Driver

Son of 1997 inductee Tony, Bettenhausen was one of the greatest sprint car drivers of his generation and dominated the 1972 Indianapolis 500, leading 138 laps before engine failure sidelined him with 24 remaining, handing victory to Penske teammate Mark Donohue. Bettenhausen was also fastest qualifier for the 1991 event. Bettenhausen scored four IndyCar wins despite rarely being in a top car. His best Indy 500 finish was third in 1980. So spectacular were his battles with fellow sprint car standout Larry Dickson during the ‘60s and early ‘70s that they came to be known as "The Larry and Gary Show" or "Thunder (Bettenhausen) and Lightning (Dickson).” Bettenhausen won the 1969 and ’71 Sprint Car titles before a 1974 crash badly damaged his left arm. He eventually recovered enough to capture the 1980 and 1983 USAC Silver Crown championships. Bettenhausen scored four Top 10s in eight NASCAR Cup Series starts. He was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1993 and National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1998.