Tom Bigelow
Tom Bigelow (born October 31, 1939, in Whitewater, Wisconsin), USA, is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series.
Racing career
Midget car racing
He began his racing career at the Badger Midget Racing Association at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.[1] 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.[1] His come back in Midgets started in 1981 driving for Sandy Racing. In 1984 he was National USAC Midget Champion, two years in a roll, 1982 and 1983 he was USAC Spreedrome Champ.
USAC/CART
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 1974-1982. He finished in the top ten 39 times, with his best finish in 2nd position in consecutive races in 1979 at Texas World Speedway and Milwaukee.
Sprint car
Bigelow was also the 1978 USAC Sprint Car Series Champion. He became the leader in USAC Sprint car single season wins with 14.[1]
Return to midget cars
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.
NASCAR
Tom made a single NASCAR start at the 1986 Atlanta Journal 500 at the Atlanta International Raceway, and he finished 40th with engine problems.[2]
Career awards
- He was a 2002 inductee in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame at his home track in Sun Prairie.
- Bigelow was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1996.
Indy 500 results
| Year | Chassis | Engine | Start | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Huffaker | Chevrolet | Practice Crash | |
| 1973 | Vollstedt | Offy | Failed to Qualify | |
| 1974 | Vollstedt | Offy | 23rd | 12th |
| 1975 | Vollstedt | Offy | 33rd | 18th |
| 1976 | Eagle | Offy | 32nd | 14th |
| 1977 | Eagle | Offy | 22nd | 6th |
| 1978 | Wildcat | DGS | 18th | 21st |
| 1979 | Lola | Cosworth | 30th | 14th |
| 1980 | Lola | Cosworth | 31st | 8th |
| 1981 | Penske | Chevrolet | 14th | 20th |
| 1982 | Eagle | Chevrolet | 31st | 18th |
| 1983 | Eagle | Chevrolet | Failed to Qualify | |
| 1984 | March | Cosworth | Failed to Qualify | |
| 1985 | March | Cosworth | Failed to Qualify | |
| 1988 | March | Cosworth | Practice Crash | |
| 1989 | March | Cosworth | Failed to Qualify |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Biography at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame
- ↑ NASCAR statistics at racing-reference.info