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Pound for pound sprintcars are the most lethal machines ever to scatter soil. Since the turn of the century they have roamed the land, their long hoods and teardrop tails descended for the world’s first racing vehicle, the 1902 Panard from France. In 1903 the Indiana State Fairgrounds opened its dirt mile to motor sports, a full eight years and three million bricks before the first Indianapolis 500. Known as big cars, sprints bridged the gap between midgets and Indy’s championship trail. In the post World War 2 era of the American Automobile Association, midgets specialized in quarter miles, sprints hit the halves, and champ cars covered the miles. The fastest halves were the high banks of Salem and Winchester, where the bravest living souls were regularly selected for the Indy 500. Those who held no AAA membership were called Outlaws. Far from the glamour Outlaws battled through the backwoods, unfettered by rules. In several regions stock roadsters and modifieds evolved into sprintcars. Severely chopped and channeled cars were called super modifieds. The very first Knoxville Nationals in 1961 was a super modified event. Supers differed from sprintcars by the inclusion of roll bars above the driver, sprints carried none, they were true widow makers. Six lives were lost during the 1966 USAC sprintcar campaign alone. Open competition at the Knoxville Nationals allowed sprints to attach cages. This rule change propelled Kenny Gritz to the ’69 Nationals victory; later forced to remove the cage by IMCA Gritz was killed in a tragedy that sparked mandatory cages for sprintcars. (Story continued on the Outlaws page)
Late 50's & Early 60's
Late 60's & Early 70's
Late 70's & Early 80's
Today's Sprintcar
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