JIM STREICHER, 87
The USAC family today mourns the death of three-time USAC National Midget Car Owner Champion Jim Streicher of Findlay, Ohio who passed away Saturday afternoon at the age of 87 after a bout with pneumonia.
The Streicher family has enjoyed a long history of USAC activity, including Mike Streicher’s 1990 USAC National Midget Championship. Mike’s son, Richie (Jim’s grandson) scored the biggest victory of his young career yesterday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, winning the Heavy A class championship at this year’s “Battle at the Brickyard” for USAC’s Mopar .25 Midgets.
Jim’s car owner championships came in 1983, 1990 and 1991 and his USAC National Midget victory total of 25 includes wins with his son Mike, Rich Vogler, Jack Hewitt and Jerry Weeks. His cars won the famed Belleville Midget Nationals, the Four-Crown Nationals, the Hut Hundred, the Indy Midget 500 and “Thunder in the Dome” in Indianapolis.
Jim’s racing career began in the 1950s and for a time he worked with one of the sport’s best mechanics, Clint Brawner.
USAC extends its sincerest heartfelt sympathies to his wife Paulie, the entire Streicher family and their many friends.