PHOTOS FOR CHICAGO WHISPERS COLUMN - 1/17/11

On his way to the Late Model championship at Raceway Park, Bob Pronger (second
from the right) is joined by (left to right) announcer Wayne Adams, car owner
Bob Roeber, starter Tom Plouzek and assistant starter Smokey Smith (kneeling)
after Pronger won both Fourth of July 50-lap feature races.
(Bud Norman Photo/Stan Kalwasinski Collection)

With checkered flag in hand, Bryant Tucker begins his victory lap after scoring
a feature win at Chicago's Soldier Field in 1961.  For the second straight year,
Tucker was the Late Model stock car champion at the lakefront arena.
(Wayne Bryant Photo/Ted Knorr Collection)

In the pits at Soldier Field - Bryant Tucker works inside the trunk area of his
'57 Buick before a night of races at Soldier Field in 1961.
(Wayne Bryant Photo/Ted Knorr Collection)

In 1961, Dick Nelson took home top honors in season-long Late Model stock car
action at Santa Fe Speedway near Willow Springs.  Nelson won eight feature races
on his way to his second straight driving crown at the "track of clay."
(Vince Mayer Photo/Stan Kalwasinski Collection)

Longtime area favorite Tony Bettenhausen was killed in a practice crash at the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 12.
(Stan Kalwasinski Photo Collection)

A high-speed wreck ended the night for both Bob Pronger (car on left) and Ray
Young at Raceway Park in 1961.  Both drivers were among the front runners at
Raceway that season with Pronger going on to win the overall Late Model stock
car championship.
(Bud Norman Photo/Stan Kalwasinski Collection)

Bob Pronger carries the checkered flag after a victory at Raceway Park during
the 1961 season.  Pronger would capture his first career Late Model track
championship that year.
(Bud Norman Photo/Stan Kalwasinski Collection)

A long season of open-wheel midget auto racing saw Jigger Sirois capture the
United Auto Racing Association (UARA) midget driving championship in 1961. 
Sirois is shown here behind the wheel of the Larry White-owned midget after a
UARA victory on the dirt at the Joliet Memorial Stadium.
(Vince Mayer Photo/Stan Kalwasinski)