On May 12, 1957, race car driver A.J. Foyt scored his first
professional victory, in a U.S. Automobile Club (USAC)
midget car race in Kansas City, Missouri.

A tough-as-nails Texan, Anthony Joseph Foyt, Jr. raced
midget cars—smaller vehicles designed to be driven in
races of shorter distances—and stock cars before moving
up to bigger things in 1958, when he entered his first
Indianapolis 500 race. Foyt won his first Indy 500 crown
in 1961, when rival Eddie Sachs was forced to make a tire
change in the final laps, giving Foyt the chance to overtake
him and win with a then-record average speed of 139.13 mph.

Anthony Joseph Foyt Jr. turned 86 in Januray

Darrell Lee Waltrip

Darrell Lee Waltrip is a motorsports analyst, author, former
national television broadcaster, and stock car driver. He
raced from 1972 to 2000 in the former NASCAR Winston
Cup Series (now called the NASCAR Cup Series), most
notably driving the No. 17 Chevrolet for Hendrick
Motorsports (below).

From left: Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Gordon in the Fox Sports booth.

John Andrew Andretti (March 12, 1963 – January 30, 2020)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — John Andretti carved out his own niche in one of
the world’s most successful racing families.

He became the first driver to attempt the Memorial Day double. He won
on dirt tracks, street courses and superspeedways. He won an endurance
race, competed in dragsters and became an iron man in IndyCar and
NASCAR. He used his platform and passion for racing to help others
and On Thursday, John lost a three-year battle with colon cancer.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.–This weekend, Dale Earnhardt’s iconic No. 3 Chevrolet
Monte Carlo will return to the racetrack to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Talladega Superspeedway and Richard Childress Racing.

Childress will drive the No. 3 to pace the field at Talladega on Sunday prior
to the start of the 1000Bulbs.com 500. The iconic team owner started his
NASCAR career at Talladega’s grand-opening weekend and the track is
also home to Earnhardt’s last career victory in October 2000.

Ralph Dale Earnhardt (April 29, 1951 – February 18, 2001)

On February 18, 2001, Dale Sr. lost his life at the 43rd running of
The Great American Race following a devastating collision on the
outside wall at Daytona International Speedway. He was 49 years
old.

 
NASCAR & International Motorsports Hall of Famer Richard Childress.

Jessi Combs (July 27, 1983 – August 27, 2019)

(FoxNews) – Jet-car race driver and TV personality Jessi Combs died
tragically during an attempt to break her own land-speed record.

She was involved in the fatal crash during her attempt on Tuesday
on a dry lake bed in Oregon. She was attempting to hit 619 mph.

The details of the crash have not been released at this time.