Driver, owner

In 1982, Red Roof Inns founder and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course owner Trueman founded the Truesports racing team, with 2004 inductee Bobby Rahal from nearby Medina, OH as his driver. Together they’d plant the seeds for the team’s emotional 1986 Indy 500 win and consecutive IndyCar titles. The team struck gold immediately at the inaugural Budweiser Cleveland 500 on July 4, 1982, the first IndyCar win for both. Rahal continued to drive for the team through 1988, winning at least once every year. Trueman enjoyed success of his own as a driver, first in SCCA, where he won national championships in 1975 and ‘78, and in the IMSA Camel GT series, where he was a multi-race winner. Sadly, Trueman is best remembered for his untimely death from cancer 11 days after his team won the 1986 Indy 500. In Victory Lane, the frail Trueman whispered to Jack Arute, “I can go now.” Rahal and Truesports dedicated their 1986 championship to Trueman and followed up with a second-consecutive title the following year.