Jack Flannery
Encyclopedia
Jack Flannery was an American off-road racing
driver who was active in the 1980s and 1990s. Flannery won six short course off-road championships in Short-course Off-road Drivers Association (SODA) and one in Championship Off-Road Racing (CORR). He had over 150 event wins in his career. He was the first person from the Midwestern United States
to be inducted in the Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame
and his induction was unanimous. In his induction statement, the hall of fame said that Flannery "brought short course off-road racing to the mainstream by being the first Midwest native to organize a professional off-road race team that was capable of competing against, and beating, the best off-road racers in the world."
, the home of Crandon International Off-Road Raceway
. His parents, Melvin and Dorothy, owned Flannery Trucking in Crandon, Wisconsin
; he later ran the trucking and concrete company along with his brother Cliff. He moved to Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
late in his racing career to construct a new home and race facility.
Flannery married Connie Fraley Flannery on July 17, 1971. They had two sons, Jamey and Jed, who both were successful off-road racers in SODA and CORR. Flannery's only grandchild, Jackson, was born in February 2010, about two months before his death.
in 1974 before he moved up into full-size trucks in the late 1970s. He left the Midwest and competed in the selected Western United States
desert events when he raced in the 1978 and 1979 Mint 400
. In the early 1980s, he twice raced in the Canadian Off-Road Series while winning five class titles in SODA. Flannery competed in SCORE International
in the Western United States during that time period.
In 1990, he won the SCORE race at Phoenix, Arizona
. That same year, he won the Class F division in his Ford
and was awarded the Rookie of the Year award at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Flannery changed to a Chevrolet
in 1991 with his "Chevy Thunder" team that he would become most known for. That year he won nine of ten events in SODA's ESPN
TV-Pro series. He also won the Heavy Metal division at Pikes Peak and broke his own record by climbing the hill 22 seconds faster. In 1992 he competed at Pikes Peak, setting the record for the fastest hill climb
in the Unlimited Off-Road Truck class. In 1996 he won the $125,000 Borg-Warner World championship off-road race race at Crandon enroute to his sixth ESPN Pro Series championship. Flannery won the major 1997 events at Crandon, winning the Governor's Cup in Spring and both his class and the Heavy Metal Borg-Warner World Championship races in fall enroute to winning the 1997 SODA Class 4 championship.
Most of the drivers in SODA changed to new short course off-road racing series CORR after the 1997 season. Flannery narrowly won the 1998 CORR Pro-4 (4WD) championship over his son Jamey. Flannery won another Governor's Cup race in 1999.
Former Flannery competitors spoke about him after his death. NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson
described his truck, "...when that truck went by, you knew who it was...[he] had everyone scared and put on one hell of a show". Walker Evans
said "[Flannery] had a lot of natural ability to drive. Jack set some pretty high standards... Jack was probably my most fierce competition that I ever dreamed of at Crandon."
at the fortieth Anniversary of the Crandon Off-Road Raceway during the 2009 Borg-Warner World Championship. His induction into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame was unanimous.
Off-road racing
Off-road racing is a format of racing where various classes of specially modified vehicles compete in races through off-road environments.-North America:...
driver who was active in the 1980s and 1990s. Flannery won six short course off-road championships in Short-course Off-road Drivers Association (SODA) and one in Championship Off-Road Racing (CORR). He had over 150 event wins in his career. He was the first person from the Midwestern United States
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
to be inducted in the Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame
Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame
The Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame is located inside the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada.-History:In 1966, Ed Pearlman cofounded the first exclusively off-road racing organization, called the National Off-Road Racing Association...
and his induction was unanimous. In his induction statement, the hall of fame said that Flannery "brought short course off-road racing to the mainstream by being the first Midwest native to organize a professional off-road race team that was capable of competing against, and beating, the best off-road racers in the world."
Personal life
Flannery grew up in Crandon, WisconsinCrandon, Wisconsin
Crandon is a city in Forest County, Wisconsin, United States; it is in the northeastern part of the state, about north of Green Bay. The population was 1,920 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Forest County and is the only incorporated community in the county...
, the home of Crandon International Off-Road Raceway
Crandon International Off-Road Raceway
The Crandon International Off-Road Raceway is an off-road racing racetrack that has hosts the "World Championship Off-Road Races".-Location:The track is located west of Crandon, Wisconsin on U.S. Route 8.-Track layout:...
. His parents, Melvin and Dorothy, owned Flannery Trucking in Crandon, Wisconsin
Crandon, Wisconsin
Crandon is a city in Forest County, Wisconsin, United States; it is in the northeastern part of the state, about north of Green Bay. The population was 1,920 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Forest County and is the only incorporated community in the county...
; he later ran the trucking and concrete company along with his brother Cliff. He moved to Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Dells is a city in south-central Wisconsin, with a population of 2,418 as of the 2000 census. It straddles four counties: Adams, Columbia, Juneau, and Sauk. The city takes its name from the dells of the Wisconsin River, a scenic, glacially formed gorge that features striking sandstone...
late in his racing career to construct a new home and race facility.
Flannery married Connie Fraley Flannery on July 17, 1971. They had two sons, Jamey and Jed, who both were successful off-road racers in SODA and CORR. Flannery's only grandchild, Jackson, was born in February 2010, about two months before his death.
Racing career
Flannery began racing on a snowmobile before switching to a two wheel drive Class 6 off-road racing utility vehicle in the early 1970s. He started racing a buggyBaja Bug
The term Baja Bug generally refers to an original Volkswagen Beetle modified to operate off-road , although other versions of air-cooled Volkswagens are sometimes modified as well.-History:...
in 1974 before he moved up into full-size trucks in the late 1970s. He left the Midwest and competed in the selected Western United States
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
desert events when he raced in the 1978 and 1979 Mint 400
Mint 400
The Mint 400 is an annual desert off road race that was resumed in 2008 after a 20 year hiatus.The race was for both motorcycles, until 1977, and four-wheel vehicles sponsored by Del Webb's Mint Hotel and Casino. Del Webb, a well known builder and friend of Howard Hughes, was owner of the Mint...
. In the early 1980s, he twice raced in the Canadian Off-Road Series while winning five class titles in SODA. Flannery competed in SCORE International
SCORE International
SCORE International is an off-road sanctioning body in the sport of desert racing and is famous for its flagship event, the Baja 1000 as well as the Baja 500 and San Felipe 250. SCORE races are held in United States and Mexico...
in the Western United States during that time period.
In 1990, he won the SCORE race at Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. That same year, he won the Class F division in his Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
and was awarded the Rookie of the Year award at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Flannery changed to a 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...
in 1991 with his "Chevy Thunder" team that he would become most known for. That year he won nine of ten events in SODA's ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
TV-Pro series. He also won the Heavy Metal division at Pikes Peak and broke his own record by climbing the hill 22 seconds faster. In 1992 he competed at Pikes Peak, setting the record for the fastest hill climb
Hillclimbing
Hillclimbing is a branch of motorsport in which drivers compete against the clock to complete an uphill course....
in the Unlimited Off-Road Truck class. In 1996 he won the $125,000 Borg-Warner World championship off-road race race at Crandon enroute to his sixth ESPN Pro Series championship. Flannery won the major 1997 events at Crandon, winning the Governor's Cup in Spring and both his class and the Heavy Metal Borg-Warner World Championship races in fall enroute to winning the 1997 SODA Class 4 championship.
Most of the drivers in SODA changed to new short course off-road racing series CORR after the 1997 season. Flannery narrowly won the 1998 CORR Pro-4 (4WD) championship over his son Jamey. Flannery won another Governor's Cup race in 1999.
Death
The track announcer at the Crandon's 2008 Borg-Warner World Championship race on Labor Day weekend announced that he has been suffering effects of cancer. He died on April 6, 2010.Former Flannery competitors spoke about him after his death. NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
described his truck, "...when that truck went by, you knew who it was...[he] had everyone scared and put on one hell of a show". Walker Evans
Walker Evans (racer)
Roger Walker Evans is an Off-road Motorsports Hall of Famer . He was also a driver and owner in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Walker Evans is nicknamed "the Legend". Walker is the father of off-road racer Evan Evans...
said "[Flannery] had a lot of natural ability to drive. Jack set some pretty high standards... Jack was probably my most fierce competition that I ever dreamed of at Crandon."
Awards
Flannery accepted his induction in the Off-road Motorsports Hall of FameOff-road Motorsports Hall of Fame
The Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame is located inside the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada.-History:In 1966, Ed Pearlman cofounded the first exclusively off-road racing organization, called the National Off-Road Racing Association...
at the fortieth Anniversary of the Crandon Off-Road Raceway during the 2009 Borg-Warner World Championship. His induction into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame was unanimous.