Tom Bigelow | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nationality | American | ||||||
Born | Thomas Allan Bigelow October 31, 1939 Elkhorn, Wisconsin, U.S. | ||||||
Champ Car career | |||||||
110 races run over 18 years | |||||||
Years active | 1968–1985 | ||||||
Best finish | 3rd – 1979 (USAC), 1981–82 (USAC) | ||||||
First race | 1968 Ted Horn Memorial (DuQuoin) | ||||||
Last race | 1985 Domino's Pizza 500 (Pocono) | ||||||
| |||||||
NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
1 race run over 1 year | |||||||
Best finish | 121st (1986) | ||||||
First race | 1986 Atlanta Journal 500 (Atlanta) | ||||||
|
Thomas Allan Bigelow [1] (born October 31, 1939, in Elkhorn, Wisconsin) is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series.
He began his racing career at the Badger Midget Racing Association at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. [2] His first attempt at the National Championship was in 1967, and he finished eighteenth. He had 1968 midget wins at Hales Corners Speedway in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, and at the Sycamore, Illinois, track. He won the first Astro Grand Prix in the Houston Astrodome in 1969. [2] [3] His come back in Midgets started in 1981 driving for Sandy Racing.
In 1984, he was National USAC Midget Champion. For two years in a row (1982 and 1983), he was USAC Spreedrome champion.
He raced in USAC and CART in 17 seasons (1968–1983 and 1985), with 104 combined career starts, and started in the Indianapolis 500 every year during 1974 to 1982. He finished in the top ten 39 times, with his best finish in second position in 1978 at Texas World Speedway and Milwaukee. [3]
Bigelow started in nine straight Indianapolis 500 races between 1974 and 1982, his best finish was sixth in 1977. [3]
Bigelow was the 1978 USAC Sprint Car Series Champion. [3] He became the leader in USAC Sprint car single season wins with 14. [2] Bigelow won 52 USAC Sprint Car races in his career. [3]
He returned to his roots won the 1984 USAC National Midget Series Champion. He finished fourth, third, and ninth in the following three season. He also won the 1982 USAC Midwest Regional midget car title. His car (number 16) was owned by Carl Sandy, husband of Carol Sandy and father of Duane, Mathew, and Troy Sandy.
Bigelow made a single NASCAR start at the 1986 Atlanta Journal 500 at the Atlanta International Raceway, and he finished 40th with engine problems. [4]
Starting in 2009, Bigelow was a color announcer for Fox Sports Network for Must See Racing Xtreme Sprint Series television coverage. [3]
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
USAC Championship Car results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | Pos. | Pts |
1968 | Carl Gehlhausen | Kurtis 4000D | Offy 252 ci | HAN | LVS | PHX | TRE | INDY | MIL | MOS | MOS | LAN | PPR | CDR | NAZ | IRP | IRP | LAN | LAN | MTR | MTR | ISF | MIL | DSF 6 | INF DNQ | TRE | SAC 14 | MCH | HAN | PHX | RSD | 43rd | 80 |
1969 | Carl Gehlhausen | Huffaker 66 | Chevrolet 320 ci V8 | PHX | HAN | INDY | MIL | LAN DNQ | PPR | CDR | TRE 18 | IRP 21 | IRP 17 | MIL | DOV DNQ | TRE DNS | SAC | SIR | SIR | PHX | RSD | 43rd | 110 | ||||||||||
Kurtis 4000D | Offy 252 ci | NAZ 7 | ISF DNQ | DSF 8 | INF DNQ | BRN | BRN | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1970 | Carl Gehlhausen | Huffaker 66 | Chevrolet 320 ci V8 | PHX | SON | TRE | INDY DNQ | MIL DNQ | LAN 17 | CDR | MCH | IRP DNQ | MIL 13 | ONT | TRE 17 | PHX DNQ | 36th | 200 | |||||||||||||||
Kurtis 4000D | Offy 252 ci | ISF 7 | DSF 7 | INF DNQ | SED 6 | SAC 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1971 | Carl Gehlhausen | Huffaker 66 | Chevrolet 320 ci V8 | RAF 21 | RAF 22 | PHX | TRE | INDY | MIL | POC | MCH | MIL | ONT | TRE | PHX | NC | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
1972 | Ray W Smith | Eagle 68 | Chevrolet 320 ci V8 | PHX | TRE | INDY DNQ | MIL | 31st | 120 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Carl Gehlhausen | Gerhardt | Offy 159 ci t | MCH 21 | POC DNS | MIL 7 | ONT | TRE 13 | PHX | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1973 | Vollstedt Enterprises | Vollstedt 72 | Offy 159 ci t | TWS | TRE | TRE | INDY DNQ | POC 32 | ONT 7 | ONT | ONT 11 | MCH | MCH | TRE | TWS | PHX | 25th | 160 | |||||||||||||||
Carl Gehlhausen | Kingfish 72 | MIL 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vollstedt Enterprises | Vollstedt 73 | MCH 15 | MIL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1974 | Vollstedt Enterprises | Vollstedt 72 | Offy 159 ci t | ONT 9 | ONT | ONT 10 | PHX | TRE | 24th | 240 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Vollstedt 73 | INDY 12 | MIL | POC 19 | MCH 22 | MIL | MCH | TRE | TRE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lodestar Lola | Lola T332 | Chevrolet 5.0 V8 | PHX 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1975 | Vollstedt Enterprises | Vollstedt 73 | Offy 159 ci t | ONT | ONT 11 | ONT 16 | PHX | TRE | INDY 18 | MIL 12 | POC 21 | MCH 16 | 27th | 115 | |||||||||||||||||||
Vollstedt 72/75 | MIL 9 | MCH | TRE | PHX 19 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1976 | Leader Card Racers | Eagle 74 | Offy 159 ci t | PHX 20 | TRE 17 | MIL 11 | POC 29 | MCH 12 | TWS 7 | TRE 21 | MIL 7 | ONT 5 | MCH 9 | TWS 14 | PHX 18 | 13th | 820 | ||||||||||||||||
Eagle 72 | INDY 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1977 | Leader Card Racers | Eagle 74 | Offy 159 ci t | ONT 4 | PHX 4 | TWS 12 | TRE 15 | MOS 8 | MIL 4 | PHX 19 | 9th | 1370 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Watson 77 | INDY 6 | MIL 7 | POC 29 | MCH 11 | TWS 10 | ONT 28 | MCH 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1978 | AMI Racing | Wildcat Mk 2 | DGS 158 ci t | PHX 15 | ONT 7 | TWS 12 | TRE 8 | INDY 21 | POC 15 | MCH 8 | ATL | TWS | MIL 10 | ONT | MCH 4 | TRE | SIL | BRH | PHX 18 | 16th | 764 | ||||||||||||
Leader Card Racers | Eagle 74 | Offy 159 ci t | MOS 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Watson 77 | MIL 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1979 | AMI Racing | Lola T500B | Cosworth DFX V8 t | ONT 6 | TWS 12 | INDY 14 | MIL 3 | POC 8 | TWS 2 | MIL 2 | 3rd | 1305 | |||||||||||||||||||||
1980 | AMI Racing | Lola T500B | Cosworth DFX V8 t | ONT | INDY 8 | MIL | POC | MDO | 12th | 250 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1981-82 | Gohr Racing | Penske PC-7 | Chevrolet 355 ci V8 | INDY 20 | POC 3 | 3rd | 1280 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Info not available | ISF 12 | DSF 2 | INF 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HBK Racing | Eagle 81 | Chevrolet 355 ci V8 | INDY 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1982-83 | Info not available | ISF | DSF 25 | NAZ | NC | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HBK Racing | Eagle 81 | Chevrolet 355 ci V8 | INDY DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1983-84 | Info not available | DSF 17 | 33rd | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Scott Cole | March 81C | Cosworth DFX V8 t | INDY DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: [5] |
Year | Chassis | Engine | Start | Finish | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1970 | Huffaker | Chevrolet | DNQ | Carl Gehlhausen | |
1972 | Eagle | Chevrolet | DNQ | Ray W Smith | |
1973 | Vollstedt | Offenhauser | DNQ | Vollstedt Enterprises | |
1974 | Vollstedt | Offenhauser | 23 | 12 | Vollstedt Enterprises |
1975 | Vollstedt | Offenhauser | 33 | 18 | Vollstedt Enterprises |
1976 | Eagle | Offenhauser | 32 | 14 | Leader Card Racers |
1977 | Eagle | Offenhauser | 22 | 6 | Thermo King |
1978 | Wildcat | DGS | 18 | 21 | AMI Racing |
1979 | Lola | Cosworth | 30 | 14 | AMI Racing |
1980 | Lola | Cosworth | 31 | 8 | AMI Racing |
1981 | Penske | Chevrolet | 14 | 20 | Gohr Racing |
1982 | Eagle | Chevrolet | 31 | 18 | HBK Racing |
1983 | Eagle | Chevrolet | DNQ | HBK Racing | |
1984 | March | Cosworth | DNQ | Scott Cole | |
1985 | March | Cosworth | DNQ | Leader Card Racers | |
1988 | March | Cosworth | DNQ | Dayton-Walther | |
1989 | March | Cosworth | DNQ | Burns Racing |
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
NASCAR Winston Cup Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | NWCC | Pts | Ref | |||||||||
1986 | Ball Motorsports | 99 | Chevy | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | DOV | CLT | RSD | POC | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL 40 | RSD | 121st | 43 | [15] |
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Kenneth William Schrader is an American professional racing driver. He currently races on local dirt and asphalt tracks around the country while also competing part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 11 Ford for Fast Track Racing, and the Superstar Racing Experience, driving the No. 52 car. He previously competed in the NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He is a first cousin once removed of fellow NASCAR driver Carl Edwards.
James Harvey Hylton was an American stock car racing driver. He was a two-time winner in NASCAR Winston Cup Series competition and was a long-time competitor in the ARCA Racing Series. Hylton finished second in points in NASCAR's top series three times. He holds the record for highest points finish by a rookie.
Francis James Kimmel is an American former stock car racing driver. He competed primarily in the ARCA Racing Series, from 1990 through 2016. Kimmel is the most successful driver in ARCA history. He has won the ARCA championship ten times, including eight consecutive. He won the championship in 1998 and also won the 2000 through 2007 championships, and again in 2013.
Mike Potter was a NASCAR driver. He was born on July 4, 1949, and lived in Johnson City, Tennessee.
Robert Gerhart Jr. is an American retired professional stock car racing driver and businessman. He last competed in the ARCA Menards Series, driving Chevrolet SS for Gerhart Racing and the No. 63 Chevy Silverado for his own team in a joint effort with the MB Motorsports team in the Camping World Truck Series. He has won nine times on the ARCA circuit, eight of those victories coming in the season-opening ARCA Daytona 200 at Daytona International Speedway.
Mark Gibson is an American stock car racing driver and team owner. He is a long-time competitor in the ARCA Racing Series, and has also made occasional appearances in NASCAR competition. He helped found the ARCA team Cunningham Motorsports.
Bob Brevak is an American professional stock car racing driver. He was the champion of the ARCA RE/MAX Series in 1990.
Joe Ruttman is a retired American stock car racing driver who competed in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and Camping World Truck Series. With 13 career wins in the Truck Series he is currently tied for 13th on the all-time wins list with Mike Bliss. He is the younger brother of Troy Ruttman.
Andrew Miles Hillenburg is an American former professional stock car racing driver and current team owner and track owner. His race team, Fast Track Racing, fields multiple cars in the ARCA Menards Series and formerly fielded entries in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He is credited with reviving the North Carolina Speedway, now known as Rockingham Speedway, after the track lost its NASCAR dates starting in 2005.
Duane Claude Carter Jr., nicknamed "Pancho," is an American retired open-wheel racing driver. Best known for his participation in Championship car racing, he won the pole position for the 1985 Indianapolis 500, and won the Michigan 500 in 1981.
Robert Earl Schacht is an American stock car racing driver. Now retired, he is a native of Lombard, Illinois. He competed in 26 NASCAR events between 1981 and 1997 in the Winston Cup, Busch Series, and Craftsman Truck Series. He had no Top 10 finishes in NASCAR; he is best known for his ARCA career, where he has collected 17 wins. After his retirement as a driver in ARCA following the 2016 season, he continued to field his No. 75 car for other drivers.
Delma Cowart was an American stock car racing driver. While never achieving much success, Cowart achieved notoriety for being the "clown prince of racing" in the 1980s and 1990s. His jovial nature made him a favorite among competitors.
Joshua Wise is an American former professional stock car racing and dirt track racing driver and athletic trainer. He is currently a trainer for Chevrolet's development program for upcoming drivers and oversees driver development for Pinnacle Racing Group.
Dakoda Armstrong is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 28 Toyota Camry for JGL Racing.
Bob Strait is an American stock car racing driver. He was one of the pioneer NASCAR SuperTruck Series drivers. He has sixteen ARCA victories.
Mark Stahl is an American former professional off-road and stock car racing driver. He competed in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the ARCA Re/MAX Series, and is a four-time winner of the Baja 1000 off-road race, twice winning the event overall.
Mark Thompson is a retired American professional stock car racing driver, pilot, and businessman. He formerly competed part-time in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 66 Ford Fusion for MBM Motorsports, and part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 13 car for MBM Motorsports. At age 66, Thompson is the oldest driver to compete in the Daytona 500.
Bradley Smith is an American professional stock car racing driver who competes full-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 48 Chevrolet SS for his team, Brad Smith Motorsports. Smith is a veteran of the series, having made over 400 starts in it since 1988. He made his debut in the ARCA Menards Series East in 2020 and ARCA Menards Series West in 2021, and he and his team have also competed part-time in those series since then. He is the younger brother of fellow driver Jeff Smith.
William Venturini, nicknamed "Big Bill", is a retired American professional stock car racing driver. He is the founder and co-owner of Venturini Motorsports, a team that competes in the ARCA Menards Series. As a driver, he primarily competed in the same series from 1982 through 1996. Venturini has won two ARCA championships, which came in 1987 and 1991.
Bobby Bowsher is an American former professional racing driver. He is a two-time ARCA Racing Series champion, winning the title in 1992, and again in 1994. He is the son of 1963, 1964, and 1965 ARCA Racing Series champion Jack Bowsher, and the brother of fellow ARCA competitor Todd Bowsher.