Butch Wilkerson, a prominent figure in the world of sprint car racing, passed away on Nov. 27 at the age of 80. His life and career were marked by numerous achievements and challenges. Let's take a closer look at the remarkable story of this racing icon.

The Life and Legacy of a Racing Great

Early Beginnings at Columbus Speedway

Butch Wilkerson's passion for racing was ignited when his parents took him to the Sunday afternoon races at Columbus Speedway in the 1950s. This was the place where his racing journey began. The track, known as "The Hole" or "The Hill," was located just off State Road 7 southeast of Columbus. It was here that Wilkerson achieved his first career win while driving a go-kart in 1957. This early success set the stage for his future in racing. 2: Wilkerson's birth in Walesboro in 1944 and his graduation from Columbus High School in 1962 marked important milestones in his life. It was in the same year that he moved into racing stock cars. His early years in stock car racing were filled with both highs and lows. Although he never won a stock-car feature in his early days, he was constantly honing his skills and gaining valuable experience.

Rise to Sprint Car Stardom

In 1965, Wilkerson made the transition to sprint cars and quickly found success. His first sprint-car ride was for Jess Kinder of Bedford, and they raced at Bloomington, Lawrenceburg, and Haubstadt. The following year, he started driving for legendary car owner Dizz Wilson of Mitchell and recorded his first career sprint-car win at Lawrenceburg, outrunning long-time driving star Roy Robbins. This victory was a significant moment in his career and launched him on a path to becoming one of the top sprint car drivers in the area. 2: The 1973 season was one of Wilkerson's best, as he won track championships with Wilson at Bloomington, Lawrenceburg, and Haubstadt. Two years later, he had the best overall season of his racing career. Teaming up with car owner Jim McQueen of Indianapolis in 1974, he and his Stapp Chassis No. 1 car were nearly unbeatable in 1975. Wilkerson won a career-high 29 feature wins and finished first, second, or third in an amazing 55 out of 77 races that season. He also recorded the biggest win of his career, pocketing a $3,950 victory at the West Capital Speedway in West Sacramento, California.

The Fateful Accident at Winchester Speedway

In October 1979, Wilkerson's life and career took a tragic turn at the famed Winchester Speedway. Driving for long-time car owner Sherman Armstrong and with veteran driver Tom Bigelow as his teammate, he was involved in a horrific crash. Entering Turn 4 around the treacherous high banks of the half-mile oval, the left rear of East's car got into the right front of Wilkerson's mount, breaking the steering arm. The impact was estimated at 128 mph, and Wilkerson was left unconscious with a critical head injury. 2: Bigelow was one of the first on the scene and helped hold up Wilkerson's head while emergency crews worked to extricate him from his crumpled car. Wilkerson's hospital bills totaled nearly $300,000, but thankfully, USAC's participant insurance covered every penny. After leaving the hospital, Wilkerson needed no rehab from his injuries, but his return to racing was put on hold. The accident also wiped out the chance of a lifetime that local aviation pioneer Jack Rhoades had given him to drive in the 1980 Indianapolis 500.

Return to Racing and the End of a Career

In 1983, after nearly four years out of the cockpit, Ohio car owner Mike Gross gave Wilkerson the opportunity to get back behind the wheel. Their agreement was to race one night a week at Lawrenceburg, and the first night back was considered a success. However, after the wreck at Winchester, the fun and thrill of driving was no longer there for Wilkerson. 2: His last race was in 1986 at Bloomington Speedway when he was involved in a wreck with young up-and-coming drivers Mickey Smith and Rodney Ritter Jr. After walking back to the pits, he was confronted by long-time schoolmate and friend Russ Petro, who convinced him that it was time to end his driving career. Wilkerson's racing career may have ended, but his legacy lives on. He is a member of the Little 500 Hall of Fame and was awarded the Hoosier Auto Racing Fans (HARF) Pat O'Connor Memorial Award in 1980 and selected for the HARF Hall of Fame in 2004.