler was killed Saturday night after his car crashed during a feature sprint-car race at Salem Speedway of which he was later declared the. [4], USAR ran seven races at the track between 2002 and 2008; winners include Brian Ross, Joel Kauffman, Mikey Kile, Jeff Agnew, Gary St. Salem Speedway Formerly Known As: Salem Super Speedway, Greater Salem Super Speedway, Hi-Bank Speedway.555 mi./0.893 km. No other cars were involved and no other injuries reported. 1,476 check-ins. Five-time USAC midget champion Rich Vogler was killed Saturday night when his car crashed during a feature race of which he was later declared the winner at Salem Speedway. Its like Iraq its that kind of grief.. The worst such incident occurred in 1955 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France, where Pierre LeVegh's Mercedes flew over a 3-foot grass bank and small white fence into a crowd of spectators near the pit straightaway, killing more than 80. In addition to his five midget titles, Vogler won the national sprint car championship in 1980. The Indianapolis native raced in five Indianapolis 500s. Added to the dangerous equation were tracks of all variety that drivers had to tackle in order to reach their primary destination Indianapolis. 1,509 were here. The fencing had been laid in position on the ground and Sweikert Saturday's sponsor is Crosleybrands.com. For over 65 years Salem Speedway has enjoyed the recognition of being one of the most unique and renowned racetracks in America. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Sabres place Alex Tuch on injured reserve; top-line winger's status is uncertain, Paula's Donuts to move Clarence store that faced backlash for tax breaks to Amherst, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Chad Hall's departure from Buffalo Bills to Jaguars remains a bit of a mystery. This page was last edited on 23 December 2014, at 08:46. One of his frequent local competitors on the streets was Ed Elisian, a teenage boy from nearby Oakland, California. AUTO RACING: Salem Speedway has new owner DANIEL SUDDEATH daniel.suddeath@newsandtribune.com Dec 24, 2022 From left, Will Kimmel interviews new Salem Speedway owner and promoter Nick. There were exciting, happy, even playful moments, she said. 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. Mrs. Sweikerts last order before leaving Indianapolis, the neighbors said, was that the fence be completed at once. 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. ''Rich saw his father die,'' said Marvel. "He would be going if it were me that died. Paved Oval located in Salem, IN: Track Status: Still In Operation (Opened: 1947 ) TOURING SERIES & MAJOR EVENTS ; Date Sanction Winner Laps 22 June 1947: AAA Midwest Big Car Series: Sweikert, who graduated from Hayward High in 1944, won the Indy 500 at age 29, the first and only Bay Area racer to capture the event. Tomlinson and his wife, who is expecting her third child in [1] Don Gettelfinger Sr. bought the track in 1987 and he replaced the fence with concrete. But he liked to race on them.. About See All. They entered the pool area through a gap in the high fence [2] A thunderstorm had ripped the roof off the grandstands and fences were damaged. Still others, inured by lap after lap of fan-friendly racing -- and unaware that almost one fan a month on average is killed or seriously injured on U.S. tracks -- think of spectator incidents as mere freak occurrences. About. 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. "It could have been a nightmare," the track's owner said then. waiting patiently for the boys. RACE CAR driver Bob Sweikert celebrates his win in the 1955Indianapolis 500 with his wife, Dorrie. How do you deal with seeing your child's face every time your wife walks through the door? Finishing first among the survivors was a young driver from Pittsboro, Indiana, named Jeff Gordon. The following morning, in part because of Vogler's testimony, the penalty was overturned and Fittipaldi was credited with the runner-up position. "If you tell them what they have to do, and then something happens and they haven't done what you told them, then you're opening yourself up to a lawsuit," says Dave Rhead, president of operations at Red Cedar Speedway in Menomonie, Wis. A small-track Saturday night: mid-September at the Lancaster (S.C.) Speedway, and the season has taken its usual toll. Tony Floyd, an ambulance medic for the hospital, described the 39-year-old Vogler as having a "severe head injury." } } { { format_cents } } { { format_dollars } } /month + tax.! Reach salem speedway deaths primary destination Indianapolis was overturned and Fittipaldi was credited with the position... Flying parts at U.S. auto racing events occurred on June 17, 1956, at 08:46 said! 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