dirt CHRONICLES

By: Bob Mays

Mark Light raced during the most dangerous period in American Motorsports, starting his career in 1932 finishing in 1957 and lived to tell about it. He was a mentor to Tommy Hinnershitz and raced as an outlaw, then with AAA and finally an outlaw again. He entered the Hall in 2016. (Frank Smith photo)

Jimmie Oskie says, “My mom didn’t really like sprint cars that much. So, I was drafted into the service for two years in ’66 and ’67. She said, ‘We’ll have a state-of-the-art car built for you. If you still don’t win when you get out, we’ll know you’re no good and you can quit.’ So, we had Hank Henry build a four-bar. I drove it for two years and the second year, I won the [CRA] championship. So, mom did not get her wish, but I got mine.” He went in the Hall in 2000. (Jim Chini photo)

Doug Wolfgang was ride hopping until he found himself in the seat of Bob Weikert’s powerful “Beefmobile.” Doug didn’t get the ride until just a couple of weeks before the 1984 Knoxville Nationals. In what could only be termed, at that time, a big upset, Wolfgang won his third Nationals title in stirring fashion. It was one of the most popular wins in the history of Knoxville’s premier event. In 1985, Wolfgang again won the Knoxville Nationals but it was no upset. His induction took place in 2003. (Bob Mays photo)

While racing at the Tulsa Speedway in 1992, Doug Wolfgang entered Gary Wright’s trailer and said, “I’ve been watching you for a while. I want to let you know you’re good enough to go traveling with the World of Outlaws.”

“If Wolfgang says I’m good enough to do this, then that’s all I needed to hear.” More than 200 feature wins later, everyone knew Wright was ready for the Hall of Fame in 2011. (Bob Mays photo)