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Tony Bettenhausen Sr.

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Tony Bettenhausen Sr.

Original Name
Melvin Eugene Bettenhausen
Birth
Tinley Park, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Death
12 May 1961 (aged 44)
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA
Burial
Tinley Park, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Memorial ID
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Race Car Driver. Nicknamed the 'Tinley Park Express' in honor of his hometown, he was a premier world class driver of midget cars and formula one cars. He won the midget track US Championships in 1941, 1942, 1946 and 1947, plus the 1959 Turkey Grand Prix. In formula one cars he was National Racing Champion in 1951 and 1958. He also competed in 14 Indianapolis 500-mile classics, from 1950 to 1960. He was killed in a crash while test driving a racecar at the Indianapolis Speedway. Bettenhausen is a member of the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame, International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. His son Tony Bettenhausen Jr. was also a race car driver and a veteran of 11 Indianapolis 500-mile classics.
Race Car Driver. Nicknamed the 'Tinley Park Express' in honor of his hometown, he was a premier world class driver of midget cars and formula one cars. He won the midget track US Championships in 1941, 1942, 1946 and 1947, plus the 1959 Turkey Grand Prix. In formula one cars he was National Racing Champion in 1951 and 1958. He also competed in 14 Indianapolis 500-mile classics, from 1950 to 1960. He was killed in a crash while test driving a racecar at the Indianapolis Speedway. Bettenhausen is a member of the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame, International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. His son Tony Bettenhausen Jr. was also a race car driver and a veteran of 11 Indianapolis 500-mile classics.

Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith

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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Added: May 14, 1998
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/2928/tony-bettenhausen: accessed ), memorial page for Tony Bettenhausen Sr. (12 Sep 1916–12 May 1961), Find a Grave Memorial ID 2928, citing Tinley Park Memorial Cemetery, Tinley Park, Cook County, Illinois, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.