Professional Race Car Driver. "Duke" Nalon was a 16-time veteran of the Indianapolis 500 Classic. He won the pole position as the fastest qualifier in 1949 and 1951. His best finish was 3rd in 1948. He also had a Top Ten finish at 10th in 1951 with a four-lap record speed of 136.498 miles per hour. His last race was in 1953. Nalon was a personable driver who was a popular ambassador for automobile racing. He miraculously survived a fiery crash that resulted from a broken rear axle while he was leading early in the 1949 Classic. From this crash, he received 3rd degree burns on his legs, which gave him chronic problems. He started as a "pit man" in racing. Driving midget cars, Nalon won races on the United States' East Coast in the 1930s. He won the 1938 East Coast AAA Sprint car championship, the Midwest Champion in 1941, and winning 28 sprint car races from 1937 through 1941. His awards include being inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1987, being named to the National Spirit Car Hall of Fame in 1991, and being inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2015. After retiring from competition, he served for several years as Assistant Highway Commissioner for the State of Arizona.
Professional Race Car Driver. "Duke" Nalon was a 16-time veteran of the Indianapolis 500 Classic. He won the pole position as the fastest qualifier in 1949 and 1951. His best finish was 3rd in 1948. He also had a Top Ten finish at 10th in 1951 with a four-lap record speed of 136.498 miles per hour. His last race was in 1953. Nalon was a personable driver who was a popular ambassador for automobile racing. He miraculously survived a fiery crash that resulted from a broken rear axle while he was leading early in the 1949 Classic. From this crash, he received 3rd degree burns on his legs, which gave him chronic problems. He started as a "pit man" in racing. Driving midget cars, Nalon won races on the United States' East Coast in the 1930s. He won the 1938 East Coast AAA Sprint car championship, the Midwest Champion in 1941, and winning 28 sprint car races from 1937 through 1941. His awards include being inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1987, being named to the National Spirit Car Hall of Fame in 1991, and being inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2015. After retiring from competition, he served for several years as Assistant Highway Commissioner for the State of Arizona.
Bio by: Warrick L. Barrett
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