# Norm Nelson

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{{short description|American racing driver (1923–1988)}}
{{Infobox racing driver
| name              = Norm Nelson
| image             = Norm Nelson circa 1960s.jpg
| caption           = 
| birth_name        = Norman Huber Nelson
| birth_date        = {{birth date|1923|01|30}}
| birth_place       = [Racine, Wisconsin](/source/Racine%2C_Wisconsin), U.S.
| death_date        = {{death date and age|1988|11|08|1923|01|30}}
| death_place       = [Milwaukee, Wisconsin](/source/Milwaukee%2C_Wisconsin), U.S.
| titles            = [USAC Stock Car](/source/USAC_Stock_Car) (1960, 1965, 1966)
| awards            = 
| module1 = 
  {{Infobox racing driver|embed=yes
  | current_series    = [AAA/USAC Stock Car](/source/USAC_Stock_Car)
  | years_active      = 1950–1974, 1976
  | starts            = 
  | championships     = 3
  | wins              = 
  | podiums           = 
  | poles             = 
  | fastest_laps      = 
  | best_finish       = 1st
  | year              = 1960, 1965, 1966
| module2 = 
  {{Infobox NASCAR driver|embed=yes
  | Total_Cup_Races   = 5
  | Years_In_Cup      = 4
  | Best_Cup_Pos      = 68th ([1955](/source/1955_NASCAR_Grand_National_Series))
  | First_Cup_Race    = [1955](/source/1955_NASCAR_Grand_National_Series) Race 40 ([LeHi](/source/Memphis-Arkansas_Speedway))
  | Last_Cup_Race     = [1968](/source/1968_NASCAR_Grand_National_Series) [Motor Trend 500](/source/Motor_Trend_500) ([Riverside](/source/Riverside_International_Raceway))
  | First_Cup_Win     = [1955](/source/1955_NASCAR_Grand_National_Series) Race 43 ([Las Vegas](/source/Las_Vegas_Park_Speedway))
  | Cup_Wins          = 1
  | Cup_Top_Tens      = 3
  | Cup_Poles         = 1
}}}}}}

'''Norman Huber Nelson''' (January 30, 1923 – November 8, 1988) was an American [racing driver](/source/Auto_racing). Known primarily for his [stock car](/source/Stock_car_racing) career, Nelson competed in [AAA and USAC Stock Car](/source/AAA_and_USAC_Stock_Car)s from the 1950s through 1970s. He won the season championship in 1960, 1965, and 1966 as a driver.

Nelson also won five owner's championships. He competed in five [NASCAR](/source/NASCAR) [Grand National Series](/source/Grand_National_Series) events and won one. He had 35 USAC victories including 11 at the [Milwaukee Mile](/source/Milwaukee_Mile) near his hometown [Racine, Wisconsin](/source/Racine%2C_Wisconsin). He was nicknamed "The Great Dane" because he was 6 feet 4 inches tall.

== Racing career ==

=== Early career ===

Nelson prepared for racing when, as a 14-year-old, he borrowed his sister's 1934 Chevrolet and he raced it on the back streets of Racine.<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalSmoothOperator">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19881109&id=R28aAAAAIBAJ&pg=1959,1337771|title=Smooth Operator|last=Kupper|first=Mike|date=November 8, 1988|publisher=[Milwaukee Journal](/source/Milwaukee_Journal)|pages=1C, 10C|accessdate=19 February 2010}}{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> He competed for the first time on a rainy 1939 afternoon race in a [swamp](/source/swamp)y field near [Pleasant Prairie](/source/Pleasant_Prairie%2C_Wisconsin). His first race ended when his [jalopy](/source/jalopy) got stuck on the straightaway.<ref name="MilwaukeeSentinelSeptember221960">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0b8VAAAAIBAJ&pg=6197,1088858&dq=norm-nelson&hl=en|title=From Jalopy Racing to U.S. 'Stock' Title Is Nelson's Goal|last=Sayrs|first=Hank|date=September 22, 1960|publisher=[Milwaukee Sentinel](/source/Milwaukee_Sentinel)|accessdate=5 March 2010}}</ref> He continued in the car until the 1940-41 winter indoor series,<ref name="MilwaukeeSentinelSeptember221960" /> when he got a ride in a [midget car](/source/midget_car_racing) at the Chicago Amphitheater.<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalSmoothOperator" /> He ended up driving the midget into the wall in the first corner.<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalSmoothOperator" /> Racing in the United States ended for [World War II](/source/World_War_II) and he served the [United States Army](/source/United_States_Army) as a tank operator.<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalSmoothOperator" /> After the war ended, he returned to successfully race midget cars.<ref name="MilwaukeeSentinelSeptember221960" /> He stopped racing midgets in favor of [late model](/source/late_model) [stock cars](/source/stock_car_racing) so he could race more frequently.<ref name="MilwaukeeSentinelSeptember221960" />

Nelson had been introduced to [stock car racing](/source/stock_car_racing) in 1948 when [Milwaukee](/source/Milwaukee%2C_Wisconsin) promoter Tom Marchese brought stock cars to the region.<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalSmoothOperator" /> Nelson said "Once I got into stock car racing, I knew that it was for me. I couldn't get into just any midget. We always had to make special ones for me."<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalSmoothOperator" /> He raced in his first stock car race on the dirt of the Milwaukee Mile in 1948 and finished third in the {{convert|100|mi|km}} event.<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalSmoothOperator" />

=== AAA and USAC ===

In 1950, Nelson was racing the [American Automobile Association](/source/American_Automobile_Association) (AAA) Stock Car division in its first season and was leading the national points going into the final race at the [Springfield Mile](/source/Illinois_State_Fairgrounds_Racetrack). Second-place driver [Jay Frank](/source/Jay_Frank_(racing_driver)) was the only driver who could catch him in the points and he had to win while Nelson had to not finish the race.<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalSmoothOperator" /> "That's exactly what happened", Nelson said. "The engine on my Oldsmobile blew and he won the race."<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalSmoothOperator" />

During a condensed 1951 season, Nelson lost all of his points earned for winning a race at Milwaukee after the [AAA Contest Board](/source/AAA_Contest_Board) determined he had used an illegal gear.<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalSmoothOperator" /> He was using a special mountain gear in his [Oldsmobile](/source/Oldsmobile); he pointed out (to no avail) that the part could be found in a parts catalog.<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalSmoothOperator" /> Nelson won the following race, also at Milwaukee, and the points he lost would have made him the 1951 champion, which instead was won by [Rodger Ward](/source/Rodger_Ward). Nelson continued to race in AAA Stock Car races in 1952, 1953, and 1954 with less success - collecting top-five finishes at Toledo Raceway Park, [Dayton Speedway](/source/Dayton_Speedway), [Illiana Speedway](/source/Illiana_Speedway), and Milwaukee.<ref name="UltimateRacingHistory">{{cite web |url=http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/racelist2.php?uniqid=286|title=Norm Nelson Racing Results |website=Ultimate Racing History.com|accessdate=5 March 2010}}</ref>

Nelson joined up with [Carl Kiekhaefer](/source/Carl_Kiekhaefer)'s [Chrysler](/source/Chrysler) team in 1955.<ref name="UltimateRacingHistory" /> He won a 1955 stock car race at the Milwaukee Mile and blew his right front tire right after winning the race causing the car to skid into the walls.<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalJuly181955">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wjMaAAAAIBAJ&pg=4720,1541978&dq=norm-nelson&hl=en|title=Nelson's Tire Barely Lasts Until He Wins Stock Race|last=Johnson|first=Chuck|date=July 18, 1955|publisher=[Milwaukee Journal](/source/Milwaukee_Journal)|accessdate=March 5, 2010}}</ref> Nelson's crew had done their pit stop in 1 minute and second-place finisher [Marshall Teague](/source/Marshall_Teague_(racing_driver)) had a 1-minute and 40 seconds stop.<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalJuly181955" /> He raced at Wilmot Speedway in Kenosha in 1959 and won the track's modified stock class.<ref name="MilwaukeeSentinelSeptember221960" /> He returned to driving at the national level, and finished third in 1958 and 1959.<ref name="MilwaukeeSentinelSeptember221960" /> For the first time in his career, Nelson drove in someone else's car when Bill Trainor hired him to race.<ref name="MilwaukeeSentinelSeptember221960" /> He won a race at the [DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack](/source/DuQuoin_State_Fairgrounds_Racetrack) and had several second-place finishes during his 1960 championship season.<ref name="MilwaukeeSentinelSeptember221960" />

Beginning in 1963, Nelson hired Gerald Kulwicki ([Alan Kulwicki](/source/Alan_Kulwicki)'s father) to build engines for his race cars.<ref name="Grubba">{{cite book|last=Grubba|first=Dale|title=Alan Kulwicki: Nascar Champion: Against All Odds|publisher=Badger Books|year=2009|pages=86–88|isbn=978-1-932542-39-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3vrWub9qIwEC&q=%22norm+nelson%22+%22usac%22&pg=PA86}}</ref> Nelson began his 25th season of racing in 1965 by winning the season-opening USAC Stock Car race at Milwaukee over [Paul Goldsmith](/source/Paul_Goldsmith_(racing_driver)).<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalMay31965">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DQQqAAAAIBAJ&pg=5518,2255307&dq=norm-nelson&hl=en|title=Norm Nelson Wins to Start 25th Year|date=May 3, 1965|publisher=[Milwaukee Journal](/source/Milwaukee_Journal)|accessdate=5 March 2010}}</ref> Nelson took the lead away from [Parnelli Jones](/source/Parnelli_Jones) when his engine blew up late in the race.<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalMay31965" /> Three NASCAR drivers competed in the event - [Richard Petty](/source/Richard_Petty), [David Pearson](/source/David_Pearson_(NASCAR_driver)), and [Bobby Isaac](/source/Bobby_Isaac).<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalMay31965" />

Nelson won the [Yankee 300](/source/Yankee_300) race at [Indianapolis Raceway Park](/source/Indianapolis_Raceway_Park) in 1965 which contributed toward him winning his second driver's championship that season.<ref name="HartfordCourant">{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/921572262.html?dids=921572262:921572262&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=May+02%2C+1966&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=Norm+Nelson+Captures+Yankee+300+For+Second+Time+at+Indianapolis&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604224850/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/921572262.html?dids=921572262:921572262&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=May+02,+1966&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=Norm+Nelson+Captures+Yankee+300+For+Second+Time+at+Indianapolis&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 4, 2011|title=Norm Nelson Captures Yankee 300 For Second Time at Indianapolis|date=May 2, 1966|publisher=[The Hartford Courant](/source/The_Hartford_Courant)|pages=23A|accessdate=9 March 2010}}</ref> Nelson won the 150-mile event at [Langhorne Speedway](/source/Langhorne_Speedway) in 1966 and he won his third season championship.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1966/04/18/archives/nelsons-plymouth-first-at-langhorne.html|title=Nelson's Plymouth First at Langhorne|date=April 17, 1966|work=[New York Times](/source/New_York_Times)|pages=38|accessdate=9 March 2010}}</ref> He also won his second straight Yankee 300 at IRP.<ref name="HartfordCourant" />

When Nelson retired from driving in 1976 because of detached [retina](/source/retina),<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalJanuary231979" /> he was tied with [A. J. Foyt](/source/A._J._Foyt) for second on the all-time USAC victories list with 35 wins.<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalFormerUSACKing" />

=== NASCAR ===

Nelson made five starts in his Grand National career.<ref name="NASCARTodayInHistory">{{cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com/2010/news/features/01/30/today.in.history/index.html|title=Today in History: January 30|date=January 30, 2010|publisher=[NASCAR](/source/NASCAR)|accessdate=23 February 2010}}</ref> He made his first start at the [1955 LeHi 300](/source/1955_LeHi_300) in [LeHi](/source/LeHi%2C_Arkansas), [Arkansas](/source/Arkansas), and won his only NASCAR race later that season after starting on the [pole position](/source/pole_position) at the only NASCAR race held at the 1-mile [dirt](/source/dirt_track_racing) [Las Vegas Park Speedway](/source/Las_Vegas_Park_Speedway).<ref name="NASCARTodayInHistory" /><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.race-database.com/results/results.php?year=1955&race=40&series_id=2 | title = 1955 Memphis-Arkansas Speedway results | publisher = Race Database | date = | accessdate = 2015-03-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com/2009/news/opinion/02/26/retro.racing.maumann.las.vegas/|title=From horses to motors, first Vegas track a disaster|last=Aumann|first=Mark|date=February 27, 2009|publisher=NASCAR|accessdate=23 February 2010}}</ref> While driving for [Carl Kiekhaefer](/source/Carl_Kiekhaefer)'s championship team, he led the final 106&nbsp;laps of a 111&nbsp;lap race which was shortened from its original 200&nbsp;lap distance because of darkness.<ref name="NASCARTodayInHistory" /> He competed in three more NASCAR races, once each in 1966, 1967 at [Riverside](/source/Riverside_International_Raceway) (finishing third behind fellow USAC regulars [Parnelli Jones](/source/Parnelli_Jones) and [Paul Goldsmith](/source/Paul_Goldsmith_(racing_driver))), and 1968.<ref name="NASCARTodayInHistory" />

== Owner ==

[[File:NormNelsonRogerMcCluskeyPlymouth2009MilwaukeeMile.jpg|thumb|right|Nelson-owned [USAC Stock Car](/source/USAC_Stock_Car) driven by [Roger McCluskey](/source/Roger_McCluskey)]]

Even before Nelson's career began to wind down, he began having other racers drive in his USAC car.<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalSmoothOperator" /> He hired [Roger McCluskey](/source/Roger_McCluskey) to drive for him in 1968, starting a two-car operation as Nelson began to wind down his career.<ref name="Grubba" /> In 1975, McCluskey had to miss a race because he had a burned foot; Nelson drove the car for him.<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalSmoothOperator" /> Other drivers include [A. J. Foyt](/source/A._J._Foyt).<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalNovember091988">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19881109&id=R28aAAAAIBAJ&pg=1959,1337771|title=A Good Sport|last=Berghaus|first=Bob|date=November 9, 1988|publisher=[Milwaukee Journal](/source/Milwaukee_Journal)|pages=1C, 10C|accessdate=19 February 2010}}{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>

Nelson's cars started in 13 NASCAR; nine of these races ended in a top-ten finish; five with a top-five.<ref name="RacingReferenceNASCAROwnersStats">{{cite web|url=http://racing-reference.info/owner?id=nelsono01|title=Nelson's NASCAR Owner's statistics|publisher=Racing Reference|accessdate=9 March 2010}}</ref> [Jim Hurtubise](/source/Jim_Hurtubise) drove Nelson's only win as a car owner at [Atlanta International Raceway](/source/Atlanta_International_Raceway) in the 1966 Atlanta 500.<ref name="RacingReferenceNASCAROwnersStats" />

== Personality ==

Nelson was known for saving his equipment until the latter stages of a race. [Alan Kulwicki](/source/Alan_Kulwicki) said, "I can remember guys like A. J. Foyt and Parnelli Jones drove against him, and Norm wasn't as much a charger as those guys, but he was always there at the end of a race. Because he owned his own cars, he didn't run them as hard as those other guys did."<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalNovember091988" /> Kulwicki added, "He was a good, smooth driver and very intelligent."<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalNovember091988" />

== Personal life ==

Nelson and his wife Caroline had eight children.<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalFormerUSACKing" /> He also had 15+ grandchildren. During the racing off-season, he owned a [snowmobile](/source/snowmobile) sales and repair shop in Racine called "Nelson Enterprises".<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalJanuary231979">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PVwaAAAAIBAJ&pg=3949,2003302&dq=norm-nelson&hl=en|title=Race Cars in Summer, Snowmobiles Now|last=Osman|first=Loren H.|date=January 23, 1979|publisher=Milwaukee Journal|pages=1|accessdate=9 March 2010}}</ref> Caroline and several of their children worked at the shop.<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalJanuary231979" />

== Death ==

Nelson died on November 8, 1988, while at the Zablocki Veterans Administration Center at age 65 and he was buried at the Graceland Cemetery in Racine.<ref name="MilwaukeeJournalNovember091988" /><ref name="MilwaukeeJournalFormerUSACKing">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19881109&id=R28aAAAAIBAJ&pg=6690,196906|title=Former USAC King Nelson Dies at age 65|last=Butler|first=Vincent|date=November 9, 1988|publisher=[Milwaukee Journal](/source/Milwaukee_Journal)|pages=2C|accessdate=19 February 2010}}</ref>

== Awards and honors ==

Nelson has been inducted into the following halls of fame:
* Southeastern Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame (2009)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Southeastern Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame |url=http://sewishorttrackhof.com/home.php?id=inductees |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=sewishorttrackhof.com}}</ref>
* [Racine County Sports Hall of Fame](/source/Racine_Heritage_Museum) (2011)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Racine County Sports Hall of Fame |url=https://www.rcsportshall.org/athleteBio2011.php?pID=10 |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=www.rcsportshall.org}}</ref>
* [United States Auto Club (USAC)](/source/United_States_Auto_Club) Hall of Fame (2014)<ref>{{Cite web |title=NORM NELSON - USAC HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2014 - USAC Racing |url=https://www.usacracing.com/news/item/12358-norm-nelson-usac-hall-of-fame-class-of-2014 |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=www.usacracing.com |language=en-gb}}</ref>

== References ==

{{reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{Find a Grave|184465958}}
* {{Racing-Reference driver|Norm_Nelson}}
* {{Racing-Reference owner|Norm_Nelson}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box
|before= [Fred Lorenzen](/source/Fred_Lorenzen)
|title = [USAC Stock Car](/source/USAC_Stock_Car) Champion
|years = 1960
|after = [Paul Goldsmith](/source/Paul_Goldsmith_(racing_driver))
}}
{{succession box
|before= [Parnelli Jones](/source/Parnelli_Jones)
|title = [USAC Stock Car](/source/USAC_Stock_Car) Champion
|years = 1965–1966
|after = [Don White](/source/Don_White_(racing_driver))
}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Norm}}
Category:NASCAR drivers
Category:NASCAR team owners
Category:Sportspeople from Racine, Wisconsin
Category:1988 deaths
Category:1923 births
Category:Racing drivers from Wisconsin
Category:United States Army personnel of World War II
Category:USAC Stock Car drivers

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