RICH VOGLER - USAC HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2012

Rich Vogler, winner of an all-time record 171 USAC feature events during his meteoric 20-year racing career with the United States Auto Club between 1971-1990.  Vogler’s USAC accomplishments include championships in the National Sprint Car Series with car owner Don Siebert in 1980 and again in 1989 with the Hoffman Auto Racing/Dynamics, Inc. team.

The son of two-time USAC National Midget winner Don Vogler, Rich’s run of five USAC National Midget series titles began in 1978 with car owner Doug Caruthers.  During a late May/early June stretch that same season, Vogler reeled off a series record five consecutive feature wins.

Subsequent USAC National Midget crowns arrived in 1980 and again in 1983 with Jim Streicher.  He captured his final two series championship in 1986 and 1988 for car owner Jonathan Byrd.  Furthermore, he was dominant in USAC Regional Midget competition at the Indianapolis Speedrome, taking the brass ring in 1985 for Bob Lowe.

The Glen Ellyn, Illinois native scored 134 National feature wins (4 in Silver Crown, 35 in Sprints and 95 in Midgets).  In five career Indianapolis 500 starts, his best finish was an eight in 1989.

Fittingly, Vogler won the last race he ever started, scoring the Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial at Salem (Ind.) Speedway on July 21, 1990, just five days prior to his 40th birthday.  He was leading while on his way to taking the white flag when he was fatally injured during a turn four accident.  The race reverted to the last completed lap in which Vogler was declared the winner.

Vogler is also a member of the National Sprint Car and Midget Halls of Fame and is also an inductee of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.