The Southsider Voice
Visit us at these places!
  • Home
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • Sports
    • Car Nutz
    • Stilley Goes Trackside
    • Southside Deaths
    • Personal Recollections
    • Reminiscing
  • About the Voice
  • Advertising
  • Contact
  • Newspaper Archive
  • Classifieds

Byrd family revives dad’s legacy with Indy 500 entry for 2015

5/21/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
SOUTHSIDER VOICE BY AL STILLEY The Byrd family plans to return to the Indianapolis 500 in 2015 with Hoosier-born driver Bryan Clauson (second from left). The announcement was made last week by (from left) sons Jonathan and David Byrd and mom Ginny Byrd, widow of the founder of Jonathan Byrd’s Racing and Jonathan Byrd’s Cafeteria.
By Al Stilley
Southsider Voice correspondent

The legacy of the late Jonathan Byrd will return to the Indianapolis 500 in 2015.
Byrd, who founded Jonathan Byrd’s Cafeteria and Catering in Greenwood, entered cars in the 500 for short track stars Rich Vogler and Stan Fox, as well as 1996 pole sitter Arie Luyendyk.


Byrd died in 2009, leaving his business ventures in the hands of wife, Ginny, who has a bargain plate meal named after her, and sons Jonathan II and David. Byrd’s last car was in the 2005 Indianapolis 500, and his first entry was in 1985, making the 2015 revival a 30th anniversary observance.


Last week at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway the Byrd family announced that it would partner with another car owner and return to the IMS with three-time United States Auto Club national driving champion Bryan Clauson of Noblesville as their driver.


“We love this place,” Byrd II said. “We were aiming at the 2016 Indianapolis 500, but with the enthusiasm we were receiving that Jonathan Byrd (family) would be back at the 500, we are saying that we will be back in 2015.”


Mrs. Byrd said the family’s re-entry into the Indianapolis 500 continues the legacy of her late husband.
“They (sons) have grown up in racing,” she said with them at her side at the Speedway. “Their dad had the passion and gave that passion to them.”


After going over Clauson’s resume, Ginny remarked, “We love the fact that he has a short track racing background, and that goes right back to our roots. This is full circle, full circle; I’m excited.”


Mrs. Byrd, upon realizing that Clauson, 24, has already accomplished numerous championships in his career, said she owns purses that are older than the newest Jonathan Byrd’s Racing driver.


Clauson raced in the 2012 Indianapolis 500 for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing as a Firestone Indy Lights graduate. His background is similar to the late Rich Vogler, who was a two-time USAC Speedrome, two-time USAC national midget and two-time USAC sprint car champion. 


“It’s an honor to have him (Clauson) drive for us, and I’m very happy that we’re not going to have to wait another two years,” she said. “We’re going to give him all the resources that he needs to run up front and compete to win.”


Fully aware of Byrd’s legacy, Clauson stated, “The Byrd family has a tremendous history not only at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway but also among the short track community as well. To add my name to an impressive list of Jonathan Byrd’s Racing drivers that includes guys like Rich Vogler and Stan Fox is an honor.”
Byrd began his race car ownership and sponsorship under his Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises in 1982 in the Pro Stock division with driver Jim Begley of Greenwood. Byrd later noticed Vogler’s aggressive racing style in the USAC Midget Series and eventually advanced to the Indianapolis 500. Vogler raced in five Indy 500s for Byrd, finishing a career-best eighth in 1989.


In qualifying for the 1996 race, Luyendyk set one- and four-lap records of 237.498 mph and 236.986, respectively.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    Categories

    All
    Arts & Entertainment
    Lead Story
    Sports: 500
    Sports: Basketball
    Sports: Track

    RSS Feed

 DROP OFF: The Toy Drop 6025 Madison Ave., Suite D
Indianapolis, IN  46227  |  317-781-0023
MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 17187, Indianapolis, IN 46217

ads@southsidervoice.com | news@southsidervoice.com
Website by IndyTeleData, Inc.