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MUSEUM TO HOST “SALUTE TO RICH VOGLER” THIS THURSDAY, JULY 15, AS “SPRINT CAR 101” THIRD THURSDAY SERIES CONTINUES 

KNOXVILLE, IOWA  (July 11, 2010)  -  The “Sprint Car 101” Third Thursday Series of free, open-to-the-public programs continues this Thursday, July 15, with a “Salute to Rich Vogler” beginning at 7 p.m. on the museum’s second floor.  The late Rich Vogler was a two-time United States Auto Club (USAC) national sprint car champion and was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1992.  Rich’s mother, Eleanor Vogler, will be on-hand for the ninety-minute educational program.

Rich Vogler won the 1980 United States Auto Club (USAC) sprint car championship driving for owner Don Siebert.  Rich won the USAC sprint car title again in 1989, driving for the famed Hoffman family, including grandfather Gus Hoffman, father Richard “Dick” Hoffman, and son Rob Hoffman.  Vogler won on pavement and dirt in the Hoffman Auto Racing/Dynamics Inc. number 69 sprint car en route to the national championship, earning the right to wear the number 1 on his car’s tail tank for the following season.  Sadly, in July of 1990, Rich lost his life while leading a sprint car race at the Salem, Ind., Speedway.  Besides the two USAC sprint car championships (1980, ’89), Rich Vogler had earned five USAC midget car titles (1978, ’80, ’83, ’86, ’88) and five starts in the Indianapolis 500.  Besides being inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1992, Rich was also inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1986 and he will be inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America next month in Detroit. 

Coincidentally, the famous Rich Vogler-driven, Hoffman Family-owned #1 sprint car is being produced as a 1/18th-scale dies-cast model by R&R Enterprises for the non-profit National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum Foundation.  It is the museum’s seventh “Members Only” die-cast sprint car, which supports its annual membership program.  Supporting members of the museum foundation can order the 1/18th-scale Hoffman Auto Racing sprinter by calling 1-800-874-4488.

Those seeking more information on the “Sprint Car 101” Third Thursday Series program entitled “Salute to Rich Vogler” can visit www.sprintcarhof.com.  Also, the museum can be reached at 641-842-6176.