Davey Hamilton
Hamilton at Madera Speedway in 2024
Nationality	American
Born	(1962-06-13)June 13, 1962 (age 62) Nampa, Idaho, U.S.
Indy Racing LeagueIndyCar 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 in1996–1997,1998
Previous series
2013–2014,2016 1991, 1993, 1995 1995	Stadium Super Trucks CART IndyCar Indy Lights
Awards
2001	Scott Brayton Award

David Jay "Davey" Hamilton (born June 13, 1962, inNampa, Idaho) is a race car driver who competed in theIndy Racing LeagueIndyCar Series andStadium Super Trucks. He has made 56 series starts and while never winning a race, finished second three times. He placed second in series points in the1996–1997 season and again in1998 season.

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

Davey Hamilton's IndyCar career started in 1991. His father Ken traded theEagle Aircraft Flyer Special he attempted to qualify at the1982 Indianapolis 500 for a rookie test withHemelgarn Racing for Davey.^[1] Davey attempted to qualify for the Indy 500 in 1991, 1993 and 1995. He made his first IndyCar start at the1996 Indy 200 at Walt Disney World, the first everIndy Racing League race.

In 2001 at theTexas 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 thecatch fence, and beginning to spin a number of times before coming to rest against the inside retaining wall. Also involved in the crash wasSarah 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.^[2]

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 requiring the use of a wheelchair.^[3] He did, however, desire to return to racing, and in 2005, started taking steps to return to the cockpit.

In 2010, after retiring from the2010 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."^[4]

Hamilton became the color commentator forIndianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network broadcasts in 2003. He later began driving the 2-seater IndyCar, which gives rides to VIPs and celebrities at IndyCar Series races.

Hamilton partnered with the newAmerican 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.

Hamilton also owns his own racing team, "Davey Hamilton Apex Racing." This team consists of two wingedsprint drivers: his father Ken Hamilton and friend Mike Cullum. Also on the team is Davey's son DJ who races Outlaw Karts andGo Karts. Mike's daughter Jenna rounds out the team and she drives Outlaw Karts. In 2008, Hamilton became a partner in a group that purchasedTerre Haute Action Track.^[5]

In 2014 he co-founded King of the Wing, a national pavement sprint car series.^[6]

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 the2007Indianapolis 500, driving forVision Racing.^[3] 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 the2008 Indianapolis 500. For the2009 season, he drove forDreyer & 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.

In2010, Hamilton competed in the2010 Indianapolis 500 forde Ferran Dragon Racing. He was involved in an incident withTomas Scheckter on the first lap of the race, and was classified in 33rd, last place.^[7]

Hamilton's final season of races would be 2011. He finished 24th in the2011 Indianapolis 500. He also raced in the Twin 275's at Texas for unfinished business. His final start would be at the tragic2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship at Las Vegas. Hamilton was fortunate enough to escape the major accident on lap 11 that killedDan 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 the2012 Indianapolis 500 due to a lack of available rides.

In 2013, Hamilton joined theStadium Super Trucks, serving as a substitute forJimmy Vasser atHonda Indy Toronto; Hamilton started first in the event, but engine trouble forced him to finish seventh.^[8] In 2014, he made his season debut at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, where he placed 8th in the first race and 9th in the second race.

Davey has a son namedDavey Jay Hamilton Jr. (D.J.) who was born on March 15, 1997, in Idaho. D.J. is also a racing driver, racing in sprint cars and Stadium Super Trucks.^[9] Davey also has a daughter named Hailey Hamilton, who was born on November 16th 1999, in Las Vegas, NV. Hailey is artistically inclined, and received a Bachelors degree in Photography at Taylor University. She now does social media marketing for six different brands including Dolly Parton's Stampede and Titanic Museum Attraction. She is aspiring to get her Masters degree in Art Conservation at New York University. .^[10]

(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position)

¹Races run on same day.

²Non-points-paying, exhibition race.

³TheLas Vegas Indy 300 was abandoned afterDan Wheldon died from injuries sustained in a 15-car crash on lap 11.

(key) (Bold – Pole position.Italics – Fastest qualifier. * – Most laps led.)

Wikimedia Commons has media related toDavey Hamilton.

• Davey Hamilton Racing
• IndyCar Driver Page

• 1962 births
• Living people
• People from Nampa, Idaho
• Racing drivers from Idaho
• Indianapolis 500 drivers
• IndyCar Series drivers
• Stadium Super Trucks drivers
• Motorsport announcers
• USAC Silver Crown Series drivers
• Dragon Racing drivers
• De Ferran Motorsports drivers
• Indy Lights drivers
• A. J. Foyt Enterprises drivers
• Arrow McLaren SP drivers
• Vision Racing drivers
• Dreyer & Reinbold Racing drivers

• Commons category link from Wikidata