Larry “Crash” Crockett made his home in Columbus, graduating from Columbus High School, then working for Cummins Inc. before becoming a full-time racer. He drove for Dan Wall starting his career in 1946 at the old Columbus Speedway. He was on his way to becoming a national driving star when he passed away from a racing accident in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, on March 20, 1955. He was just 28 years old.
Crockett gained national recognition in 1953 behind the wheel of Ray Erickson’s sprint car. He won the Dayton 100 in Dayton, Ohio, and the Joe James Memorial at Salem Speedway.
Wilbur Shaw, who won the Indianapolis 500 three times and was president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at the time of Crockett’s rise in the racing ranks was credited with discovering Crockett’s talents and predicted great things for the Columbus racer and recommended him as a driver that car owners should be looking at to drive for them.
Crockett, who also drove for Lowell Walls of Columbus, qualified 25th for his first Indianapolis 500 in 1954. Driving the Federal Engineering Special Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser, he finished ninth, picking up Rookie-of-the-Year honors.
Russ Snowberger built the 1955 Federal Engineering Special for Crockett to drive at Indianapolis. As it too frequently did in the 1950’s, wicked fate intervened before Crockett got the chance.
In 1954, Snowberger had surprised many by putting Crockett, an obscure sprint car racer in his car, but
Crockett proved to be a good choice by winning “Rookie of the Year” honors that year at Indy over North Vernon’s Pat O’Connor, who finished 21st in the race.
The 1955 500 promised bigger things. Snowberger started with a new chassis, which happened to be the best going. He had his Kurtis Kraft 500c built with an extra four inches of length to accommodate Crockett’s long legs. But Crockett couldn’t wait for Indy. Against Snowberger’s wishes, he drove the Engle-Stanko sprinter at Langhorne in a race where he had just taken the lead before crashing to his death. Crockett was one of a dozen 1954 Indy 500 starters who would meet the same fate within seven years.
Come May of 1955 after Crockett’s untimely death, Fred Agabashian qualified the Federal Engineering Special fourth. On Memorial Day, he spun in oil on Lap 39. Bob Sweikert won, but the 1955 Indy 500 will be remembered for the crash that killed Bill Vukovich, who was leading and apparently on his way to a third consecutive win. Agabashian drove the FES again in 1956, starting seventh and finishing 12th.
Before Agabashian took over the ride, he played a role in one of racing’s biggest upsets by winning the pole for the 1952 Indianapolis 500 with a revolutionary Cummins Diesel-powered car, boosted by racing’s first turbocharger.
More than 1,200 people paid their respects to Crockett at the Hathaway Funeral Home in Columbus in 1955. He is buried in the Garland Brook Cemetery.
Columbus Go-Kart Racing
A total of 75 entries were on hand on May 18 at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds for the Columbus Speedway Go-Kart Racing activities. R.T. Lowe of Columbus picked up three wins on the night taking the predator 212, flathead 390 and clone 400 divisions.
Columbus drivers prevailed in three other wins. Colton Lucas (flathead 350), Matt Arrington (rwyb) and Shawn Gilpin (yamaha) took victories.
Other winners were Jentry Cash of Brownstown (rookie), Corey Vanover of Memphis (clone 340 and clone 380), Travis Wilburn of Milan (clone 425), Trent Roell (jr1) and Ryan Roell (jr3).
Today, the Columbus Speedway Go-Kart Racing will be in action with gates opening at 1 p.m., open practice at 3 p.m. and the drivers meeting at 5:30 p.m. Grandstand admission is always free.
James wins at Brownstown
Scott James came from the eighth starting position to win the American Ethanol Late Model race on May 18 at Brownstown Speedway. Mike Marlar was second, followed by Devin Gilpin, Kent Robinson and Bobby Pierce.
Austin Burns took the top honors in the pro late model division over Steve Peeden, Brad Barrow, Shelby Miles and Isaac Rainey.
Wil Krup notched the win in the modified feature, taking the victory over Devin Gilpin, Chad Bauer, John McClure and Collin Thirlby.
Matt Boknecht grabbed the super stock main event over Jamey Wilson, Josh Divine, Tucker Chastain and Steve Hollars.
Rick Gumm remained unbeaten this season in the pure stock feature, winning over Zachary Stalker, Michael Cranmer, Jeremy Huebner and David Palmer.
Tonight, Brownstown will host the Scott Patman tribute race featuring super stocks, pro late models, modifieds, pure stocks and hornets. For more info, visit brownstownspeedway.com.
Hines shines at Twin Cities
Mickey Hines won a hard-fought battle with Troy Clark to win the W.E. Burton Memorial Race for pure stocks on May 18 at Twin Cities Raceway Park in Vernon.
Other Twin Cities winners were Marty O’Neal (crate late models), Joey Kramer (modifieds), Jeremy Helton (super stocks) and Gregg O’Neill (hornets).
Tonight, Twin Cities will be racing 410 sprints, modifieds, super stocks, pure stocks and hornets. For more info, visit twincitiestrack.com.
Paragon making some progress
Paragon Speedway completed its second race of the 2019 season on May 17. The winners in their respective divisions were Jordan Wever (modifieds), Steve Peeden (super stocks), Tyler Neal (bombers) and Chris Hillman Jr. (hornets). There were two sprint car feature ran with Jadon Rogers and Matt Thompson taking the wins.
The next event at Paragon Speedway will be on Friday, with the MSCS sprints, Paragon sprints, modified and bombers. For further info, visit paragonspeedway.com.
Bilbee Lawrenceburg’s BOSS
Lawrenceburg Speedway hosted the BOSS Sprint Car Series on May 18. Nick Bilbee came home the feature winner, followed by Scotty Weir, Bill Rose, Ty Tilton and Shawn Westerfeld. Matt Hamilton captured the modified feature race over Brad Wieck, Kyle Schornick, Jason Holton and Rick Hudson.
Lawrenceburg will be idle tonight, but on Memorial Day Monday, it will host the World of Outlaw Sprint Cars plus modifieds. For more info, visit lawrenceburgspeedway.com
Windom rules Tri-City
The USAC National Sprint Car Series paid a visit to Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Illinois, on May 17.
Chris Windom was the feature winner over Carson Short, Kevin Thomas Jr., C.J. Leary and Isaac Chapple.
The May 18 race scheduled for USAC at Tri-City was rained out.
Stewart gets another win
Tony Stewart made a surprise visit to the Atomic Speedway in Chillicothe, Ohio, on May 18 and came home victorious in the sprint car feature race.
Stewart took the win among 35 entries. Finishing second to Stewart was Brandon Wimmer, with Cole Duncan, Hunter Schuerenberg and Danny Smith rounding out the top five.
James Essex writes a motorsports notebook for The Republic. Send comments to [email protected].
