# Kurt Kossmann

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**Kurt Kossmann** (born Kurt Arthur Kossmann on April 28, 1966) is an American professional [race car](/source/Race_car) driver who is known for being the first [amputee](/source/Amputee) to compete in the [24 Hours of Daytona](/source/24_Hours_of_Daytona). Kossmann is a [cancer](/source/Cancer) survivor who lost his left leg, [above the knee](/source/Above_knee_amputation), to an [osteosarcoma](/source/Osteosarcoma) in 1988. Kossmann underwent thirteen months of [chemotherapy](/source/Chemotherapy) before making a full recovery. During his recovery, Kossmann designed a [prosthetic](/source/Prosthetic) leg specifically for operating the clutch system in a race car. This device allowed him to continue his racing career in the [Barber Pro Series](/source/Barber_Pro_Series), [Grand American Road Racing Championship](/source/Grand_American_Road_Racing_Championship), and eventually enter the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2009.

Kossmann has worked with various charities and organizations to raise awareness and donations for childhood cancer. Since overcoming his illness, Kurt has teamed with [Paul Newman](/source/Paul_Newman)'s [Hole in the Wall Gang Camp](/source/Hole_in_the_Wall_Gang_Camp) and [One Lap of America](/source/One_Lap_of_America) for fundraising events.

Kossmann was also the only amputee racer to ever compete in the BMW BoxerCup motorcycle series. He raced the American inauguration event at the [Daytona International Speedway](/source/Daytona_International_Speedway) in 2003 during the annual [Daytona Bike Week](/source/Daytona_Bike_Week).

## References

- [Grand Am Racing](http://www.grand-am.com/news/index.cfm?series=r&cid=20337)
- Daytona News January 26, 2008 page 02D Buddy Shacklette
- [NASCAR Racing](http://www.racingmen.com/2011/04/03/kurt-kossmann-racing-daytona-rolex24-promo/)
- [SpeedTV interview January 2009](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3iqAhYwTHw)
- [Homestead Miami Speedway](http://www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com/Articles/2007/04/Cancer-Survivor-And-Amputee-Kurt-Kossmann-Is-Ready-For-His-1St-KONI-Challenge-At-Homestead-Miami-Spe.aspx)

## External links

- [http://www.kossmannracing.com](http://www.kossmannracing.com)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kurt Kossmann](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Kossmann) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Kossmann?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.