The Little 500 Hall of Fame announced that John Andretti will be the guest speaker at the 25th annual Little 500 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on May 24 at Anderson (IN) Speedway. The ceremony will take place the afternoon of the 66th Annual Pay Less Little 500.
Andretti is a NASCAR and INDYCAR Series competitor who got his start racing open wheel cars in the Midwest. Andretti is the nephew of 1969 Indianapolis 500 winner Mario Andretti.
Andretti enjoyed tremendous success as a driver during his career. He began his professional racing career racing the United States Auto Club (USAC) Midget Series. He captured several USAC wins and the 1983 USAC Indianapolis Speedrome Midget championship during his brief Midget career.
Andretti, considered one of the most versatile race drivers during the modern era, found success at every level he competed in, including wins in the 1989 at the 24 Hours of Daytona, in the inaugural Australia CART event in 1991, the 1997 Pepsi 400 at Daytona, and the 1999 Goody’s Body Pain 500 in Martinsville.
In 1994, he became the first driver to compete in the Indy 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and 600-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Charlotte (NC) Motor Speedway on the same day.
Andretti’s son, Jarett Andretti, will be competing in his first Little 500 on May 24. On April 27, Jarett finished fourth at the Glen Niebel Classic USSA Sprint Car event at Anderson Speedway in his second pavement sprint car race of his career. The elder Andretti interestingly never competed in the Little 500 during his driving career. He will be witnessing his first Little 500 on May 24.
The Little 500 Hall of Fame will formally induct the “Class of 2014” at the induction ceremonies. Inductees include: Dave Steele, Butch Brooks, and the late Pete Allen and the late Tom Stenger.
The 25th annual Little 500 Hall of Fame Induction ceremony will take place at Anderson Speedway on Saturday afternoon May 24th. Seating is limited at this year’s luncheon, so advance tickets will be the only way to guarantee a seat. Please order your tickets as soon as possible by calling (765) 288-4587.
