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Tony Bettenhausen Jr.

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Tony Bettenhausen, Jr.
NationalityUnited States American
BornTony Lee Bettenhausen
(1951-10-30)October 30, 1951
Joliet, Illinois, U.S.
DiedFebruary 14, 2000(2000-02-14) (aged 48)
Harrison County, Kentucky, U.S.
Champ Car career
103 races run over 15 years
Years active1979–1993
Best finish6th – 1981
First race1979 Lubrilon Grand Prix
(College Station)
Last race1993 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Wins Podiums Poles
0 1 0
NASCAR Cup Series career
33 races run over 3 years
Best finish20th (1974)
First race1973 Atlanta 500 (Atlanta)
Last race1982 Champion Spark Plug 400 (Michigan)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 1 0

Tony Lee Bettenhausen Jr.[1][2] (October 30, 1951 – February 14, 2000) was a Champ Car team owner and driver who died in a 2000 plane crash. He was the son of former 14-time Indianapolis 500 competitor Tony Bettenhausen and the brother of 21-time Indy 500 racer Gary Bettenhausen. Another brother, Merle Bettenhausen, was critically injured in his only Indy Car start.

Career

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As a driver, he started 11 Indianapolis 500 races, scoring a best finish of 7th his rookie year in the 1981 race. He took his trademark No. 16 into team ownership in 1985, initially using March and Lola chassis, then purchasing year-old Penske chassis and then entering and qualifying two new Penskes for the 1993 race. One, number 76, was driven by himself, the other by former Formula One driver Stefan Johansson. A number of successful drivers passed through Bettenhausen's Alumax car, including Johansson for the first few years as well as four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Hélio Castroneves and former IndyCar rookie of the year Patrick Carpentier.

Bettenhausen also competed in 33 NASCAR Winston Cup Series events in his career, most coming in 1974 when he scored a career best 7th-place effort at Richmond International Raceway.

A difficult 1999 plagued by a lack of sponsorship and a series of pay-drivers saw the team take on a new look in 2000 with the hiring of Michel Jourdain Jr. and his Herdez sponsorship.

The family holds the dubious distinction of the most combined starts in the famous race without a victory.

Death

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Bettenhausen died in a light plane crash en route from Homestead, Florida to Indianapolis, Indiana that went down in Harrison County, Kentucky. Bettenhausen's wife Shirley, the daughter of former Indianapolis racing star Jim McElreath, as well as business associates Russ Roberts and Larry Rangel were also killed. His legacy of the team lived on under the ownership of former Pacific Racing F1 team owner Keith Wiggins and was renamed Herdez Competition in 2001, with the No. 16 replaced by Herdez's preference for the No. 55 early in 2002. The team has subsequently gone through further changes in ownership, was once Paul Stoddart's Minardi Team USA, and became Wiggins' HVM Racing competing in the IndyCar Series until the end of the 2012 season. On 11 November, 2015 the team was listed as up for auction officially listing the team as defunct.[3]

He is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.[4]

Motorsports career results

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NASCAR

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(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series

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NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 NWCC Pts Ref
1973 Buster Davis 84 Dodge RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL
40 		NWS DAR MAR 54th - [5]
Gordon Van Liew 38 Chevy TAL
30 		NSV CLT DOV TWS
23 		RSD MCH
32 		DAY BRI ATL TAL NSV DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR
16
1974 9 RSD
17 		DAY
33 		RCH
12 		CAR
19 		BRI
29 		ATL DAR
18 		NWS
14 		MAR
29 		TAL
30 		NSV
23 		DOV
34 		CLT
21 		RSD
31 		MCH
36 		BRI
26 		NSV
11 		ATL
24 		POC
27 		TAL
32 		MCH
25 		DAR
11 		RCH
7 		DOV
15 		NWS
25 		MAR
14 		CLT 20th 601.69 [6]
Langley Racing 64 Ford DAY
14
Ulrich Racing 40 Chevy CAR
20 		ONT
1982 Gordon Racing 24 Buick DAY RCH BRI ATL CAR DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT POC RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH
24 		BRI DAR RCH DOV NWS CLT MAR CAR ATL RSD NA 0 [7]
Daytona 500
[edit]
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1974 Gordon Van Liew Chevrolet 26 33

American Open-Wheel racing results

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USAC Championship Car

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rank Points
1979 Gilmore Racing ONT TWS
9 		INDY MIL
9 		POC
13 		TWS
13 		MIL
15 		17th 185

PPG Indycar Series

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PPG Indycar Series results
Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Pos. Pts Ref
1980 Medlin Racing Eagle Offenhauser t ONT INDY
DNQ 		MIL
DNQ 		POC
32 		63rd 5 [8]
Agajanian Grant King Racers Kingfish 73 Chevrolet V8 MDO
DNQ 		MCH WGL
DNS 		MIL ONT MCH MEX PHX
1981 Bettenhausen Racing McLaren Cosworth DFX V8t PHX MIL
12 		ATL
7 		ATL
11 		MCH
2 		RIV
DNS 		MEX
11 		PHX
19 		6th 107 [9]
Longhorn LR-1 MIL
14
Phoenix MCH
10 		WGL
8
1982 Bettenhausen Racing March 82C Cosworth DFX V8t PHX
12 		ATL
19 		MIL
12 		CLE MCH
10 		POC
5 		RIV
18 		ROA
7 		MCH
4 		PHX
6 		10th 80 [10]
Phoenix MIL
20
1983 Bettenhausen Racing March 83C Cosworth DFX V8t ATL
10 		INDY
17 		MIL
10 		MCH
18 		POC
10 		RIV
8 		MCH
9 		CPL
21 		PHX
18 		17th 19 [11]
March 83P CLE
18 		ROA
12 		MDO
14 		LAG
14
1984 Provimi Veal Racing March 84C Cosworth DFX V8t LBH
DNQ 		PHX
22 		INDY
26 		MIL POR MEA CLE MCH
15 		ROA POC
16 		MDO SAN MCH PHX LAG CPL NC 0 [12]
1985 All American Racers Lola T900 Cosworth DFX V8t LBH INDY
29 		MIL POR MEA CLE MCH ROA POC MDO SAN MCH LAG PHX MIA 59th 0 [13]
1986 Bettenhausen Racing March 86C Cosworth DFX V8t PHX LBH INDY
28 		MIL POR MEA CLE TOR MCH POC MDO SAN MCH ROA LAG PHX MIA 50th 0 [14]
1987 Bettenhausen Racing March 86C Cosworth DFX V8t LBH
11 		PHX
15 		INDY
10 		MIL
DNQ 		POR MEA
13 		CLE
20 		TOR
DNQ 		MCH
11 		POC
22 		ROA
15 		MDO
25 		NAZ LAG MIA 29th 7 [15]
1988 Bettenhausen Racing Lola T8700 Cosworth DFX V8t PHX
6 		LBH
DNQ 		INDY
33 		CLE
15 		MCH
4 		POC
15 		MDO
16 		ROA
16 		LAG
26 		MIA 17th 25 [16]
March 86C MIL
19 		POR TOR
17 		MEA
8
Lola T8700 Judd AV NAZ
13
1989 Leader Card Racing Lola T8900 Cosworth DFX V8t PHX LBH INDY
DNQ 		MIL DET POR CLE MEA TOR MCH 50th 0 [17]
Dale Coyne Racing Lola T8900 POC
26 		MDO ROA NAZ LAG
1990 Bettenhausen Racing Lola T8700 Cosworth DFX V8t PHX LBH
DNQ 		MDO
20 		ROA
DNS 		NAZ
22 		LAG 24th 4 [18]
Buick 3300 V6t INDY
26 		MIL
13 		DET
16 		POR
17 		CLE
12 		MEA
10 		TOR
26 		MCH
22 		DEN
24 		VAN
1991 Bettenhausen Racing Penske PC-19 Chevrolet 265A V8t SRF
10 		LBH
12 		PHX
18 		INDY
9 		MIL
12 		DET
13 		POR
13 		CLE
13 		MEA
21 		TOR
11 		MCH
5 		DEN
10 		VAN
18 		MDO
18 		ROA
13 		NAZ
10 		LAG
16 		14th 27 [19]
1992 Bettenhausen Racing Penske PC-20 Chevrolet 265A V8t SRF
13 		PHX
11 		LBH
15 		INDY
DNQ 		DET POR
21 		MIL
18 		NHA TOR MCH
9 		CLE ROA VAN MDO NAZ LAG 24th 6 [20]
1993 Bettenhausen Racing Penske PC-22 Chevrolet 265C V8t SRF PHX LBH INDY
20 		MIL DET POR CLE TOR MCH NHA ROA VAN MDO NAZ LAG 47th 0 [21]

Indianapolis 500

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Year Chassis Engine Start Finish
1980 Eagle Offy Failed to Qualify
1981 McLaren Cosworth 16th 7th
1982 March 27th 26th
1983 9th 17th
1984 17th 26th
1985 Lola 29th 29th
1986 March 18th 28th
1987 27th 10th
1988 Lola 24th 33rd
1989 Failed to Qualify
1990 Buick 13th 26th
1991 Penske Chevrolet 20th 9th
1992 Failed to Qualify
1993 22nd 20th

References

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  1. ^ "Tony Bettenhausen, Jr". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  2. ^ 1980 Indianapolis 500 Daily track Report
  3. ^ "Key Auctioneers | Auction Detail". Archived from the original on 2015-11-09. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  4. ^ "Indianapolis Auto greats" (PDF). Celebrating Automotive Heritage at Crown Hill Cemetery. Crown Hill Cemetery. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
  5. ^ "Tony Bettenhausen Jr – 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  6. ^ "Tony Bettenhausen Jr – 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  7. ^ "Tony Bettenhausen Jr – 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  8. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1980 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  9. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1981 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  10. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1982 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  11. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1983 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  12. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1984 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  13. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1985 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  14. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1986 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  15. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1987 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  16. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1988 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  17. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1989 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  18. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1990 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  19. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1991 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  20. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1992 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  21. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1993 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
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