Idaho Historical Racing Society

2006 IHRS Award Recipient - Dan Crow

We organized the Idaho Historical Racing Society 4 years ago with the goal to establish “Printcraft of Caldwell” as the one main location where our local oval track history could be kept and cared for. We have grown to what you see today by asking race fans and drivers to bring in their scrap books and racing photos. Dan Crow has been on of our strongest supporters.

The “need for speed” came early in Dan Crows racing career. As a young 14 year old 9th grader at North Jr. High, Dan strapped himself into his first stock car. Following in his fathers footsteps Dan started to gain a name for himself. It wasn’t like father Bill went out and bought Dan the best equipment, yes Bill had advice for his son, but Dan was his own fabricator, welder, and engine guy. With the help of Brad Gates, his main pit crew guy, they could make any Chevy run! Competitors soon found out that car #21 was one to be contended with. He gained a reputation as a hard charger. In the early 1970’s when the local super modified class was going through some changes Dan put together his dad’s Tipke roadster and took on the best of the super modified drivers in the Salt Lake City area. When a challenge presented itself in the form of a big race Dan was always there. He took his 1957 Chevy Super Stock and competed against the best traveling all the way to tracks in the Mid West one summer.

In the winter of 1974 Dan got the call that all drivers dream about. Local business man Jack Nagel of Nagel Beverage had purchased a new late model stock car. The chassis was right off of a NASCAR production line. He tabbed Dan as his driver. In the summer of 1975 Dan entered this bright blue “Pepsi Special” in the series known as the “International Drivers Challenge” i.e. the IDC. The IDC was a series of seven races in a 12 day period on 7 different tracks in the Pacific Northwest. This series drew all top drivers from the West coast and some from the East coast. One of the tracks, Skagit Speedway near Seattle was a dirt track and for his first time on dirt Dan was 5th quick qualifier!

At the final main event at the big half mile oval in Portland Oregon, Dan was caught up in a big wreck and suffered near fatal injuries. He was in a coma for 18 days. The local racing community rallied for Dan and on September 1st 1975 Meridian Speedway hosted a benefit race for Dan. Thousands of dollars were raised to help Dan in his hospital and recover costs. A long recover period started for Dan as he emerged from the coma. The Elks Rehab hospital in Boise was Dan next stop. He slowly started to regain his functions. In true Dan Crow form he had one more run as a driver in him. The Pepsi Special was rebuilt and 18 months after his accident Dan returned to Meridian Speedway as a driver!

Our award is called the Humanitarian Achievement Award. Getting back into a race car was quite the “achievement” for Dan. You will see Dan at swap meets around the Treasure Valley and he still attends the local races. It is my pleasure to present Dan Crow with the 2006 IHRS Humanitarian Achievement Award.

Stan Fuller