Gordon Johncock ... Born ... Gordon Johncock was one of the premier drivers of Indy Cars for nearly three decades, winning the 1976 USAC National Championship, and claiming two wins in the Indy 500. A native of Hastings, Michigan, "Gordy" Johncock began his racing career in Midwestern modifieds and USAC sprint cars. While he was highly successful in the modifieds, he was something special in the sprint cars. Johncock set a world half-mile record at Winchester, Indiana in 1964, the same year he made his USAC Championship Trail debut on the one-mile dirt track in Springfield. Johncock ran Indy the first time in 1965, finishing fifth. His first major championship win came later that year at Milwaukee as he out-dueled A.J. Foyt for the victory. Johncock was fourth at Indy in 1966, and also finished fourth in the championship points. In an accident-marred, rain-shortened 1973 race, Johncock got his first Indianapolis 500 victory. With new sponsorship from STP, he also won at Phoenix and Trenton. The following year, he was third in the points, with wins at Milwaukee and Phoenix. Following a huge disappointment at Indy in 1975, in which he qualified 2nd and finished 31st, Johncock rebounded in 1976 to grab third place in the Indy 500, a race that propelled him to his first USAC national championship. Beginning in 1978, Johncock had a string of five consecutive Top Ten finishes that culminated with his second Indianapolis 500 victory in 1982. This time he beat Rick Mears by 16/100ths of a second, the closest finish ever at Indy at that time. After winning the 1983 season opener in Atlanta, Johncock suffered season-ending injuries in a crash at Michigan. 1984 was his last full season, and he announced his retirement in 1985. Missing it more than he had anticipated, Johncock came out of retirement briefly in 1987, but raced only twice in 1988 and three times in 1989, retiring for good in 1992. During his career, Johncock competed in 261 races, winning 25 times and earning 20 poles. His winnings amounted to well over $3 million.
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1950
Art Bisch won the URA Midget race at the South Mountain Speedway, Phoenix, AZ.
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1951
Mike Nazaruk won the AAA Sprint Car race at the Dayton Speedway, Dayton, OH.
Frank Burany won the AAA Midget race at the Kokomo Speedway, Kokomo,IN.
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1952
Bobby Grim won the IMCA Sprint Car race at the Thunder Bay Expo Grounds, Thunder Bay, ON.
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1955
Bill Randall won the ARDC Midget race at the Seekonk Speedway, Seekonk,MA.
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1956
Bobby Grim won the IMCA Sprint Car race at the Faribault Fairgrounds, Faribault,MN.
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1959
Len Sutton won the 50 lap USAC Midget race at the Kil-Kare Speedway, Xenia,OH.
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1960
Pete Folse won the IMCA Sprint Car race at the Knox County Fairgrounds, Knoxville,IL.
Gene Hartley won the USAC Midget race at the Anderson Speedway, Anderson,IN.
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1961
Billy Cantrell won the CRA Sprint Car race over Allen Heath, Gene Brown, Johnny Woos and Colby Scroggin at the Ascot Park Speedway, Gardena,CA.
Vern Harriman won the USAC Midget race at the Cloverleaf Speedway, Cleveland,OH.
Dutch Schaefer won the ARDC Midget race at the Danbury Fairgrounds, Danbury,CT.
Buzz Barton won the IMCA Sprint Car race over Harold Leep, Jay Woodside, Jerry Blundy and Bernie Tomlinson at the Knox County Fairgrounds, Knoxville,IL.
Tom Price won the URC Sprint Car race over Johnny Dodd and Eddie Gallione at the Lincoln Speedway, Hanover,PA.
Johnny Mackison won the Super Modified race over Bobby Hersh and Gene Goodling at the Lincoln Speedway, Hanover,PA.
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1963
Craig Breedlove drove the "Spirit of America" on the Bonneville Salt Flats to a new Land Speed Record of 407.45 mph.
Andy Granatelli became president of Studebaker's chemical compound division. Their principal product is STP - motor oil and gasoline additives.
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1964
Jimmy Davies won the 50-lap USAC Midget race at the Islip Motor Speedway in Islip, NY.
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1969
Kenny Irwin, Jr. ... Born ... He was a NASCAR stock car driver. He had driven in all three major of forms of NASCAR and had two total victories. Before that, he raced in the United States Auto Club against Tony Stewart who was one of his fiercest rivals. He died as a result of injuries suffered in a crash during a practice session at New Hampshire International Speedway.
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1979
A.J. Foyt won the Texas 200 USAC Indy Car race at the 2 mile paved oval Texas World Speedway, College Station, TX. Tom Bigelow was second followed by Sheldon Kinser, Roger McCluskey and Gary Bettenhausen.
Bobby Unser won the Kent Oil 150 CART race at the 2.427 mile road course Watkins Glen Raceway, Watkins Glen, NY. Rick Mears was second followed by Gordon Johncock, Danny Ongais and Al Unser.
Darrell Waltrip won the NASCAR Winston Cup Talladega 500 over David Pearson at the Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega, AL.
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1990
Al Unser Jr. won the Marlboro 500 CART race at the 2 mile paved oval Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, MI. Bobby Rahal was second followed by Mario Andretti, Eddie Cheever and Roberto Guerrero.
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1995
Dale Earnhardt won the NASCAR Winston Cup Brickyard 400 over Rusty Wallace at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, IN.
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2000
Bobby Labonte won the NASCAR Winston Cup Brickyard 400 over Rusty Wallace at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, IN.
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2001
Jeff Gordon won the NASCAR Winston Cup Brickyard 400 over Sterling Marlin at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, IN.
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2007
Kurt Busch won the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Pennsylvania 500 over Dale Earnhardt Jr. at the Pocono Raceway, Pocono, PA.
ONE DAY
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