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{{short description|American racing driver (1913–2001)}}
{{Short description|American racing driver (1913–2001)}}
{{Infobox racing driver
{{Infobox racing driver
| name = Duke Nalon
| name = Duke Nalon
| image = Duke Nalon 1946.jpg
| image = Duke Nalon 1946.jpg
| image_size = 280px
| caption = Nalon, circa 1946
| caption = Nalon, circa 1946
| nationality =
| birth_name = Dennis Clayton Nalon
| birth_name = Dennis Clayton Nalon
| birth_date = {{birth date|1913|03|02}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1913|03|02}}
| birth_place = [[Chicago, Illinois]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Chicago, Illinois]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2001|02|26|1913|03|02}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2001|02|26|1913|03|02}}
| death_place = [[Indianapolis, Indiana]], U.S.
| death_place = [[Indianapolis, Indiana]], U.S.
| titles = [[AAA Contest Board|AAA Eastern]] [[Sprint car racing|Big Car]] (1938) <br/> [[AAA Contest Board|AAA Midwest]] [[Sprint car racing|Big Car]] (1941)
| titles =
| awards =
| module1 =
| module1 = {{Infobox Champ Car driver|child=yes
{{Infobox Champ Car driver|embed=yes
| years = 1937–1941, 1946–1956
| Total_Champ_Races = 34+
| Total_Champ_Races = 34+
| Years_In_Champ = 16
| Years_In_Champ = 16
| Best_Champ_Pos = 5th ([[1948 AAA Championship Car season|1948]])
| Champ_Car_Team =
| Best_Champ_Pos = 5th – [[1948 AAA Championship Car season|1948]]
| First_Champ_Race = [[1937 AAA Championship Car season|1937]] Syracuse 100 ([[Syracuse Mile|Syracuse]])
| First_Champ_Race = [[1937 AAA Championship Car season|1937]] [[Syracuse Mile|Syracuse 100]] ([[Syracuse Mile|Syracuse]])
| Last_Champ_Race = [[1953 AAA Championship Car season|1953]] [[1953 Indianapolis 500|Indianapolis 500]] ([[Indianapolis Motor Speedway|Indianapolis]])
| Last_Champ_Race = [[1953 AAA Championship Car season|1953]] [[1953 Indianapolis 500|Indianapolis 500]] ([[Indianapolis Motor Speedway|Indianapolis]])
| First_Champ_Win =
| Last_Champ_Win =
| Champ_Wins = 0
| Champ_Wins = 0
| Champ_Podiums = 6
| Champ_Podiums = 6
| Champ_Poles = 3
| Champ_Poles = 3
| module2 =
}}
| module2 = {{Infobox F1 driver
{{Infobox F1 driver|embed=yes
| Years = {{F1|1950}}–{{F1|1954}}
| child = yes
| Years = {{F1|1950}}–{{F1|1954}}
| Team(s) = [[Kurtis Kraft]]
| Team(s) = [[Kurtis Kraft]]
| Races = 5 (3 starts)
| Races = 5 (3 starts)
| Championships = 0
| Championships = 0
| Wins = 0
| Wins = 0
| Podiums = 0
| Podiums = 0
| Points = 0
| Points = 0
| Poles = 1
| Poles = 1
| Fastest laps = 0
⚫
| First race = [[1950 Indianapolis 500]]
| Fastest laps = 0
| First race = [[1950 Indianapolis 500]]
| Last race = [[1954 Indianapolis 500]]
⚫
}}}}}}
| First win =
| Last win =
⚫
| Last race = [[1954 Indianapolis 500]]
⚫
}}}}


'''Dennis "Duke" Nalon'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Duke Nalon |url=http://www.champcarstats.com/drivers/NalonDuke.htm |access-date=2023-06-11 |website=www.champcarstats.com}}</ref> (March 2, 1913 – February 26, 2001) was an American [[midget car racing|midget car]], [[sprint car racing|sprint car]], and [[Indianapolis 500|Indy 500]] driver from [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], United States.
'''Dennis Clayton "Duke" Nalon''' (March 2, 1913 – February 26, 2001) was an American [[racing driver]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Duke Nalon |url=http://www.champcarstats.com/drivers/NalonDuke.htm |access-date=2023-06-11 |website=www.champcarstats.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Allen |title=Duke Nalon |url=https://www.oldracingcars.com/driver/Duke_Nalon |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=OldRacingCars.com |language=en}}</ref> He competed in [[midget car racing|midget car]], [[sprint car racing|sprint car]], and [[Indy car racing|Indy car]] races. Nicknamed "The Iron Duke," Nalon was part of the "Chicago Gang" along with [[Tony Bettenhausen]] and others. These racers toured tracks in the Midwest and East Coast of the United States.<ref name="NMARHoF" />

⚫
== Racing career ==


⚫
==Racing career==
Nalon began as a pit crew member for Wally Zale. Nalon occasionally warmed up the car. When Walter Galven needed a driver, Zale convinced Galven to allow Nalon to race. Nalon won the feature event.<ref name="NMARHoF">[http://www.worthyofhonor.com/Inductees/Duke_Nalon.htm Biography at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927033227/http://www.worthyofhonor.com/Inductees/Duke_Nalon.htm |date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref>
Nalon began as a pit crew member for Wally Zale. Nalon occasionally warmed up the car. When Walter Galven needed a driver, Zale convinced Galven to allow Nalon to race. Nalon won the feature event.<ref name="NMARHoF">[http://www.worthyofhonor.com/Inductees/Duke_Nalon.htm Biography at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927033227/http://www.worthyofhonor.com/Inductees/Duke_Nalon.htm |date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref>


⚫
=== Midget cars ===
Nalon was nicknamed "The Iron Duke." Nalon was part of the "Chicago Gang" with [[Tony Bettenhausen]]. They toured tracks in the Midwest and East Coast of the United States.<ref name="NMARHoF" />

⚫
Nalon won races on the United States' East Coast in the 1930s. Nalon competed in midget cars throughout his career. He ran his final career race at the only {{convert|100|mi|km|adj=on}} midget race ever run at [[Terre Haute]]. He raced [[Johnny Pawl]]’s famous midget to victory. He ended his career the way he started it: with a win.<ref name="NMARHoF" />

⚫
=== Sprint cars ===

Nalon won the 1938 East Coast [[American Automobile Association|AAA]] [[Sprint car racing|Sprint car]] championship;<ref>{{Cite web |title=AutoRacingRecords.com |url=https://www.autoracingrecords.com/series.php?srid=00233 |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=www.autoracingrecords.com}}</ref> he won the Midwestern championship in 1941.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AutoRacingRecords.com |url=https://www.autoracingrecords.com/series.php?srid=01022 |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=www.autoracingrecords.com}}</ref><ref name="NMARHoF" />

⚫
=== Indy cars ===

⚫
Nalon started ten Indianapolis {{convert|500|mi|km|adj=on}} races, finishing only three. He started from the pole twice, and was twice the fastest qualifier. In 1947, he competed in a [[Mercedes-Benz W154]]. He also competed in numerous other events on what was them termed the [[Championship car]] circuit. In 1949, Nalon was involved in a massive, fiery crash in Turn 3 of the [[Indianapolis Motor Speedway]]. He backed into the wall and the car burst into flames. He survived only because he held his breath (to prevent asphyxiation), and he jumped out of the car while it was still moving. He had severe burns to his legs which gave him trouble until his death in 2001.

⚫
==== World Drivers' Championship career ====

The [[AAA Contest Board|AAA]]/[[United States Auto Club|USAC]]-sanctioned Indianapolis 500 was included in the [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]] [[List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions|World Drivers' Championship]] from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indianapolis during those years were credited with World Drivers' Championship participation, and were eligible to score WDC points alongside those which they may have scored towards the [[AAA Contest Board|AAA]]/[[United States Auto Club|USAC]] [[List of American open-wheel racing national champions|National Championship]].

Nalon participated in three World Drivers' Championship races at Indianapolis. His best finish was tenth place, and he qualified on [[Pole position|the pole]] once.<ref name=":0" /> He scored no World Drivers' Championship points.


⚫
== Awards and honors ==
⚫
===Midget cars===
⚫
Nalon won races on the United States' East Coast in the 1930s. Nalon competed in midget cars throughout his career. He ran his final career race at the only {{convert|100|mi|km|adj=on}} midget race ever run at [[Terre Haute]]. He raced [[Johnny Pawl]]’s famous midget to victory. He ended his career the way he started it: with a win.<ref name="NMARHoF" />


⚫
* He was inducted in the [[National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame]] in 1987.
⚫
===Sprint cars===
⚫
* He was named to the [[National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum|National Sprint Car Hall of Fame]] in 1991.
He won the 1938 East Coast [[American Automobile Association|AAA]] [[Sprint car racing|Sprint car]] championship.<ref name="NMARHoF" />
⚫
* In 2015, he was inducted in the [[Motorsports Hall of Fame of America]].<ref name=MSHoF>[http://www.mshf.com/hall-of-fame/inductees/duke-nalon.html Duke Nalon] at the [[Motorsports Hall of Fame of America]]</ref>


== Motorsports career results ==
⚫
===Indy cars===
Nalon started ten Indianapolis {{convert|500|mi|km|adj=on}} races, finishing only 3. He started from the pole twice, and was twice the fastest qualifier. In 1947, he competed in a [[Mercedes-Benz W154]].


====[[1949 Indianapolis 500]] Crash====
=== Indianapolis 500 results ===
⚫
In 1949, he was involved in a massive, fiery crash in Turn 3. He backed into the wall and the car burst into flames. He survived only because he held his breath (to prevent asphyxiation), and he jumped out of the car while it was still moving. He had severe burns to his legs which gave him trouble until his death in 2001.


==Indianapolis 500 results==
{{col-begin|width=auto}}
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{{col-break}}
{{col-break}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
|-
!Year
⚫
!Year<ref name=race>[http://www.indy500.com/stats/drivers.php?drivername=Duke%20Nalon Duke Nalon Indy 500 Race Stats] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060508000936/http://www.indy500.com/stats/drivers.php?drivername=Duke%20Nalon |date=May 8, 2006 }}</ref>
!Car
!Car
!Start
!Start
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|Spun T3
|Spun T3
|-
|-
⚫
|colspan=6|'''Totals'''<ref name=race>[http://www.indy500.com/stats/drivers.php?drivername=Duke%20Nalon Duke Nalon Indy 500 Race Stats] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060508000936/http://www.indy500.com/stats/drivers.php?drivername=Duke%20Nalon |date=May 8, 2006 }}</ref>
|colspan=6|'''Totals'''
|1284
|1284
|32
|32
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{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}


==Complete Formula One World Championship results==
=== FIA World Drivers' Championship results ===

([[:Template:F1 driver results legend 2|key]]) (Races in '''bold''' indicate pole position)
([[:Template:F1 driver results legend 2|key]]) (Races in '''bold''' indicate pole position)
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
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|}


⚫
== References ==
⚫
==World Championship career summary==
The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Duke Nalon participated in 3 World Championship races. He started on the pole once but scored no World Championship points.


{{Reflist}}
⚫
==Awards==
⚫
*He was inducted in the [[National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame]] in 1987.
⚫
*He was named to the [[National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum|National Sprint Car Hall of Fame]] in 1991.
⚫
*In 2015, he was inducted in the [[Motorsports Hall of Fame of America]].<ref name=MSHoF>[http://www.mshf.com/hall-of-fame/inductees/duke-nalon.html Duke Nalon] at the [[Motorsports Hall of Fame of America]]</ref>

⚫
==References==
{{reflist}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Nalon, Duke}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nalon, Duke}}
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[[Category:Racing drivers from Chicago]]
[[Category:Racing drivers from Chicago]]
[[Category:AAA Championship Car drivers]]
[[Category:AAA Championship Car drivers]]


{{US-autoracing-bio-stub}}

Latest revision as of 02:58, 31 March 2024

Duke Nalon
Nalon, circa 1946
BornDennis Clayton Nalon
(1913-03-02)March 2, 1913
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedFebruary 26, 2001(2001-02-26) (aged 87)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Championship titles
AAA Eastern Big Car (1938)
AAA Midwest Big Car (1941)
Champ Car career
34+ races run over 16 years
Best finish5th (1948)
First race1937 Syracuse 100 (Syracuse)
Last race1953 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Wins Podiums Poles
0 6 3
Formula One World Championship career
Active years1950–1954
TeamsKurtis Kraft
Entries5 (3 starts)
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions1
Fastest laps0
First entry1950 Indianapolis 500
Last entry1954 Indianapolis 500

Dennis Clayton "Duke" Nalon (March 2, 1913 – February 26, 2001) was an American racing driver.[1][2] He competed in midget car, sprint car, and Indy car races. Nicknamed "The Iron Duke," Nalon was part of the "Chicago Gang" along with Tony Bettenhausen and others. These racers toured tracks in the Midwest and East Coast of the United States.[3]

Racing career

[edit]

Nalon began as a pit crew member for Wally Zale. Nalon occasionally warmed up the car. When Walter Galven needed a driver, Zale convinced Galven to allow Nalon to race. Nalon won the feature event.[3]

Midget cars

[edit]

Nalon won races on the United States' East Coast in the 1930s. Nalon competed in midget cars throughout his career. He ran his final career race at the only 100-mile (160 km) midget race ever run at Terre Haute. He raced Johnny Pawl’s famous midget to victory. He ended his career the way he started it: with a win.[3]

Sprint cars

[edit]

Nalon won the 1938 East Coast AAA Sprint car championship;[4] he won the Midwestern championship in 1941.[5][3]

Indy cars

[edit]

Nalon started ten Indianapolis 500-mile (800 km) races, finishing only three. He started from the pole twice, and was twice the fastest qualifier. In 1947, he competed in a Mercedes-Benz W154. He also competed in numerous other events on what was them termed the Championship car circuit. In 1949, Nalon was involved in a massive, fiery crash in Turn 3 of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He backed into the wall and the car burst into flames. He survived only because he held his breath (to prevent asphyxiation), and he jumped out of the car while it was still moving. He had severe burns to his legs which gave him trouble until his death in 2001.

World Drivers' Championship career

[edit]

The AAA/USAC-sanctioned Indianapolis 500 was included in the FIA World Drivers' Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indianapolis during those years were credited with World Drivers' Championship participation, and were eligible to score WDC points alongside those which they may have scored towards the AAA/USAC National Championship.

Nalon participated in three World Drivers' Championship races at Indianapolis. His best finish was tenth place, and he qualified on the pole once.[1] He scored no World Drivers' Championship points.

Awards and honors

[edit]

Motorsports career results

[edit]

Indianapolis 500 results

[edit]

FIA World Drivers' Championship results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 WDC Points
1950 Novi Mobil Kurtis Kraft Novi L8 GBR MON 500
DNQ 		SUI BEL FRA ITA NC 0
1951 Novi Purelube Kurtis Kraft Novi L8 SUI 500
10 		BEL FRA GBR GER ITA ESP NC 0
1952 Novi Pure Oil Kurtis Kraft Novi L8 SUI 500
25 		BEL FRA GBR GER NED ITA NC 0
1953 Novi Governor Kurtis Kraft Novi L8 ARG 500
11 		NED BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA NC 0
1954 Novi Pure Oil Kurtis Kraft Novi L8 ARG 500
DNQ 		BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA ESP NC 0

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Duke Nalon". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  2. ^ Brown, Allen. "Duke Nalon". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  3. ^ a b c d Biography at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "AutoRacingRecords.com". www.autoracingrecords.com. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  5. ^ "AutoRacingRecords.com". www.autoracingrecords.com. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  6. ^ Duke Nalon at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
  7. ^ Duke Nalon Indy 500 Race Stats Archived May 8, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
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