Wallace Jacob Dallenbach (December 12, 1936 – April 29, 2024) was an American racing driver and official. He competed primarily in United States Auto Club (USAC) sanctioned Championship cars,[1][2] and was the winner of the 1973 California 500. After retiring from driving, he served for more than 20 years as Chief Steward of Competition for Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART).
| Wally Dallenbach Sr. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||
| Born | Wallace Jacob Dallenbach December 12, 1936 East Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S. | ||||||
| Died | April 29, 2024 (aged 87) Browns Mills, New Jersey, U.S. | ||||||
| Championship titles | |||||||
| Major victories California 500 (1973) | |||||||
| Champ Car career | |||||||
| 180 races run over 15 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 2nd (1973) | ||||||
| First race | 1965 Langhorne 125 (Langhorne) | ||||||
| Last race | 1979 Miller High Life 150 (Phoenix) | ||||||
| First win | 1973 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (Milwaukee) | ||||||
| Last win | 1977 Trenton 200 (Trenton) | ||||||
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| NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
| 4 races run over 3 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 81st (1962) | ||||||
| First race | 1962 Daytona Qualifier #2 (Daytona) | ||||||
| Last race | 1974 National 500 (Charlotte) | ||||||
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Dallenbach was the father of NASCAR driver and commentator, Wallace Paul Dallenbach. After the younger Dallenbach began a professional racing career during the middle 1980s, the elder Dallenbach came to be known by the retronym Dallenbach Sr.
Biography
editDallenbach was born in East Brunswick, New Jersey.[3] After working in the construction industry, he began his racing career in modified racing.[4] In 1962, he competed in the Daytona 500.[3] He eventually settled on open-wheel racing, competing in midget and sprint cars before moving to Indy cars in 1965.[5]
Indy car career
editAfter several years competing in uncompetitive equipment, Dallenbach's breakthrough came after being signed by team owner Pat Patrick to replace driver Swede Savage, badly injured during the 1973 Indianapolis 500. After Savage's death, Dallenbach's seat became permanent. Four races into his tenure with Patrick's team, Dallenbach scored his first victory, the Tony Bettenhausen 200 at the Milwaukee Mile. He scored two further victories in 1973, including the California 500. Despite not starting in four races during the 1973 season, Dallenbach finished the 1973 USAC Championship Car season ranked second in points.[6]
Dallenbach nearly won the 1975 Indianapolis 500, dueling with A. J. Foyt for many laps. He led for half of the race, but burned a piston on lap 162, twelve laps before the race was called due to rain. Bobby Unser won the race, which was halted at lap 174 (435 miles).[7]
CART official
editDallenbach joined CART as Competition Director in 1980 and became Chief Steward of the series in 1981. Under his tenure, he greatly improved the safety program in CART, the preeminent sanctioning body of Indy car racing. He played an instrumental role in establishing the first dedicated rapid response trauma team in auto racing.[6] He also established nondenominational church services for drivers and their families. Dallenbach held his position until the end of the 2000 season, after which he went into semi-retirement, serving as Special Advisor to CART and Chris Kneifel, his successor as Chief Steward.[8]
Advance testing and practice in preparation for the 2001 Firestone Firehawk 600 – to be held at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) – saw numerous drivers black out due to unprecedented g-forces experienced at the track. Dallenbach had visited TMS as early as 1996, deeming it unsafe for Indy car competition.[9] On the day of the race, despite pressure from stakeholders within the CART community to proceed with the event, it was decided to cancel to event in order to ensure the safety of the competitors.[6]
Shortly thereafter, Dallenbach returned as Chief Steward for CART, replacing Kneifel, who had been the subject of criticism from many drivers.[10] Dallenbach served until the conclusion of the 2004 season, after which he retired permanently.[6]
Post-racing activities
editDallenbach served as the president of the Colorado 500 motorcycle charity ride. The events have raised just under three million dollars in community support[11] - including more than $800,000 in student scholarships - for the town of Basalt, Colorado, located in the Roaring Fork Valley region of western Colorado.[12]
With his winnings from the California 500, Dallenbach purchased a ranch, fairground, cabins and a private automotive restoration garage near the Fryingpan River in upper Basalt.[13] In 2023, he sold the property, returning with his wife to New Jersey. During their time in Colorado, the couple supported the development of local emergency services in the area; in 1976, Dallenbach purchased an ambulance for the town of Basalt.[12]
Awards and honors
editDallenbach has been inducted into the following halls of fame:
- Eastern Motorsport Press Association Hall of Fame (1992)[15]
- Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame (2004)[16]
- Sports Hall of Fame of New Jersey (2004)[17]
- Motorcycle Hall of Fame (2006)[18]
- Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (2020)[3]
- Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame (2021)[19]
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame (2022)[20]
- Pikes Peak Hill Climb Museum Hall of Fame (2022)[21]
After his death in 2024, the community of Basalt, Colorado named their newest ambulance after Dallenbach; in 1976 he had purchased the community its first ambulance.[12]
Motorsports career results
editUSAC Championship Car results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
CART Championship Car results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
| Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Rank | Points | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Patrick Racing | Wildcat | Offenhauser | PHX 12 |
9th | 1149 | [22] | |||||||||||||
| Cosworth | PHX 7 |
|||||||||||||||||||
| Lightning | ATL 11 |
ATL 8 |
||||||||||||||||||
| Penske | INDY 27 |
TRE 4 |
TRE 2 |
MCH 5 |
MCH 10 |
WGL 14 |
TRE 4 |
ONT 24 |
MCH 6 |
ATL 4 |
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Indianapolis 500 results
edit
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- In 1972, Dallenbach was bumped on the final day of time trials. Art Pollard crashed his qualified car on May 16, and was too injured to drive on race day. Dallenbach was hired to fill the seat, and the car was moved to 33rd starting position.[24]
References
edit- ^ via Associated Press. "Second Time Around", St. Petersburg Times, May 24, 1972. Accessed February 13, 2011. "Wally Dallenbach, a 36-year old veteran driver from East Brunswick, N.J., will get a chance to compete in the 56th running of the Indianapolis 500-mile race after all."
- ^ "Wally Dallenbach". www.champcarstats.com.
- ^ a b c "Wally Dallenbach Sr". www.mshf.com. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ Brown, Allen. "Wally Dallenbach". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ Brown, Nathan. "Wally Dallenbach, IndyCar race-winner and former CART chief steward, dies at 87". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Wally Dallenbach 1936 – 2024". RACER. April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ "1975 Indianapolis 500". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
- ^ "CHAMPCAR/CART: Wally Dallenbach To Retire At End of Season". Motorsport. April 9, 1999. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
- ^ "CART and the Race that Never Was". NBC Sports. April 29, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ "Dallenbach to return as CART's chief steward for 2002". Autoweek. January 28, 2002. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
- ^ The Colorado 500 Online
- ^ a b c Report, Aspen Daily News Staff (May 1, 2024). "Philanthropist, former racer dies at age 87". Aspen Daily News. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
- ^ Condon, Scott (June 3, 2023). "Dallenbach family sells iconic Fryingpan Ranch". Aspen Daily News. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ "Hall of Famer Wally Dallenbach, 87". speedsport.com. Turn 3 Media, LLC. April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "Eastern Motorsports Press Association – Hall of Fame". empamedia.com. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ "Wally Dallenbach, Sr. | Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame". Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ "CHAMPCAR/CART: Dallenbach named to New Jersey HoF". Motorsport. February 21, 2004. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ "AMA Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame | Wally Dallenbach, Sr". hof.motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ "Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame | CMHF Class of 2022 Induction Gala Report & Gallery". Retrieved April 30, 2024.
Dallenbach will be considered a Class of 2021 member.
- ^ "Wally Dallenbach". IMS Museum. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ "Hall of Fame". Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Wally Dallenbach – Career Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
- ^ "Wally Dallenbach | Driver Details | Indianapolis 500 Historical Stats". www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
- ^ "Final chance to map battle plans at Indy". The Southeastern Missourian. May 19, 1972. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
Further reading
edit- Kirby, Gordon (2018). Wally Dallenbach: Steward of the Sport. Boston: Racemaker Press. ISBN 9780999875407. OCLC 1050111893.