Stanley Cole Fuchs[1] (July 7, 1952 – December 18, 2000), known professionally as Stan Fox (Fuchs being the German word for "fox"[2]), was an American open wheel race car driver. Fox was one of the last links between the midget car racing world and the Indianapolis 500.[3]

Stan Fox
NationalityUnited States American
BornStanley Cole Fuchs
(1952-07-07)July 7, 1952
Janesville, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedDecember 18, 2000(2000-12-18) (aged 48)
Waiouru, Ruapehu, New Zealand
Champ Car career
13 races run over 10 years
Years active1984, 1987–1995
Best finish24th – 1991
First race1984 Dana Rex Mays Classic (Milwaukee)
Last race1995 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Wins Podiums Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Cup Series career
2 races run over 1 year
Best finish68th (1992)
First race1992 DieHard 500 (Talladega)
Last race1992 Champion Spark Plug 400 (Michigan)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0

Midget car career

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Fox began his career as a midget car racer. He won the 1979 Badger Midget championship, and the 1979 and 1980 Belleville Midget Nationals. He placed in the top twelve in points in nine seasons, even after he raced sporadically after moving to United States Auto Club (USAC) open wheel events. He had 19 USAC career wins.[3] He won the Turkey Night Grand Prix in 1990 at the last event at Ascot Park. He won the 1991 Turkey Night Grand Prix, two Copper Classics, three Rex Easton Memorials at Springfield, Illinois, two Rodger Mauro Classics, and the midget car portion of the 4-Crown National at Eldora Speedway.

IndyCar career

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Fox competed in the Indianapolis 500 eight times between 1987 and 1995 driving for A. J. Foyt and Ron Hemelgarn. He was also a motorcycle racing enthusiast.

Near-fatal crash at Indianapolis

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While driving for Ron Hemelgarn, Fox was seriously injured during the 1995 Indianapolis 500 in an accident. After starting ninth, Fox went low into the first turn on the first lap of the race and spun. His car connected with the car of Eddie Cheever, Jr. and slammed into the outside wall. Several other cars also became involved. The front nose-cone was ripped from his car, exposing his legs. Fox suffered serious head injuries which put him in a coma for five days, and had surgery to have a blood clot removed from his brain. After a month, Fox had been moved from the Methodist Hospital critical care unit to a private room, and was showing signs of improvement.[4]

The accident ended Fox's racing career but he stayed involved with the sport. He started the non-profit organization Friends of the Fox which supports people with head injuries and brings a person to the track each May to meet drivers and get VIP treatment.

Death

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Fox was killed in a head-on collision on December 18, 2000, on the Desert Road some 200 miles (320 km) south of Auckland, New Zealand. Fox was driving through the night to attend a speedway meeting and collided head on with a northbound truck and trailer Unit.[5]

Career award

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Racing record

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American open–wheel racing results

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(key)

CART

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Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points Ref
1984 Pabst Racing LBH PHX INDY
DNQ
MIL
24
POR
21
MEA
DNQ
CLE MIS
28
ROA
DNQ
POC
32
MDO
DNQ
SAN
19
MIS2
DNQ
PHX2
DNQ
LS
DNQ
CEA NC 0 [6]
1987 A. J. Foyt Enterprises LBH PHX INDY
7
MIL POR MEA CLE TOR MIS POC ROA MDO NAZ LS MIA 32nd 6 [7]
1988 A. J. Foyt Enterprises PHX LBH INDY
30
MIL POR CLE TOR MEA MIS POC MDO ROA NAZ LS MIA 48th 0 [8]
1989 A. J. Foyt Enterprises PHX LBH INDY
DNQ
MIL DET POR CLE MEA TOR MIS POC MDO ROA NAZ LS NC - [9]
1990 Kent Baker Racing PHX
LBH
INDY
33
MIL
DET
POR
CLE
MEA
TOR
MIS
DEN
VAN
MDO
ROA
NAZ
LS
46th 0 [10]
1991 Hemelgarn Racing SRF
LBH
PHX
INDY
8
MIL
DET
POR
CLE
MEA
TOR
MIS
DEN
VAN
MDO
ROA
NAZ
LS
24th 5 [11]
1992 Hemelgarn Racing SRF
PHX
LBH
INDY
27
DET
POR
MIL
NHM
TOR
MIS
CLE
ROA
VAN
MDO
NAZ
LS
59th 0 [12]
1993 Hemelgarn Racing SRF PHX
LBH
INDY
31
MIL
DET
POR
CLE
TOR
MIS
NHM
ROA
VAN
MDO
NAZ
LS
54th 0 [13]
1994 Hemelgarn Racing SRF
PHX
LBH
INDY
13
MIL
DET
POR
CLE
TOR
MIS
MDO
NHM
VAN
ROA
NAZ
LS
37th 0 [14]
1995 Hemelgarn Racing MIA
SRF
PHX
LBH
NAZ
INDY
30
MIL
DET
POR
ROA
TOR
CLE
MIS
MDO
NHM
VAN
LS
46th 0 [15]

Indianapolis 500

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Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team
1984 March 83C Ford Cosworth DFX Practice Crash Pabst Racing
1987 March 86C Ford Cosworth DFX 26 7 A. J. Foyt Enterprises
1988 March 86C Chevrolet V6 29 30 A. J. Foyt Enterprises
1989 March 86C Chevrolet V6 DNQ A. J. Foyt Enterprises
1990 Lola T87/00 Buick 27 33 Kent Baker Racing
1991 Lola T91/00 Buick 17 8 Hemelgarn Racing
1992 Lola T91/00 Buick 13 27 Hemelgarn Racing
1993 Lola T91/00 Buick 20 31 Hemelgarn Racing
1994 Reynard 94I Ford XB 13 13 Hemelgarn Racing
1995 Reynard 95I Ford XB 11 30 Hemelgarn Racing

NASCAR

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(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series

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NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 NWCC Pts Ref
1992 Folsom Racing 13 Chevy DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL
36
GLN MCH
37
BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 68th 107 [16]
1993 31 DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY
DNQ
NHA POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR NA - [17]
13 PHO
DNQ
ATL
1994 Roulo Brothers Racing 09 Chevy DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL IND
DNQ
GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL NA - [18]

SuperTruck Series

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NASCAR SuperTruck Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 NCTC Pts Ref
1995 Decuir Racing 10 Chevy PHO TUS
30
SGS MMR
18
POR EVG I70 LVL BRI MLW CNS HPT IRP FLM RCH MAR NWS SON MMR PHO 67th 182 [19]

References

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  1. ^ "Stan Fox". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  2. ^ https://www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=fuchs [user-generated source]
  3. ^ a b c Biography at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame
  4. ^ AP. "Racer Stan Fox Shows Signs of Improvement". The Indianapolis News. Retrieved 2018-06-15 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Archives - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. 20 December 2000.
  6. ^ "Stan Fox – 1984 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  7. ^ "Stan Fox – 1987 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  8. ^ "Stan Fox – 1988 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  9. ^ "Stan Fox – 1989 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  10. ^ "Stan Fox – 1990 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  11. ^ "Stan Fox – 1991 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  12. ^ "Stan Fox – 1992 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  13. ^ "Stan Fox – 1993 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  14. ^ "Stan Fox – 1994 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  15. ^ "Stan Fox – 1995 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  16. ^ "Stan Fox – 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  17. ^ "Stan Fox – 1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  18. ^ "Stan Fox – 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  19. ^ "Stan Fox – 1995 NASCAR SuperTruck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
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  • Stan Fox driver statistics at Racing-Reference
  • [1] 1995 Indy 500 Crash Photos
  • [2] 1995 Indy 500 Crash Photos
  • [3] 1995 Indy 500 Crash Photos
  • [4] Picture of Stan Fox