Melvin Eugene "Tony" Bettenhausen (September 12, 1916 – May 12, 1961) was an American racing driver known primarily for his open-wheel career. He twice won the National Championship, doing so in 1951 and 1958. He also competed in stock cars, winning under AAA and USAC sanction.

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."

Racing career

Midget car career

Bettenhausen was part of the midget car "Chicago Gang" with Emil Andres, Cowboy O'Rourke, Paul Russo, Jimmy Snyder, and Wally Zale. These racers toured tracks in the Midwest and East Coast of the United States.

Bettenhausen 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, Bettenhausen was involved in a race in Sacramento, California, when his car locked wheels with another racer's car, causing a crash through the guard rail, resulting in fatal injuries to spectator Peter Bernard Stuberak, and injuries to two other spectators.Spectator Dies from Injuries at Auto Race Track (San Bernardino County Sun, Oct.17, 1950)

Bettenhausen won the 1959 Turkey Night Grand Prix, and the Hut Hundred in 1955 and 1956.

Championship car career

Bettenhausen 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.

Bettenhausen 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.

Bettenhausen prearranged to co-drive with Chicago Gang friend Paul Russo in the 1955 Indianapolis 500. They finished second.

In 1958, Bettenhausen became the first driver to claim the National Championship without a win. He was assured the title with a second-place finish at Phoenix. He finished second in the national championship to Rodger Ward in 1959.

World Drivers' Championship career

The AAA/USAC-sanctioned Indianapolis 500 was included in the FIA World Drivers' Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indianapolis during those years were credited with World Drivers' Championship participation, and were eligible to score WDC points alongside those which they may have scored towards the AAA/USAC National Championship.

Bettenhausen participated in all 11 World Drivers' Championship races held at Indianapolis. He finished in the top three once, and set one fastest leader lap. He scored 11 World Drivers' Championship points.

Death

Bettenhausen was killed in a May 12, 1961 crash at Indianapolis while testing a Stearly Motor Freight Special vehicle for Paul Russo. The car smashed into the outside wall of the track and then rolled along the barrier. The car came to rest in a grassy plot between the wall and Grandstand A, with the tail of the car on fire. Results showed the accident was caused by an anchor bolt which fell off the front radius rod support, allowing the front axle to twist and misalign the front wheels when the brakes were applied, which drove the car into the wall. Bettenhausen died instantly. He was buried at Crown Hill Cemetery and Arboretum, Section 58, Lot 110,

Personal life and family

Bettenhausen was the father of Gary Bettenhausen, Tony Bettenhausen Jr. and Merle Bettenhausen. Gary Bettenhausen and Tony Bettenhausen Jr. both raced in the Indianapolis 500 numerous times.

Awards and honors

Bettenhausen has been inducted into the following halls of fame: Auto Racing Hall of Fame (1968) National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame (1985) International Motorsports Hall of Fame (1991) Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (1997) National Sprint Car Hall of Fame (2008) United States Auto Club (USAC) Hall of Fame (2013)

Motorsports career results

AAA/USAC Championship Car results

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Pos Points 1946 INDY20 LANDNP ATL ISF5 MIL9 GOS1 14th 340 1947 INDY18 MIL15 LAN10 ATLDNQ BAI4 MIL11 GOS1 MIL4 PIK SPR1 ARL10 6th 686.8 1948 ARL INDY14 MIL15 LAN15 MIL6 SPR6 MIL1 DUQ10 ATL PIK SPR DUQ 15th 324 1949 ARL INDYDNQ MILDNQ TRE SPR18 MIL15 DUQ1 PIK SYR9 DET1 SPR9 LAN SACDNQ DMR16 12th 466 1950 INDY31 MIL1 LAN14 SPR11 MIL18 PIK SYR12 DET10 SPR1 SAC17 PHX2 BAY1 DAR20 5th 1,027.5 1951 INDY9 MIL1 LAN1 DAR2 SPR1 MIL10 DUQ1 DUQ1 PIK SYR1 DET4 DNC1 SJS1 PHX13 BAY2 1st 2,556 1952 INDY24 MILDNQ RAL SPR MIL DET DUQ PIK SYR DNC SJS PHX - 0 1953 INDY9 MIL SPR DET SPR MILDNS DUQ18 PIK SYR1 ISF6 SAC PHX1 10th 596 1954 INDY29 MILDNQ LAN DAR SPR MIL DUQ PIK SYR ISF SAC PHX16 LVG17 - 0 1955 INDY2 MILDNQ LAN SPRDNQ MIL2 DUQDNQ PIK SYRWth ISF4 SAC PHX9 4th 1,060 1956 INDY22 MIL LAN DAR ATL SPRDNS MILDNS DUQ8 SYR1 ISF18 SAC14 PHX9 24th 290 1957 INDY15 LAN MILDNQ DET ATL SPR MIL21 DUQ15 SYRDNQ ISF11 TRE7 SAC18 PHX 29th 80 1958 TRE2 INDY4 MIL2 LAN5 ATL18 SPR12 MIL25 DUQ2 SYR3 ISF5 TRE3 SAC5 PHX2 1st 1,830 1959 DAY18 TRE1 INDY4 MIL17 LAN17 SPR17 MIL16 DUQ3 SYR6 ISF15 TRE2 SAC1 PHX8 2nd 1,430 1960 TRE2 INDY23 MIL4 LANDNQ SPR15 MIL14 DUQ2 SYR2 ISF2 TRE6 SAC5 PHX16 5th 940 1961 TRE19 INDYDNQ MIL LAN MIL SPR DUQ SYR ISF TRE SAC PHX - 0 1946 table only includes results of the six races run to "championship car" specifications. Points total includes the 71 races run to "big car" specifications. Shared drive with Myron Fohr

Indianapolis 500 results

YearCarStartQualRankFinishLapsLedRetired19464226123.0941320470Rod19472925120.9801718790Timing gear1948622126.39610141670Clutch1950148130.9471631300Wheel bearing195159131.9503091780Spun T419522730135.3841724930Stalled1953986136.0242091960Crash T319541021138.27519291050Bearing1955102139.98513 2nd2000Running1956995144.6025221600Crash T119572722142.4399151950Flagged1958339143.91910420024Running1959115142.7211842000Running1960218145.2149231250RodTotals197524

Starts14Poles0Front Row1Wins0Top 53Top 105Retired10

FIA World Drivers' Championship results

(key) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 WDC Points 1950 Blue Crown Spark Plug / Moore Kurtis Kraft 2000 Offenhauser L4 GBR MON 500 SUI BEL FRA ITA 21st = 1 1951 Mobiloil / Rotary Engineering Diedt Tuffanelli Derrico Offenhauser L4 SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR GER ITA ESP NC 0 1952 Blue Crown Spark Plug / Earl Slick Diedt Tuffanelli Derrico Offenhauser L4 SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR GER NED ITA NC 0 1953 J.C. Agajanian Kuzma Offenhauser L4 ARG 500 NED BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA NC 0 1954 Automobile Shippers / Casaroll Kurtis Kraft 4000 Offenhauser L4 ARG 500 BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA ESP NC 0 1955 H.A. Chapman Kurtis Kraft 500C Offenhauser L4 ARG MON 500 BEL NED GBR ITA 13th = 3 1956 Belanger Motors Kurtis Kraft 500C Offenhauser L4 ARG MON 500 BEL FRA GBR GER ITA NC 0 1957 Novi Racing Kurtis Kraft 500F Novi V8 ARG MON 500 FRA GBR GER PES ITA NC 0 1958 Jones & Maley Cars Epperly Indy Roadster Offenhauser L4 ARG MON NED 500 BEL FRA GBR GER POR ITA MOR 17th 4 1959 Hoover Motor Express Epperly Indy Roadster Offenhauser L4 MON 500 NED FRA GBR GER POR ITA USA 16th 3 1960 Lindsey Hopkins Watson Indy Roadster Offenhauser L4 ARG MON 500 NED BEL FRA GBR POR ITA USA NC 0

† Indicates shared drive with Joie Chitwood after retiring his own car. * Indicates shared drive with Chuck Stevenson and Gene Hartley. ‡ Indicates shared drive with Duane Carter, Marshall Teague and Jimmy Jackson after retiring his own car. џ Indicates shared drive with Paul Russo.

Notes

References

External links

Tony Bettenhausen - ChampCarStats.com Tony Bettenhausen - Motorsport Memorial