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full name Melvin Eugene Bettenhausen nationality American born September 12, 1916 hometown Tinley Park, Illinois died May 12, 1961 place of death Indianapolis, Indiana
Racing highlights 1960 3rd USAC Stock Car Series 1959 2nd USAC National Championship 1958 1st USAC National Championship 1951 1st AAA National Championship 1947 1st Blue Island Racway Park Midgets 1945 1st Blue Island Racway Park Midgets 1942 1st Blue Island Racway Park Midgets 1941 2nd AAA Midwest Division - Sprint Cars 1941 1st Blue Island Racway Park Midgets
Racing career summary Races entered 297 Wins 37 Podiums 60 Pole positions 14 Fastest laps 1 Race win percentage 12.5% Podium percentage 20.2%
Driver relations
Father of
Gary Bettenhausen . Father of
Tony Bettenhausen, Jr. . Father of
Merle Bettenhausen .
Disclaimer: the data and summaries are all taken from the data available in the career details section further below on this page. If you know of things missing or have corrections, please log in and submit them.
Career overview – years in numbers
The following numbers are a summary of the more detailed information available in the Career details further below on the page. Seasons spanning over two years (for example 2013-14 championships) have their race results accounted for in the year the championship ends.
1978 Racing 1 race 0 wins 0 podiums 0 pole position 0 fastest race laps 1961 Racing 3 races 0 wins 0 podiums 1 pole positions 0 fastest race laps 1960 Racing 22 races 4 wins 10 podiums 0 pole position 0 fastest race laps 1959 Racing 25 races 7 wins 10 podiums 0 pole position 0 fastest race laps 1958 Racing 15 races 1 win 7 podiums 0 pole position 1 fastest race lap 1957 Racing 75 races 1 win 1 podium 0 pole position 0 fastest race laps 1956 Racing 73 races 3 wins 4 podiums 0 pole position 0 fastest race laps 1955 Racing 5 races 0 wins 3 podiums 0 pole position 0 fastest race laps 1954 Racing 4 races 0 wins 0 podiums 0 pole position 0 fastest race laps 1953 Racing 6 races 2 wins 2 podiums 1 pole positions 0 fastest race laps 1952 Racing 2 races 0 wins 0 podiums 0 pole position 0 fastest race laps 1951 Racing 16 races 8 wins 10 podiums 4 pole position 0 fastest race laps 1950 Racing 13 races 4 wins 5 podiums 5 pole position 0 fastest race laps 1949 Racing 8 races 2 wins 2 podiums 0 pole position 0 fastest race laps 1948 Racing 9 races 2 wins 2 podiums 1 pole positions ? fastest race laps 1947 Racing 11 races 2 wins 2 podiums 1 pole positions 0 fastest race laps 1946 Racing 4 races 1 win 1 podium 1 pole positions ? fastest race laps 1945 Racing ? races ? wins ? podiums ? pole position ? fastest race laps 1942 Racing ? races ? wins ? podiums ? pole position ? fastest race laps 1941 Racing 5 races 0 wins 1 podium 0 pole position 0 fastest race laps
Career details – the racing career of Tony Bettenhausen
Position Points Team 0 Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 1 0 0 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions.
Position Points Team 0 Hopkins Racing Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 1 0 0 1 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Kuzma D (Offenhauser)
Position Points Team 0 Tony Bettenhausen Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 2 0 0 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres 1958 Ford
Position Points Team 5th 940 Hopkins Racing Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 11 0 4 0 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Watson (Offenhauser) Kuzma D (Offenhauser) Kuzma (Offenhauser)
Position Points Team 0 Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 1 1 1 0 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions.
Position Points Team 3rd 0 Rodger Ward Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 6 2 4 0 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres 1958 Ford
Position Points Team 0 Dowgard Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 1 0 0 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Watson Offenhauser 4.5 Firestone
Position Points Team 0 Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 1 1 1 0 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions.
Position Points Team 0 Walter Meskowski Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 2 0 0 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions.
Position Points Team 15th 3 John R Wills Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 1 0 0 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Epperly Offenhauser 4.5 Firestone
Click to show race results for World Championship of Drivers 1959. # Date Circuit Position Pole position Fastest lap 2 1959-05-30 Indianapolis 4
Position Points Team 2nd 1430 Central Excavating, Hoover Motor Express, Racing Associates, Dean Van Lines, Hopkins Racing Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 13 2 4 0 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Moore (Offenhauser) Epperly (Offenhauser) Kuzma D (Offenhauser) Watson (Offenhauser) Kuzma (Offenhauser)
Position Points Team 0 Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 1 1 1 0 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions.
Position Points Team 0 Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 1 0 0 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Ferrari Monza
Position Points Team 0 Rodger Ward Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 5 1 2 0 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres 1959 Chevrolet,1958 Ford
Position Points Team 0 Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 3 3 3 0 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions.
Position Points Team 0 Bud Sherk Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 1 0 0 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions.
Position Points Team 0 Ed Lowther Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 0 0 0 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions.
Position Points Team 1st 1830 Hardwood Door, Jones & Maley, John Zink Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 13 0 6 0 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Kurtis 4000 (Offenhauser) Epperly (Offenhauser) Watson (Offenhauser)
Position Points Team 16th 4 Jones & Maley Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 1 0 0 0 1 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Epperly Offenhauser 4.5 Firestone
Click to show race results for World Championship of Drivers 1958. # Date Circuit Position Pole position Fastest lap 4 1958-05-30 Indianapolis 4
Position Points Team 0 Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 0 0 0 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres 1957 Ford
Position Points Team 0 Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 1 1 1 0 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions.
Position Points Team 29th 80 Novi Racing, Morcroft, Federal Engineering, Las Vegas Club Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 6 0 0 0 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Pankratz D (Offenhauser) Kurtis 500F (Novi) Pankratz (Offenhauser) Kurtis 4000 (Offenhauser) Snowberger (Offenhauser) Kurtis 500G (Offenhauser)
Position Points Team 0 Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 65 1 1 0 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions.
Position Points Team 0 Bob Chapman Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 2 0 0 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres 1957 Pontiac
Position Points Team 0 Novi Auto Air Conditioner Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 1 0 0 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Kurtis Kraft 500F Novi 3.0 s/c Firestone
Position Points Team 0 Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 1 0 0 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions.
Position Points Team 24th 290 Belanger Motors, Peter Schmidt, Dayton-Walther Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 6 1 1 0 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Kuzma (Offenhauser) Kurtis 500D (Offenhauser) Kuzma D (Offenhauser) Kurtis 4000 (Offenhauser)
Position Points Team 0 Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 56 2 2 0 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions.
Position Points Team 0 Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 6 0 0 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres 1956 Dodge
Position Points Team 0 Belanger Motors Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 1 0 0 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Kurtis Kraft 500D Offenhauser 4.5 Firestone
Position Points Team 0 Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 3 0 0 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions.
Position Points Team 0 Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 1 0 1 0 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions.
Position Points Team 4th 1060 Henry Allen Chapman, Belanger Motors, Sweikert Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 4 0 2 0 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Russo\Nichels (Offenhauser) Kurtis 500C (Offenhauser) Kuzma (Offenhauser)
Position Points Team 13th 3 Chapman Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 1 0 1 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Kurtis KK500C Offenhauser 4.5 Firestone
Click to show race results for World Championship of Drivers 1955. # Date Circuit Position Pole position Fastest lap 3 1955-05-30 Indianapolis 1
Position Points Team 0 Mel Wiggers, John McDaniel Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 3 0 0 0 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Schroeder (Offenhauser) Kurtis 500C (Offenhauser)
Position Points Team 0 Mel B Wiggers, Automobile Shippers Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 1 0 0 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Kurtis KK500C Offenhauser 4.5 Firestone Kurtis KK4000 Offenhauser 4.5 Firestone
Position Points Team 10th 596 J.C. Agajanian, Belanger Motors Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 5 2 2 1 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Kurtis (Offenhauser) Kuzma D (Offenhauser)
Position Points Team 0 JC Agajanian Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 1 0 0 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Kuzma Offenhauser 4.5 Firestone
Position Points Team 0 Earl Slick Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 1 0 0 0 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Deidt FD (Offenhauser)
Position Points Team 0 Blue Crown Spark Plug Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 1 0 0 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Deidt Offenhauser 4.5 Firestone
Position Points Team 1st 2556 Rotary Engineering, Belanger Motors Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 14 8 10 4 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Kurtis (Offenhauser) Deidt FD (Offenhauser)
Position Points Team 0 Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 1 0 0 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions.
Position Points Team 0 Rotary Engineering Corp Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 1 0 0 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Deidt Offenhauser 4.5 Firestone
Position Points Team 5th 1027.5 Lou Moore, Belanger Motors, Shaheen Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 12 3 4 5 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Hill (Offenhauser) Wetteroth (Offenhauser) Deidt FD (Offenhauser) Kurtis (Offenhauser)
Position Points Team 20th 1 Ervin Wolfe, Lou Moore Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 0 0 0 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Kurtis Kraft 2000 Offenhauser 4.5 Firestone Deidt Offenhauser 4.5 Firestone
Click to show race results for World Championship for Drivers 1950. # Date Circuit Position Pole position Fastest lap 3 1950-05-30 Indianapolis 5
Position Points Team 0 Eric Lund Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 1 1 1 0 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions.
Position Points Team 12th 466 Meyer & Drake, Belanger Motors Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 7 2 2 0 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres X (Lencki) Kurtis (Offenhauser SC) X (Meyer & Drake)
Position Points Team 0 Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 1 0 0 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions.
Position Points Team 15th 324 Belanger Motors, Schoof, Thorne Engineering, Carl Marchese Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 7 1 1 1 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Stevens (Offenhauser) Wetteroth (Offenhauser) Adams Sparks Marchese (Offenhauser)
Position Points Team 0 Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 2 1 1 0 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres 1933 Adams (Offenhauser)
Position Points Team 6th 676.8 Belanger Motors, Wolfe Motors, Norm Olson Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 9 2 2 1 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Stevens (Offenhauser) Shaw (Offenhauser) X (Offenhauser)
Position Points Team 1st 0 Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps ? ? ? ? ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions.
Position Points Team 0 Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 2 0 0 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions.
Position Points Team 9th 340 Bristow-McManus, Corley, Russo Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 4 1 1 1 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Wetteroth (Miller) Wetteroth (Offenhauser)
Position Points Team 1st 0 Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps ? ? ? ? ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions.
Position Points Team 1st 0 Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps ? ? ? ? ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions.
Position Points Team 11th 240 Joe Lencki Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 2 0 1 0 ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions. Car Engine Tyres Lencki
Position Points Team 1st 0 Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps ? ? ? ? ? * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions.
Position Points Team 2nd 0 Races Wins Podiums Pole positions* Fastest laps 3 0 0 0 0 * only pole positions from timed qualifying sessions.
Tony Bettenhausen