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Bobby Unser

Chronology



1934 Born on February 20 in Colorado Springs, Colorado
1949 Begins racing stock cars
1950 Wins first championship, Southwest Modified Stock Car Championship
1952 Starts racing midget and sprint cars
1953-55 Serves in the United States Air Force
1954 Marries Barbara Schumaker
1955 Debuts at Pike's Peak Hill Climb and places fifth
1956 Wins first of 13 Pike's Peak Hill Climbs
1959 Brother Jerry Unser, Jr. dies of injuries from crash during Indianapolis 500 practice
1963 Races in first Indianapolis 500 and places thirty-third
1966 Divorces Barbara Schumaker
1967 Marries Norma Davis
1967 Wins first Indy-car race at Mosport, Ontario
1968 Wins first Indianapolis 500 and sets fastest track record
1969 Becomes United States Auto Club National Driving Champion
1970 Divorces Norma Davis
1972 Sets fastest qualifying run at Indianapolis at 195.94 miles per hour
1976 Marries Marsha Sale
1979 Wins six races for the Championship Auto Racing Teams
1980 First driver to win four times at the California 500
1981 Wins controversial third Indianapolis 500
1982 Announces retirement from Indy car racing
1983 Owns and manages car that wins Pike's Peak Hill Climb, driven by Al Unser, Jr.
1987 Becomes television commentator for ABC Sports
1990 Patents new radar detector for cars
1990 Inducted into Auto Racing Hall of Fame
1991 Races in 24 Hours of Daytona with brother Al, nephew Al, Jr., and son Bobby
1993 Sets new land speed record of 223.709 miles per hour in a gas-modified roadster
1994 Inducted into International Motorsports Hall of Fame
1994 Arrested for misdemeanor battery, resisting arrest, and careless driving
1996 Gets lost for two days in Rio Grande National Forest after snowmobile breaks down
1997 Convicted of driving snowmobile in federally protected wildlife area and fined $75
2000 Inducted into Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame
2001 Writes column for Sports Afield magazine

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Famous Sports StarsAuto RacingBobby Unser Biography - Born To Race, Chronology, Became A Racing Champion, Indy Controversy Led To Retirement, More Controversy Off The Tracks - SELECTED WRITINGS BY UNSER: