NORTHWEST
WHITEY GERKEN
2014 INDUCTEE
Whitey started his racing career in 1953. He was an outstanding driver and was known for his great knowledge of setting up chassis. He split his driving talents between short track, USAC & Nascar. He won his 1st Feature at O?Hare in 1957. In 1960 he won 3 straight features at Soldier Field including a 100 lapper and a couple of years later won the American 500 lapper. In 1967 he won 12 Features at O?Hare and topped off the season with winning his 3rd Annual NSTC 200 at Rockford. Whitey won 3 USAC career races at Milwaukee in 1961, Illiana in 1962 and Tri-County Raceway in 1969. Whitey was crowned overall Champion at the Grundy County Fair in 1973 and later lost his life in a crash at Illiana Speedway in October of 1973.