A special ceremony Sunday afternoon at revived Whiteland Raceway Park honored the karting track among the oldest in America. Current owners, Beech Grove native Andy O'Gara and wife Sarah Fisher O'Gara, unveiled the double-sided historical plaque that honors the facility's history and impact motorsports. The plaque is the 48th to be placed in the state by the Indiana Memorial Racing Association (IRMA). Dignitaries at the unveiling included Indiana Rep. Michelle Davs of Whiteland and Sen. Randall Frye, chair of the Statehouse's motorsports caucus. The karting track opened in 1960 and has been the learning grounds for many nationally famous race car drivers. The O'Gara's saved the facility from extinction in 2019 by buying it. Since then, they have improved and expanded the track with garages, office building, karting products and modern scoring tower with plans for the adjacent 25 acres north of WRP for RVs and camping. The track is open most weekday afternoons and evenings for tests and practice. WRP is at 654 N. Front St., Whiteland.
Info: racewrp.com.
Info: racewrp.com.
(SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTO BY AL STILLEY)
Whiteland Raceway Park co-owners Sarah Fisher and Andy O’Gara pull drape to unveil historical marker Sunday afternoon. The plaque was commissioned by the Indiana Racing Memorial Association.
Whiteland Raceway Park co-owners Sarah Fisher and Andy O’Gara pull drape to unveil historical marker Sunday afternoon. The plaque was commissioned by the Indiana Racing Memorial Association.
(PHOTO BY BRIAN E. WILCOX)
Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr., second from left, joins several notables Sunday at Whiteland Raceway Park, including, from left, Indiana Racing Memorial Association representatives Rick Dennison, Mark Eutsler, historical motorsports author Bob Gates of Greenwood, track co-owners/wife and husband Sarah Fisher and Andy O’Gara, and Indiana House Rep. Michelle Davis of Whiteland.
Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr., second from left, joins several notables Sunday at Whiteland Raceway Park, including, from left, Indiana Racing Memorial Association representatives Rick Dennison, Mark Eutsler, historical motorsports author Bob Gates of Greenwood, track co-owners/wife and husband Sarah Fisher and Andy O’Gara, and Indiana House Rep. Michelle Davis of Whiteland.
(SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTO BY AL STILLEY)
Front side of historic plaque shows date that Whiteland Raceway Park opened 62 years ago.
Front side of historic plaque shows date that Whiteland Raceway Park opened 62 years ago.
(SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Back side of plaque lists some of the famous race car drivers who raced karts when they were youngsters at WRP.
Back side of plaque lists some of the famous race car drivers who raced karts when they were youngsters at WRP.