Chuck Gurney

Nine Racing Driver 1990–92, 1994–96

Driving for Nine Racing, open wheel star Chuck Gurney won the Copper World Classic at Phoenix International Raceway in 1994.

The second-generation driver raced quarter midgets as a child, and as youngster, watched his dad Gene race for the Bay Cities Racing Association (BCRA). Born in Oakland, California, the March 2005 MSPA Hall of Fame honoree was a dominant figure in open wheel circles during the 1980s. He claimed 33 NARC feature wins and one NARC championship, which came in 1983. He also had several wins in local shows such as at Baylands Raceway Park. In 1985 he claimed a national championship in the powerful USAC super modifieds. In 1989, Chuck was back on the national trail winning the USAC Silver Crown title. In his spare time he went down to Southern California and won nine main events on the tough CRA circuit.

Notably, Chuck is a five-time Copper World Classic champion, three in midgets, and twice in sprint cars. He won the 1989 Belleville Midget Nationals and the 1988 and 1989 Turkey Night Grand Prix at the legendary Ascot Park.

In the 1990s, Chuck primarily raced on the big tracks in the prestigious USAC Silver Crown cars. He has 14 Silver Crown victories, which places second on the all-time list. In 2004, Chuck was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Iowa. Nowadays, he can be found at race tracks supporting his son, Chuck Gurney Jr., who nearly won a Sprint Car title of his own last year, and raced for Nine Racing at the Night Before the 500 race in May.