Chris Gehrke
Encyclopedia
Chris Gehrke was a race driver on the Automobile Racing Club of America
(ARCA) circuit.
. That same year, Chris also ran a couple of ARCA races in rented Bill Venturini Chevrolet
s. In 1989, Gehrke campaigned for Rookie of the Year honors in ARCA, finishing a close 2nd behind Graham Taylor in Rookie points, and finishing 7th in the final driver standings. In 1990, Gehrke improved his performance in ARCA, finishing fourth in the season with five top-five finishes and eleven top-ten finishes. His best finish of the season was second at Toledo Speedway
. Chris also proved that he could run on the bigger tracks, with a pair of fourth place finishes at Atlanta and Pocono
.
, Chris Gehrke spun in the tri-oval, flipped several times before sliding to a halt. Several seconds later, the car of Carl Miskotten, Jr. hit Gehrke's car behind the left rear tire at nearly full speed. Gehrke suffered serious head injuries and died three days later.
Automobile Racing Club of America
Automobile Racing Club of America is an auto racing sanctioning body in the United States, founded in 1953 by John Marcum. The current president of ARCA is Ron Drager. The ARCA RE/MAX Series races stock cars similar to those seen in past years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and indeed most cars...
(ARCA) circuit.
Career
Chris first began racing in open wheeled cars, winning the 1988 Spokane Grand Prix and finishing third in the SCCA Star Mazda SeriesStar Mazda Series
The Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear is an open-wheel racecar driver development series in North America. Competitors use spec Formula Mazda race cars built by Star Race Cars. The original series, using first-generation tube-frame cars started in the early 1990s, with the current,...
. That same year, Chris also ran a couple of ARCA races in rented Bill Venturini Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
s. In 1989, Gehrke campaigned for Rookie of the Year honors in ARCA, finishing a close 2nd behind Graham Taylor in Rookie points, and finishing 7th in the final driver standings. In 1990, Gehrke improved his performance in ARCA, finishing fourth in the season with five top-five finishes and eleven top-ten finishes. His best finish of the season was second at Toledo Speedway
Toledo Speedway
Toledo Speedway is a racetrack located in Toledo, Ohio. It is owned jointly by Roy Mott and ARCA President Ron Drager. It is operated by ARCA and run as the sister track to Flat Rock Speedway in Flat Rock, Michigan.-Weekly program:...
. Chris also proved that he could run on the bigger tracks, with a pair of fourth place finishes at Atlanta and Pocono
Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway also known as the Tricky Triangle, is a superspeedway located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania at Long Pond...
.
Death
On the 67th lap of the 1991 Poulan Pro 500k at TalladegaTalladega
Talladega can have multiple uses:*Talladega, Alabama, a city in northern Alabama, USA*Talladega County, Alabama, which has the city of Talladega as its seat*Talladega National Forest in Alabama...
, Chris Gehrke spun in the tri-oval, flipped several times before sliding to a halt. Several seconds later, the car of Carl Miskotten, Jr. hit Gehrke's car behind the left rear tire at nearly full speed. Gehrke suffered serious head injuries and died three days later.