Mike Nazaruk

Mike Nazaruk (October 2, 1921 - May 1, 1955): Born Michael Nazaruk in Newark, New Jersey, this American racing driver earned the nickname "Iron Mike" for his fearless driving style and remarkable courage both on and off the track. Before becoming a racing legend, Nazaruk served with distinction as a U.S. Marine in World War II, fighting in the brutal Pacific campaigns at Guadalcanal and the Battle of Guam.

During the war, he made a promise to himself that if he survived the conflict, he would pursue his dream of becoming a professional race driver. True to his word, Nazaruk returned home and threw himself into motorsport, quickly establishing himself as a formidable competitor. He captured the 1949 American Racing Drivers Club midget car championship, demonstrating the talent that would carry him to the sport's highest levels. In 1951, during his first Indianapolis 500 start, Nazaruk delivered an extraordinary performance, driving the Jim Robbins Special - the same car in which Johnnie Parsons had won the 1950 race - to a stunning second-place finish.

This result announced his arrival as a championship-caliber driver and led to additional Indianapolis 500 starts, including a respectable fifth-place finish in 1954. His participation in the 1951, 1953, and 1954 Indianapolis 500 races made him an official Formula One participant during the era when the race counted toward the World Championship. Ironically, Nazaruk had not intended to compete in the sprint car race at Langhorne Speedway on May 1, 1955, as he was recovering from the flu. However, when the feature race rolled around, Nazaruk climbed into Ted Nyquist's new Offy-powered sprint car.

The decision would prove fatal - Nazaruk crashed and died instantly at the notoriously dangerous Langhorne track. He was posthumously honored in 1996 with induction into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, recognizing his significant contributions to American motorsport.