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Sunday, July 21, 2019

"Hall Of Famer" Rich Vogler Dies In Crash - July 21, 1990

July 26, 1950 - July 21, 1990
Richard Vogler
(Photo; richvoglerscholarship.org)
Born in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
He was nicknamed "Rapid Rich". He competed in the Indianapolis 500 five times, and his best finish was eighth in 1989. Vogler finished seventeenth in his only NASCAR Busch Series start at the North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham in 1988. He was scheduled to make his NASCAR Winston Cup series debut at Pocono Raceway the day after his fatal crash. He was awarded a 40th-place finish as a "Did Not Start".

Vogler was the National Alliance of Midget Auto Racing midget champion in 1973. He won the midget car track championships at the Indianapolis Speedrome in 1984 and 1985. He won the Fireman Nationals midget car race at Angell Park Speedway in 1985. In 1980, Vogler became the first driver to win the USAC Sprint Car and Midget championships in the same year. He won USAC National Sprint Car Series championships in 1980 and 1989, USAC National Midget Series championships in 1978, 1980, 1983, 1986, and 1988.

Vogler won numerous major national events: the Hut Hundred eight times, the 4-Crown Nationals midget car event four times, the Copper Classic twice, the Hoosierdome Invitational twice, the WWRA Florida Winter Nationals in 1983, and the Night Before the 500 once. In 1987 he won the inaugural Chili Bowl Midget Nationals race.

His 134 wins (95 Midget, 35 Sprint, and four Silver Crown wins) in national events is second only to A. J. Foyt's 169. Vogler had 170 total USAC wins, and won over 200 "outlaw" midget races.

Days before his 40th birthday, Vogler was competing in a nationally broadcast ESPN Thunder Joe James/Pat O'Connor Memorial sprint car event at Salem Speedway. He was leading the race at the time, when his car crashed with just over a lap to go. Vogler's helmet flew off of his head and he suffered severe head injuries that proved to be fatal. Because of USAC rules on a red flag reverting to the previous completed lap, he was declared the winner of the event following his death, which was his 170th win.

His mother Eleanor started a college scholarship fund for aspiring Indiana students as part of Rich's concern over his sons, and the fund was started by USAC officials and sponsor Valvoline.

The first major fund-raiser for the fund has been a Daytona 500 viewing party in Indianapolis, today well-attended with a silent auction and notable names in auto racing in the state as guests. Usually, his mother and his sons appear at the annual fund-raiser. In 2008, the viewing party was moved to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where 1996 scholarship recipient Ryan Newman won the aforementioned race.
(Photo; richvoglerscholarship.org)
Eleanor Vogler with Ryan Newman.

In April 1991, Winchester Speedway began the annual season-opening Rich Vogler Classic sprint car race, usually the first race at the track each year.

There is also a Team Vogler classic at the Indianapolis Speedrome. His father Donald Vogler died in a midget car accident at the Indianapolis Speedrome on May 1, 1981.

Vogler was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1986, the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2010.

This Day In Motorsport History - Home Page

12 comments:

  1. One of my favorite drivers to watch, ESPN's Thursday night thunder introduced me to Rich Vogler and his way around the track. I got a chance to see him race live at Grandview speedway in PA/ He won the race and I got to shake his hand following the race..a true throwback racer....definitely missed by me but happy to have the memories..I also saw himrace at indy live..

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  2. He raced down in NZ at springs speedway for a few seasons in the 1980's...with Bobby Olivero and Mel Kenyon...He won a lot of races and was consistently quick..

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  3. I remember watching him come from the back of the field to win Chili Bowl 1! The man could drive anything, anywhere. He wasn't well liked here in Oklahoma very much as he reitterated in his post race interview stemming from his altercation with Jon Johnson at the USAC/NCRA race in Oklahoma City the Year before. Was always fun to watch whether you liked him or not. Godspeed Mr. Vogler

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  4. I remember watching him come from the back of the field to win Chili Bowl 1! The man could drive anything, anywhere. He wasn't well liked here in Oklahoma very much as he reitterated in his post race interview stemming from his altercation with Jon Johnson at the USAC/NCRA race in Oklahoma City the Year before. Was always fun to watch whether you liked him or not. Godspeed Mr. Vogler

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  5. Was lucky enough to see him race in New Zealand in the 1980’s

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  6. I was a USAC Tech & Chief Steward from 1986-1998 & got to know Rich very well. My Dad died on 6-9-1990, & Rich took time away from his busy life to attend my Dad's Funeral. My dad was an Indy Car Mechanic from 1956-1971, & appreciated Rich's talent when he would watch him on ESPN Thunder Racing. A lot of people did not get to know the other side of Rich. He was a Racer, & a Husband & Father, & a just a good person to be called a friend. Thanks for the memories , 'Rapid Rich"- Arnold Edagr

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  7. I can remember watching him race in Bakersfield, California. Just one of the best midget and sprint car racers ever. Sad his life was cut short. His kids should be very proud of there dad, one of the best.

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  9. My grand father built Salem Speedway where he got killed & it crushed me. I loved Rapid Rich. I cried for 3 mo. after he got killed. I have a picture of Rich by my computer & look at it everyday. It was the fatal night he got killed he has on a white helmet he borrowed as his regular helmet got lost or stolen. I love the guy he never knew the word quit he always drove the wheels off whatever he drove. I know when he was in the Johnathon Byrd sprint car he was about unbeatable. I know he most always wore a red helmet & was told that was a borrowed helmet. I felt so bad because my grand father built the track that killed my HERO!!

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  10. rich vogler was one of the very best race car drivers ever i use to go to the daytona 500 party his mom had for several years rip rich

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  11. How old was Rick Vogler when he had that crash that killed him? Was his wife & children there at Winchester Speedway that day? How many children did Rick have boy's or girl's & there ages & names at that time ? Has Rick wife re-married how old was Ricks wife at that time of his crash? How old are the children right now are they married ? Is any of the children racing like there dad did.

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