| Wally Dallenbach Sr. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Born | Wallace Jacob Dallenbach (1936-12-12)December 12, 1936 | ||||||
| Died | April 29, 2024(2024-04-29) (aged 87) Browns Mills, New Jersey, U.S. | ||||||
| Championship titles | |||||||
| Major victories California 500 (1973) | |||||||
| Champ Car career | |||||||
| 180 races run over 15 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 2nd (1973) | ||||||
| First race | 1965 Langhorne 125 (Langhorne) | ||||||
| Last race | 1979Miller High Life 150 (Phoenix) | ||||||
| First win | 1973Tony Bettenhausen 200 (Milwaukee) | ||||||
| Last win | 1977Trenton 200 (Trenton) | ||||||
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NASCAR driver | |||||||
| NASCARCup Series career | |||||||
| 4 races run over 3 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 81st (1962) | ||||||
| First race | 1962Daytona Qualifier #2 (Daytona) | ||||||
| Last race | 1974National 500 (Charlotte) | ||||||
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Wallace Jacob Dallenbach (December 12, 1936 – April 29, 2024) was an Americanracing driver and official. He competed primarily inUnited States Auto Club (USAC) sanctionedChampionship cars,[1][2] and was the winner of the1973California 500. After retiring from driving, he served for more than 20 years as Chief Steward of Competition forChampionship Auto Racing Teams (CART).
Dallenbach was the father ofNASCAR driver and commentator,Wallace Paul Dallenbach. After the younger Dallenbach began a professional racing career during the middle 1980s, the elder Dallenbach came to be known by theretronymDallenbach Sr.
Dallenbach was born in East Brunswick, New Jersey.[3] After working in the construction industry, he began his racing career inmodified racing.[4] In 1962, he competed in theDaytona 500.[3] He eventually settled on open-wheel racing, competing inmidget andsprint cars before moving toIndy cars in 1965.[5]
After several years competing in uncompetitive equipment, Dallenbach's breakthrough came after being signed by team ownerPat Patrick to replace driverSwede Savage, badly injured during the1973 Indianapolis 500. After Savage's death, Dallenbach's seat became permanent. Four races into his tenure with Patrick's team, Dallenbach scored his first victory, theTony Bettenhausen 200 at theMilwaukee Mile. He scored two further victories in 1973, including the California 500. Despite not starting in four races during the 1973 season, Dallenbach finished the1973 USAC Championship Car season ranked second in points.[6]
Dallenbach nearly won the 1975Indianapolis 500, dueling withA. J. Foyt for many laps. He led for half of the race, but burned apiston on lap 162, twelve laps before the race was called due to rain.Bobby Unser won the race, which was halted at lap 174 (435 miles).[7]
Dallenbach joined CART as Competition Director in 1980 and became Chief Steward of the series in 1981. Under his tenure, he greatly improved the safety program in CART, the preeminent sanctioning body of Indy car racing. He played an instrumental role in establishing the first dedicated rapid response trauma team in auto racing.[6] He also established nondenominational church services for drivers and their families. Dallenbach held his position until the end of the 2000 season, after which he went into semi-retirement, serving as Special Advisor to CART andChris Kneifel, his successor as Chief Steward.[8]
Advance testing and practice in preparation for the2001 Firestone Firehawk 600 – to be held atTexas Motor Speedway (TMS) – saw numerous driversblack out due to unprecedented g-forces experienced at the track. Dallenbach had visited TMS as early as 1996, deeming it unsafe for Indy car competition.[9] On the day of the race, despite pressure from stakeholders within the CART community to proceed with the event, it was decided to cancel to event in order to ensure the safety of the competitors.[6]
Shortly thereafter, Dallenbach returned as Chief Steward for CART, replacing Kneifel, who had been the subject of criticism from many drivers.[10] Dallenbach served until the conclusion of the 2004 season, after which he retired permanently.[6]
Dallenbach served as the president of the Colorado 500 motorcycle charity ride. The events have raised just under three million dollars in community support[11] - including more than $800,000 in student scholarships - for the town ofBasalt, Colorado, located in theRoaring Fork Valley region of westernColorado.[12]
With his winnings from the California 500, Dallenbach purchased a ranch, fairground, cabins and a private automotive restoration garage near theFryingpan River in upper Basalt.[13] In 2023, he sold the property, returning with his wife to New Jersey. During their time in Colorado, the couple supported the development of local emergency services in the area; in 1976, Dallenbach purchased an ambulance for the town of Basalt.[12]
Dallenbach died on April 29, 2024, at the age of 87.[6][14]
Dallenbach has been inducted into the following halls of fame:
After his death in 2024, the community of Basalt, Colorado named their newest ambulance after Dallenbach; in 1976 he had purchased the community its first ambulance.[12]
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position)
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position)
| Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Rank | Points | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Patrick Racing | Wildcat | Offenhauser | PHX 12 | 9th | 1149 | [22] | |||||||||||||
| Cosworth | PHX 7 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Lightning | ATL 11 | ATL 8 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Penske | INDY 27 | TRE 4 | TRE 2 | MCH 5 | MCH 10 | WGL 14 | TRE 4 | ONT 24 | MCH 6 | ATL 4 | ||||||||||
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Dallenbach will be considered a Class of 2021 member.