Davey Hamilton

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Davey Hamilton
DaveyHamilton.jpg
Hamilton before the 2007 Indy 500
Nationality American
Born (1962-06-13) June 13, 1962 (age 62)
Nampa, Idaho
Indy Racing League IndyCar Series
Years active 1996–2001, 2007–2011
Teams Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
de Ferran Dragon Racing
Vision Racing
Sam Schmidt Motorsports
TeamXtreme
Galles Racing
Nienhouse Motorsports
A. J. Foyt Enterprises
Starts 56
Wins 0
Poles 0
Best finish 2nd in 1996–1997 & 1998
Previous series
1991, 1993, 1995
1995
CART IndyCar
Indy Lights
Awards
2001 Scott Brayton Award

Davey Jay Hamilton (born June 13, 1962 in Nampa, Idaho) is a race car driver in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series and Stadium Super Trucks. He has made 56 series starts and while never winning a race, finished second 3 times. He placed second in series points in the 1996–1997 season and again in 1998 season.

Hamilton had been proficient in supermodified racing, as a frequent winner in various supermodified races, usually held in the northern areas of the United States.

Hamilton most recently competed in Robby Gordon's 2014 Stadium Super Trucks season debut at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg where he placed 8th in the first race, and 9th in the second race.

Accident

In 2001 at the Texas Motor Speedway, Jeret Schroeder lost an engine exiting turn 2. This caused him to lose control of his car and make contact with Davey Hamilton's machine. Hamilton's car slammed into the wall, nearly getting caught in the catch fence, and beginning to spin a number of times before coming to rest against the inside retaining wall. Also involved in the crash was Sarah Fisher. Hamilton suffered such severe injuries to his legs and feet, that doctors at one time believed that amputation would be the best option for him.[1]

After the crash, Hamilton took a retirement from driving, and underwent 23 operations to reconstruct his feet and legs. He began standing after five months of the crash, and spent a year in the wheelchair.[2] He did, however, desire to return to racing, and in 2005, started taking steps to return to the cockpit.

In 2010, after retiring from the 2010 Indianapolis 500 on the first lap, Hamilton referenced his 2001 crash while commenting on his early exit from the 500 by saying, "It’s the second-worst day of my racing career...and everyone knows my worst one."[3]

Life after retirement

Hamilton became the color commentator for Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network broadcasts. He later began driving the 2-seater IndyCar, which gives rides to VIPs and celebrities at IndyCar Series races.

Hamilton partnered with the new American Speed Association, partnering with ASA owner Dennis Huth, to take over control of the popular Southwest Tour for 2007, shortly after NASCAR terminated the popular AutoZone Elite division, which includes the popular Southwest series. The Speedco Southwest Tour series uses the same cars as the former NASCAR-sanctioned series.

File:DaveyHamilton2008.jpg
Hamilton practicing for the 2008 Indy 500

Hamilton also owns his own racing team, "Davey Hamilton Apex Racing." This team consists of two winged sprint drivers: his father Ken Hamilton and friend Mike Cullum. Also on the team is Davey's Son DJ who races Outlaw Karts and Go Karts. Mike's daughter Jenna rounds out the team and she drives Outlaw Karts. In 2008, Hamilton became a partner in a group that purchased Terre Haute Action Track.[4]

Return to racing

File:Davey Hamilton 2010 Indy 500 Practice Day 2.JPG
Hamilton at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May 2010.

In 2005, Hamilton started courting sponsors and perusing the paddock in an effort to return to racing. After settling several personal and business issues, he landed a ride for the 2007 Indianapolis 500, driving for Vision Racing.[2] Qualifying 20th, Hamilton placed 9th after the race was ended early on lap 166 due to rain. For 2008, Hamilton re-signed with Vision Racing. He finished 14th in the 2008 Indianapolis 500. For the 2009 season, he drove for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, and was the only one of the team's four drivers to qualify during the first weekend of qualifications. However he crashed out of the race on lap 79.

In 2010, Hamilton competed in the 2010 Indianapolis 500 for de Ferran Dragon Racing. He was involved in an incident with Tomas Scheckter on the first lap of the race, and was classified in 33rd, last place.[5]

Hamilton's final season of races would be 2011. He finished 24th in the 2011 Indianapolis 500. He also raced in the Twin 275's at Texas for unfinished business. His final start would be at the tragic 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship at Las Vegas. Hamilton was fortunate enough to escape the major accident on lap 11 that killed Dan Wheldon, but the race was abandoned, and the results were scratched from official record. When the new chassis and engine package was introduced for the 2012 season, Hamilton was unable to secure a car for the 2012 Indianapolis 500 due to a lack of available rides.

In 2013, Hamilton joined the Stadium Super Trucks, and served as a substitute for Paul Tracy at Honda Indy Toronto; Hamilton started first in the event, but engine trouble forced him to finish seventh.[6]

Personal life

Davey has a son named Davey Jay Hamilton, Jr. (D.J.) who was born on March 15, 1997 in Idaho. He also has a daughter named Hailey. Hamilton is a Christian.[7]

Career results

American open–wheel results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Indy Lights

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
1995 Dick Simon Racing MIA PHX
DNQ
LBH NAZ MIL DET POR TOR CLE NHA VAN LS NC 0

CART IndyCar

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points
1991 Hemelgarn Racing SRF LBH PHX INDY
DNQ
MIL DET POR CLE MEA TOR MIS DEN VAN MDO ROA NAZ LS NC 0
1993 Senter Sculley SRF PHX LBH INDY
DNQ
MIL DET POR CLE TOR MIS NHA ROA VAN MDO NAZ LS NC 0
1995 Hemelgarn Racing MIA SRF PHX LBH NAZ INDY
DNQ
MIL DET POR ROA TOR CLE MIS MDO NHA VAN LS NC 0

IndyCar Series / Indy Racing League

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Rank Points
1996 A. J. Foyt Enterprises WDW
12
PHX
17
INDY
12
9th 192
1996-1997 A. J. Foyt Enterprises NHM
5
LVS
11
WDW
7
PHX
3
INDY
6
TXS
3
PPIR
3
CHR
16
NH2
17
LV2
7
2nd 272
1998 Nienhouse Motorsports WDW
3
PHX
26
INDY
4
TXS
7
NHM
4
DOV
4
CHR
7
PPIR
5
ATL
2
TX2
9
LVS
19
2nd 292
1999 Galles Racing WDW
8
PHX
27
CLT
C
INDY
11
TXS
7
PPIR
3
ATL
7
DOV
23
PPI2
2
LVS
13
TX2
2
4th 237
2000 TeamXtreme WDW
26
PHX
18
LVS
20
INDY
20
TXS
24
PPIR
14
ATL
15
KTY
16
TX2
19
23rd 98
2001 Sam Schmidt Motorsports PHX
12
HMS
19
ATL
17
INDY
23
TXS
24
PPIR RIR KAN NSH KTY STL CHI TX2 26th 54
2007 Vision Racing HMS STP MOT KAN INDY
9
MIL TXS IOW RIR WGL NSH MDO MIS KTY SNM DET CHI 26th 22
2008 Vision Racing HMS STP MOT1 LBH1 KAN INDY
14
MIL TXS IOW RIR WGL NSH MDO EDM KTY SNM DET CHI SRF2 36th 16
2009 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing STP LBH KAN INDY
29
MIL TXS IOW RIR WGL TOR EDM KTY MDO SNM CHI MOT HMS 40th 10
2010 de Ferran Dragon Racing SAO STP ALA LBH KAN INDY
33
TXS IOW WGL TOR EDM MDO SNM CHI
18
KTY MOT HMS 36th 26
2011 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing STP ALA LBH SAO INDY
24
TXS1
27
TXS2
25
MIL IOW TOR EDM MDO NHM SNM BAL MOT KTY LVS3
C
41st 26
1 Races run on same day.
2 Non-points-paying, exhibition race.
3 The Las Vegas Indy 300 was abandoned after Dan Wheldon died from injuries sustained in a 15-car crash on lap 11.
Years Teams Races Poles Wins Podiums
(Non-win)
Top 10s
(Non-podium)
Indianapolis 500
Wins
Championships
11 8 56 0 0 8 15 0 0

Indianapolis 500

Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team
1991 Lola Buick DNQ Hemelgarn
1993 Lola Buick DNQ Senter Sculley
1995 Reynard Ford-Cosworth DNQ Hemelgarn
1996 Lola Ford-Cosworth 10 12 Foyt
1997 G-Force Oldsmobile 8 6 Foyt
1998 G-Force Oldsmobile 8 4 Nienhouse
1999 Dallara Oldsmobile 11 11 Galles
2000 G-Force Oldsmobile 28 20 TeamXtreme
2001 Dallara Oldsmobile 26 23 Schmidt
2007 Dallara Honda 20 9 Vision
2008 Dallara Honda 18 14 Vision
2009 Dallara Honda 22 29 Dreyer & Reinbold
2010 Dallara Honda 14 33 de Ferran Dragon
2011 Dallara Honda 15 24 Dreyer & Reinbold
Awards
Preceded by Scott Brayton Award
2001
Succeeded by
Arie Luyendyk

External links

References

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  5. Cavin, Curt. Davey crashed on the first lap of the Indy 500 when he lost control of his car in turn two and struck the inside wall. Hamilton lands part-time ride, Indianapolis Star, February 25, 2010, Retrieved 2010-02-28
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