Tony Bettenhausen
| Born |
September 12, 1916 Tinley Park, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Died | 12 May 1961 (aged 44) Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |
 American
|
| Active years | 1950–1960 |
| Teams | Kurtis Kraft, Deidt, Kuzma, Epperly, Watson |
| Entries | 11 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 1 |
| Career points | 11 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 1 |
| First entry | 1950 Indianapolis 500 |
| Last entry | 1960 Indianapolis 500 |
Melvin Eugene "Tony" Bettenhausen (12 September 1916 - 12 May 1961) was an American racing driver, who won the National Championship in 1951 and 1958.
Bettenhausen was nicknamed the "Tinley Park Express" in honor of his hometown. He was nicknamed "Tunney" after heavyweight boxing champion Gene Tunney. "Tunney" later became "Tony."
Bettenhausen was part of the midget car "Chicago Gang" with Emil Andres, Cowboy O'Rourke, Paul Russo, Jimmy Snyder, and Wally Zale. They toured tracks in the Midwest and East Coast of the United States.
He won the track championship at the Milwaukee Mile in 1942, 1946, and 1947. He was the Chicago Raceway Park champion in 1941, 1942, and 1947.
In October, 1950, he was involved in a race in Sacramento, California, when his car locked wheels with another racers car causing a crash through the guard rail, resulting in fatal injuries to spectator Peter Bernard Stuberak, and injuries to two other spectators.
He won the 1959 Turkey Night Grand Prix, and the Hut Hundred in 1955 and 1956.
He drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1941 and 1946-1961 seasons with 121 starts, including 14 in the Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 74 times, with 21 victories.
He won the National Championship in 1951 after recording eight victories and two second-place finishes in fourteen events. He announced his retirement from all racing but the Indianapolis 500 after the season. He decided to return full-time for the 1954 season. He was involved in a midget car wreck in Chicago, suffering head injuries after striking a concrete wall. He was in critical condition for several days.
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Wikipedia