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NorthernLight IRL: Buddy Lazier becomes series' first $5 Million man

2 September 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

INDIANAPOLIS- Buddy Lazier did more than close in on his first Indy Racing Northern Light Series championship with his victory in The Belterra Resort Indy 300 on Aug. 27 at Kentucky Speedway. He also became the series first $5 Million Man.

Laziers winnings of $126,300 pushed his Indy Racing League career total to $5,020,804. Lazier has competed in 41 of the 42 races since the series started in 1996. Hes earned an average of $122,458 per start during his Indy Racing career.

Winning the Northern Light Cup and its $1 million bonus would quickly make 1996 Indianapolis 500 winner Lazier the series first $6 Million Man. He leads second-place Scott Goodyear, 258-220, in the series point standings and must finish 13th or better at the season-ending Excite 500 on Oct. 15 at Texas Motor Speedway to clinch the title.

1999 Indianapolis 500 winner and 1998 series champion Kenny Brack is second in all-time Indy Racing League earnings, with $4,494,440. 1998 Indianapolis 500 winner Eddie Cheever Jr. is third on the all-time list with $4,419,303.

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Road to Indy: The next segment of the popular ESPN2 show, Road to Indy, will be broadcast at 1:30 p.m. (EDT) Sept. 3.

Included in the show will be recaps of the Midas 500 Classic on July 15 at Atlanta Motor Speedway and The Belterra Indy 300 on Aug. 27 at Kentucky Speedway, a feature with 1996 Indy Racing co-champion Buzz Calkins, a Pit Pass look at Kelley Racing and driver Scott Sharp, and much more.

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Friends of the Fox: Friends of the Fox, a head-injury support group formed by eight-time Indianapolis 500 starter Stan Fox, will conduct a special fundraiser Sept. 3 at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wis.

A lucky fan will win a ride around the dirt oval in a unique, three-seat sprint car with a driver and Fox. Tickets for the drawing cost $1, with all proceeds going to Friends of the Fox.

Contributions to Friends of the Fox are welcome at this address:

Friends of the Fox
Box 919
Janesville, WI 53545

Fox formed the group after suffering head injuries in a first-lap crash during the 1995 Indianapolis 500.

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Hot laps: Indy Racing League President and CEO Tony George was voted Most Improved Rider at the Colorado 500 Charity Ride in late August. Approximately 300 riders participated in the motorcycle ride, which benefited charity, across the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. Other celebrity riders included NASCAR Winston Cup drivers Ken Schrader and Wally Dallenbach As part of the promotion for the season-ending Excite 500 on Oct. 15, a Pennzoil show car and the Indy Racing display trailer will appear Sept. 1-3 at Texas Motor Speedway during the American Le Mans Series and BF Goodrich Trans-Am Series events at the track. An Excite@Home show car also is rotating among various locations on display throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. 1998 Indianapolis 500 winner Eddie Cheever Jr. drives the Excite@Home Indy Race Car in the Indy Racing Northern Light Series.

Text provided by Paul Kelly

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.