Nationality American Championships 0 Died February 26, 2001 Entries 5 (3 starts) Role Car racer | Teams Kurtis Kraft Name Duke Nalon Active years 1950–1954 Wins 0 | |
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Born March 2, 1913 ( 1913-03-02 ) | ||
Automobile racer duke nalon with a rocket powered car in indianapolis hd stock footage
Dennis "Duke" Nalon (March 2, 1913 – February 26, 2001) was an American midget car, sprint car, and Indy 500 driver from Chicago, Illinois, United States.
Contents
- Automobile racer duke nalon with a rocket powered car in indianapolis hd stock footage
- Racing career
- Midget cars
- Sprint cars
- Indy cars
- 1949 Indianapolis 500 Crash
- World Championship career summary
- Awards
- References
Racing career
Nalon began as a pit crew member for Wally Zale. Nalon occasionally warmed up the car. When Walter Galven needed a driver, Zale convinced Galven to allow Nalon to race. Nalon won the feature event.
Nalon was nicknamed "The Iron Duke." Nalon was part of the "Chicago Gang" with Tony Bettenhausen. They toured tracks in the Midwest and East Coast of the United States.
Midget cars
Nalon won races on the United States' East Coast in the 1930s. Nalon competed in midget cars throughout his career. He ran his final career race at the only 100-mile (160 km) midget race ever run at Terre Haute. He raced Johnny Pawl’s famous midget to victory. He ended his career the way he started it: with a win.
Sprint cars
He won the 1938 East Coast AAA Sprint car championship.
Indy cars
Nalon started ten Indianapolis 500-mile (800 km) races, finishing only 3. He started from the pole twice, and was twice the fastest qualifier. In 1947, he competed in a Mercedes-Benz W154.
1949 Indianapolis 500 Crash
In 1949, he was involved in a massive, fiery crash in Turn 3. He backed into the wall and the car burst into flames. He survived only because he held his breath (to prevent asphyxiation), and he jumped out of the car while it was still moving. He had severe burns to his legs which gave him trouble until his death in 2001.
World Championship career summary
The Indianapolis 500 was idered part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Duke Nalon participated in 3 World Championship races. He started on the pole once but scored no World Championship points.