Team owner, series founder

The Southern California builder was a team owner for more than a half-century, during which he developed a legendary reputation as a talent spotter, giving many of the sport’s best young drivers opportunities. Arciero (pronounced Ar-Cheer-Oh) cars regularly won in sports car racing in the ‘50s and early ‘60s before transitioning into IndyCar, stock car, Pikes Peak, Can-Am, Super Vee, Formula Atlantic, Indy Lights and off-road competition. His drivers included inductees Dan Gurney, Phil Hill, Parnelli Jones, Jim Clark, Roger Penske, Scott Pruett, Michael Andretti, John Fitch, Geoff Brabham, Al and Bobby Unser and nominee Dan Wheldon. Bobby Unser set a record in an Arciero Lotus to win the Sports Car class at the 1964 Pikes Peak Hillclimb. Dan Gurney won multiple major races for Arciero in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, including the 1960 Nassau Trophy and 1962 Daytona Continental. Arciero was also a founding member of Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART). Arciero’s son and grandson have won major SCORE off-road races.