Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010
Contact: Tony Barhorst,
(937) 369-3693 or [email protected]
Sprint car legend Hank Lower, who has racked up more than 200 feature wins in a racing career that began in 1959, will be honored at the "Rumble in Fort Wayne" indoor races. The 72-year-old Lower will compete in the Slingshots by Tobias division in the annual event, set for Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 at the Memorial Coliseum Expo Center.
Legendary Hank Lower to race in 'Rumble in Fort Wayne'
FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- They could have thrown a dinner in his honor, bought him a set of golf clubs or given him a rocking chair.
But that just didn't seem to be the proper way to recognize a man who has spent his life in the fast lane.
Instead, when the 13th annual "Rumble in Fort Wayne" unfolds Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 at the Memorial Coliseum Expo Center, legendary sprint car driver Hank Lower will be presented one of the best seats in the house -- right behind a steering wheel.
The man known as Hurryin' Hank has accepted an invitation from promoter Tony Barhorst and chassis builder Rich Tobias Jr. to compete in the Slingshots by Tobias division of the two-day indoor race fest. Slingshots are lightweight, scaled-down versions of East Coast modifieds, and Lower expects them to handle much like his winged sprint car.
Still competitive at age 72, Lower is wrapping up his 52nd season and has won more than 200 features in the United States, Canada and South Africa, plus five series championships. He finished third in the Hoosier Outlaw Sprint Series standings this past season.
"That's nice of them to do that," said the modest Lower, a lifelong resident of nearby Angola, Ind. "I appreciate that. I always considered Fort Wayne my second hometown. I worked in Fort Wayne (as a millwright and fabricator) and, of course, I've raced a lot at Baer Field. It's very nice to be honored.
"I never thought when I started it would be anything like this."
Lower launched his career in 1959, won his first feature in 1965 (in a Model A Coupe at Avilla) and moved up to winged sprint cars in 1978, racing on both dirt and pavement. A member of five Halls of Fame, he captured the Sprints on Dirt championship in 1982, '83, '86 and '94 -- winning 15 of 31 features in 1986 -- and the HOSS title in 1997. He made his only USAC start in 1989, at Butler Motor Speedway in Quincy, Mich., and promptly won the feature.
Track announcer Gary Lindahl dubbed him Hurryin' Hank, and he's never slowed.
Lower's love of competition and performance continues to motivate him.
"You gotta do it yourself," he said of the self-satisfaction racing provides.
Lower knows he's fortunate to still be racing after decades in such a rough and tumble sport.
"I'm thankful to have my health," he said, pausing to chuckle. "I've really never had any trouble with my innards. But I do have two new shoulder joints and a hip joint."
Racing has always been a family sport for Lower, who usually is accompanied at the track by his wife of 55 years, Beverly. A son, Jeff, often works on his crew, and a grandson, Jerry Kelley, is car chief on Brad Keselowski's championship-winning NASCAR Nationwide Series stock car.
Lower admits he is keeping an eye on that rocking chair. He had planned to retire after his 50th anniversary season and says 2011 likely will be his final year.
"When your number turned around is your age," said Lower, whose sprinter carries No. 37, "it's probably time to quit."
COMPLETE SHOWS BOTH NIGHTS: A full day of racing is scheduled for both New Year's Eve (Friday, Dec. 31) and New Year's Day (Saturday, Dec. 31), with spectator gates opening at noon and the main portion of the event at 7 p.m. each day. The five-division program features midgets, winged outlaw modified midgets, Slingshots by Tobias, karts and quarter midgets, all racing on a 1/6-mile track on the Expo Center floor.
The first 1,000 fans to purchase a ticket at the Coliseum box office will receive a $10 gift card from Crazy Pinz Entertainment Center in Fort Wayne. Evans Toyota, Hoosier Window & Siding and Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka join Crazy Pinz as presenting sponsors of the Rumble.
LOOK, THERE HE GOES: ATV stuntman Henry "Pitbull" Rife will attempt a world indoor record jump of cars at the conclusion of Friday's racing. Rife, who appeared on "Late Show with David Letterman" in 2007, suffered his only major crash in Fort Wayne in 1995 while attempting a stunt at Baer Field Speedway.
INFO AVAILABLE ONLINE: Information on tickets, special hotel rates and entries are available at www.rumbleseries.com or by e-mailing Barhorst at [email protected].
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