BOB HOGLE, NATIONAL SPRINT CAR HALL OF FAMER, DIES AT 87
Speedway, Indiana (October 5, 2020)………Bob Hogle, a 2001 National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee who found racing success as a two-time CRA Sprint Car champion and a three-time USAC National feature winner, passed away Friday, October 2 at the age of 87.
A native of Buena Park, Calif. Hogle captured CRA Sprint Car titles in both 1963 and 1968 while piloting the Morales Brothers’ famed Tamale Wagon. Hogle's 63 career victories with the series ranks fifth all-time. His CRA record also includes 21 fast qualifying times and 38 trophy dash triumphs.
Hogle’s notable CRA victories were plentiful at Ascot Park in Gardena, Calif., winning the Firecracker 50 in his championship seasons of 1963 and 1968 as well as the Pacific Coast Nationals in 1968.
In USAC competition, Hogle defended his “home turf” when USAC National competition made its annual visits to Ascot throughout the 1960s. Hogle set quick time and finished 4th for car owner Leroy Kail during a USAC Midget event there in 1963. The following year, in 1964, Hogle was victorious for the first time with USAC in a Midget, taking the checkered in a 30-lapper for owner Jim Gary.
Another USAC Midget victory came Hogle’s way in 1965 at Ascot, this time in a 50-lap main event aboard the potent machine owned by Doug Caruthers, who fielded a feature winning car with the series 93 times (6th all-time).
Hogle’s first and only USAC National Sprint Car feature win arrived in November of 1968 at Ascot, winning for the Morales Brothers in the 30-lap A-Main.
He attempted to qualify for six USAC National Championship events between 1963 and 1969 but was unable to crack the lineup for the starting field. However, Hogle did make three NASCAR Grand National (Cup) starts in 1959-1960 at Ascot Stadium, the California State Fairgrounds and Marchbanks Speedway in Hanford, Calif.
