Duane "Pancho" Carter | |||||||
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Carter at the 2011 Indianapolis 500 | |||||||
Born | Duane Claude Carter Jr. June 11, 1950 Racine, Wisconsin, U.S. | ||||||
Championship titles | |||||||
USAC Midget (1972) USAC Sprint Car (1974, 1976) USAC Silver Crown (1978) Major victories Michigan 500 (1981) | |||||||
Champ Car career | |||||||
165 races run over 20 years | |||||||
Best finish | 3rd (1981) | ||||||
First race | 1974 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis) | ||||||
Last race | 1992 Michigan 500 (Michigan) | ||||||
First win | 1981 Michigan 500 (Michigan) | ||||||
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NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
14 races run over 6 years | |||||||
Best finish | 38th (1986) | ||||||
First race | 1985 Southern 500 (Darlington) | ||||||
Last race | 1995 UAW-GM Teamwork 500 (Pocono) | ||||||
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Duane Claude Carter Jr.[1] (born June 11, 1950), nicknamed "Pancho," is an American retired open-wheel racing driver. Best known for his participation in Championship car racing, he won the pole position for the 1985 Indianapolis 500, and won the Michigan 500 in 1981.
Racing career
[edit]Midget cars
[edit]Carter's national career began while racing in a midget car. He won the 1972 USAC midget car championship. He won the 1972 and 1975 Hut Hundred. He had 23 midget car feature wins by the time he left the series in 1978.[2]
Sprint cars
[edit]Carter won the 1974 and 1976 national USAC sprint car championships. He was the first driver to win the two USAC championships – midgets and sprint cars. He has wins in three USAC divisions – midgets, sprints and Silver Crown (formerly known as dirt cars).
On May 30, 1977, Carter won two USAC Midget features, one USAC sprint feature and finished second in the second USAC sprint feature at Salem Speedway on a day the temperatures were near 100 degrees. This was one day after he finished 15th in the Indianapolis 500.[2]
Carter ran well on dirt and pavement, but was exceptional on the paved high banks at Winchester and Salem, Indianapolis, and Dayton, Ohio. He won the Joe James/Pat O'Conner Memorial race at the half-mile at Salem, Indiana, on four consecutive occasions.
Carter was seriously injured during a testing crash at Phoenix International Speedway in November 1977. The injuries left him with a permanent disability in one of his legs that hampered his ability to perform well on road courses. He still ran very well on ovals. He made his return to racing at the end of March in 1978, winning a USAC Sprint race at the paved five-eighths mile Indianapolis Raceway Park on Saturday night and at the high-banked half-mile Winchester Speedway the next day – his first races back in the cockpit of a racecar.
Carter was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1990,[2] and the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1991.
Indianapolis cars
[edit]![](Https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/1987_Indianapolis_500_%2850043381707%29.jpg/220px-1987_Indianapolis_500_%2850043381707%29.jpg)
Carter drove his first Indianapolis 500 in 1974. He finished seventh, and was awarded the Rookie of the Year. In 1981 he finished third in the CART championship and captured his only Indy Car win at Michigan International Speedway. He finished third in the 1982 Indianapolis 500 behind the now-famous duel between Gordon Johncock and Rick Mears. In 1985, Carter drove the brand new Buick V6 engine to the pole position of the 1985 Indianapolis 500. He retired with mechanical problems after completing just six laps, becoming the first pole-sitter since Cliff Woodbury to finish dead-last. His last year as a full-time Indy Car driver was 1990 and his last appearance in an indy car was failing to qualify for the 1994 Indianapolis 500. In more recent years, Carter has served as a spotter for Sam Hornish Jr., Vítor Meira, Dillon Battistini, Dan Wheldon, Martin Plowman and Adrián Campos Jr. In 2019, he was the spotter for rookie Santino Ferrucci, who finished seventh, as the Rookie of the Year, at the Indianapolis 500. This was the same as Carter in his 500 debut.
NASCAR
[edit]![](Https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Pancho_Carter_Hamby_Racing_Chevrolet_Pocono_June_1986.jpg/220px-Pancho_Carter_Hamby_Racing_Chevrolet_Pocono_June_1986.jpg)
From 1985–1995 Carter ran 14 NASCAR Winston Cup Series races for multiple owners. His first start was at Darlington Raceway in 1985, which was the Southern 500. The race was best known for Bill Elliott locking up the Winston Million, Carter finished in 22nd. Carter began the 1986 season driving for Elmo Langley; at the 1986 Daytona 500, he and Kyle Petty were involved in a turn one accident, thus winding up in 34th place. After three races with Langley's team, he moved to driving for Roger Hamby,[3] competing in six more races that year; he posted his best career NASCAR finish with Hamby, a seventeenth-place finish at the Michigan International Speedway. In 1990, he competed at Atlanta Motor Speedway, driving for Paul Romine;[4] he drove for Donlavey Racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1992,[5] and his final two races in Winston Cup competition came for Triad Motorsports at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1994, where he tied his career-best finish, and Pocono Raceway in 1995.[6]
In 1995, Pancho also raced two Craftsman Truck Series races,[7] driving for Enerjetix Motorsports.[8]
Post-racing career
[edit]Carter currently acts as a spotter for Dale Coyne Racing.[9]
Personal life
[edit]He is the son of Indycar racer Duane Carter. He was born while his parents were on the way to a race at the Milwaukee Mile.[9] His father's nickname was "Pappy". Pappy referred to his wife's pregnancy as "little paunch," so they nicknamed the child Pancho.[2] Carter is the half-brother of Johnny Parsons. His full brother, Dana Carter, also raced in USAC midgets, sprints and Silver Crown. He died of a heart attack in the early 1980s.[10]
Carter is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach.[3] He is married, to Carla; they have two children, and their son Cole is an aspiring racer.[9]
Motorsports career results
[edit]American open-wheel racing
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
USAC Champ Car/Gold Crown Series
[edit]USAC Champ Car/Gold Crown results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Rank | Points | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1974 | Fletcher Racing | ONT | ONT | ONT | PHX | TRE | INDY 7 |
MIL | POC 15 |
MCH 9 |
MIL 12 |
MCH 2 |
TRE 9 |
TRE 6 |
PHX 9 |
12th | 1040 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1975 | Fletcher Racing | ONT 2 |
ONT | ONT 19 |
PHX 8 |
TRE | INDY 4 |
MIL 6 |
POC 24 |
MCH 4 |
MIL 14 |
MCH 8 |
TRE DNS |
PHX 8 |
9th | 1345 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1976 | All American Racers | PHX 2 |
TRE 7 |
INDY 5 |
MIL 18 |
POC 14 |
MCH | TWS | TRE | MIL | ONT 29 |
MCH DNS |
TWS 10 |
PHX | 12th | 920 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1977 | All American Racers | ONT 3 |
PHX 20 |
TWS 11 |
TRE 9 |
INDY 15 |
MIL 5 |
POC 20 |
MOS | MCH 10 |
TWS 3 |
MIL 2 |
ONT 14 |
MCH | 8th | 1420 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alex Morales Motorsports | PHX 3 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1978 | Fletcher Racing | PHX | ONT | TWS | TRE | INDY 24 |
MOS 15 |
MIL 21 |
POC 10 |
MCH DNS |
ATL 11 |
TWS 11 |
MIL | ONT 2 |
MCH 18 |
TRE 7 |
SIL | BRH | PHX 9 |
10th | 1206 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1979 | Alex Morales Motorsports | ONT | TWS | INDY 20 |
MIL | POC | TWS | MIL | NC | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1980 | Alex Morales Motorsports | ONT 18 |
INDY 6 |
MIL 4 |
POC 6 |
MDO 7 |
5th | 1078 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1981-82 | Alex Morales Motorsports | INDY 28 |
POC | ILL | DUQ | ISF | INDY 3 |
NC | 0 |
PPG Indycar Series
[edit]Indianapolis 500
[edit]Year | Chassis | Engine | Start | Finish |
---|---|---|---|---|
1974 | Eagle | Offy | 21st | 7th |
1975 | Eagle | Offy | 18th | 4th |
1976 | Eagle | Offy | 6th | 5th |
1977 | Eagle | Offy | 8th | 15th |
1978 | Lighning | Cosworth | 21st | 24th |
1979 | Lighning | Cosworth | 17th | 20th |
1980 | Penske | Cosworth | 8th | 6th |
1981 | Penske | Cosworth | 10th | 28th |
1982 | March | Cosworth | 10th | 3rd |
1983 | March | Cosworth | 14th | 7th |
1984 | March | Cosworth | 21st | 19th |
1985 | March | Buick | 1st | 33rd |
1986 | Lola | Cosworth | 14th | 16th |
1987 | March | Cosworth | 29th | 27th |
1988 | March | Buick | Qualifying Crash | |
1989 | Lola | Cosworth | 32nd | 22nd |
1990 | Lola | Cosworth | 22nd | 29th |
1991 | Lola | Buick | 32nd | 21st |
1992 | Lola | Buick | Failed to Qualify | |
1994 | Lola | Chevrolet | Failed to Qualify |
NASCAR
[edit](key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Winston Cup Series
[edit]SuperTruck Series
[edit]NASCAR SuperTruck Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | NSTSC | Pts | Ref | ||||||||||||||||||
1995 | Enerjetix Motorsports | 99 | Chevy | PHO | TUS | SGS DNQ |
MMR 28 |
POR 16 |
EVG | I70 | LVL | BRI | MLW | CNS | HPT | IRP | FLM | RCH | MAR | NWS | SON | MMR | PHO | 49th | 349 | [32] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Pancho Carter". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
- ^ a b c d His biography Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame
- ^ a b "Pancho Carter Joins NASCAR Stock Car Circuit". Boca Raton News. May 25, 1986. p. 11. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
- ^ "Carter rejoins NASCAR circuit". The Telegraph-Herald. Dubuque, IA. October 4, 1990. p. 3B. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
- ^ "Driver By Driver". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, NC. October 12, 1993. p. 7B. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
- ^ "Pancho Carter - NASCAR Sprint Cup Results". Racing-Reference. USA Today Sports Media Group. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
- ^ NASCAR biography, racing-reference.info
- ^ "Carter will drive local NASCAR truck". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, WA. March 9, 1995. p. C3. Retrieved 2013-08-25.
- ^ a b c Shaffer, Jan (May 24, 2013). "Where Are They Now? Pancho Carter". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Archived from the original on September 16, 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
- ^ Biography of Johnny Parsons, National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame, archived from the original on 2007-09-29
- ^ "Pancho Carter – 1979 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ "Pancho Carter – 1980 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ "Pancho Carter – 1981 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ "Pancho Carter – 1982 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ "Pancho Carter – 1983 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ "Pancho Carter – 1984 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ "Pancho Carter – 1985 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ "Pancho Carter – 1986 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ "Pancho Carter – 1987 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ "Pancho Carter – 1988 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ "Pancho Carter – 1989 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ "Pancho Carter – 1990 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ "Pancho Carter – 1991 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ "Pancho Carter – 1992 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ "Pancho Carter – 1994 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ "Pancho Carter – 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
- ^ "Pancho Carter – 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
- ^ "Pancho Carter – 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
- ^ "Pancho Carter – 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
- ^ "Pancho Carter – 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
- ^ "Pancho Carter – 1995 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
- ^ "Pancho Carter – 1995 NASCAR SuperTruck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
External links
[edit]- Pancho Carter driver statistics at Racing-Reference