Dennis Clayton "Duke" Nalon (March 2, 1913 – February 26, 2001) was an Americanracing driver.^[1][2] He competed inmidget car,sprint car, andIndy car races. Nicknamed "The Iron Duke," Nalon was part of the "Chicago Gang" along withTony Bettenhausen and others. These racers toured tracks in the Midwest and East Coast of the United States.^[3]

Duke Nalon
Nalon, circa 1946
Born	Dennis Clayton Nalon (1913-03-02)March 2, 1913 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	February 26, 2001(2001-02-26) (aged 87) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Championship titles
AAA EasternBig Car (1938) AAA MidwestBig Car (1941)
Champ Car career
34+ races run over 16 years
Best finish	5th (1948)
First race	1937 Syracuse 100 (Syracuse)
Last race	1953Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Wins Podiums Poles 0 6 3
Formula One World Championship career
Active years	1950–1954
Teams	Kurtis Kraft
Entries	5 (3 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	1
Fastest laps	0
First entry	1950 Indianapolis 500
Last entry	1954 Indianapolis 500

Nalon began as a pit crew member for Wally Zale. Nalon occasionally warmed up the car. When Walter Galven needed a driver, Zale convinced Galven to allow Nalon to race. Nalon won the feature event.^[3]

Nalon won races on the United States' East Coast in the 1930s. Nalon competed in midget cars throughout his career. He ran his final career race at the only 100-mile (160 km) midget race ever run atTerre Haute. He racedJohnny Pawl’s famous midget to victory. He ended his career the way he started it: with a win.^[3]

Nalon won the 1938 East CoastAAASprint car championship;^[4] he won the Midwestern championship in 1941.^[5][3]

Nalon started ten Indianapolis 500-mile (800 km) races, finishing only three. He started from the pole twice, and was twice the fastest qualifier. In 1947, he competed in aMercedes-Benz W154. He also competed in numerous other events on what was them termed theChampionship car circuit. In 1949, Nalon was involved in a massive, fiery crash in Turn 3 of theIndianapolis Motor Speedway. He backed into the wall and the car burst into flames. He survived only because he held his breath (to prevent asphyxiation), and he jumped out of the car while it was still moving. He had severe burns to his legs which gave him trouble until his death in 2001.

TheAAA/USAC-sanctioned Indianapolis 500 was included in theFIAWorld Drivers' Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indianapolis during those years were credited with World Drivers' Championship participation, and were eligible to score WDC points alongside those which they may have scored towards theAAA/USACNational Championship.

Nalon participated in three World Drivers' Championship races at Indianapolis. His best finish was tenth place, and he qualified onthe pole once.^[1] He scored no World Drivers' Championship points.

• He was inducted in theNational Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1987.
• He was named to theNational Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1991.
• In 2015, he was inducted in theMotorsports Hall of Fame of America.^[6]

(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position)