KARS Promoter Jack Gunn Dies At 48
John Whyte Gunnells, known as KARS promoter 'Jack Gunn' to racing fans in the tri-state area, died Tuesday at Carlisle Hospital after an 18-month battle with cancer. Gunn, 48, had been promoter of the KARS circuit for the past five years.
Shortly after taking over Hagerstown Speedway in 1975, Gunn formed Keystone Auto Racing on Speedways to sanction racing at all three of his tracks— Hagerstown, Williams Grove, near Mechanicsburg, and Selinsgrove. In doing so, he became one of a few single promoters of a racing sanctioning body in the country.
During his career, Gunn was involved in all phases of auto racing, working as a mechanic, driver and radio and television announcer before becoming a promoter.
He brought super sprint cars, popular in the midwest, to Williams Grove in 1968, shortly after taking over the track's Operation. Gunn was named National "promoter of the year" by RPM Promoter, an organization of small track promoters.
Gunn gave up operation of Selinsgrove before the past season due to poor health and ran the Williams Grove and Hagerstown tracks this year.
The owners of the Hagerstown track indicated that Gunn's death was a "great loss to auto racing" but that the track will be in operation next season. Details will not be announced until January.
Published in the Bedford Inquirer, Bedford, PA, November 7, 1980
John Whyte Gunnells, known as KARS promoter 'Jack Gunn' to racing fans in the tri-state area, died Tuesday at Carlisle Hospital after an 18-month battle with cancer. Gunn, 48, had been promoter of the KARS circuit for the past five years.
Shortly after taking over Hagerstown Speedway in 1975, Gunn formed Keystone Auto Racing on Speedways to sanction racing at all three of his tracks— Hagerstown, Williams Grove, near Mechanicsburg, and Selinsgrove. In doing so, he became one of a few single promoters of a racing sanctioning body in the country.
During his career, Gunn was involved in all phases of auto racing, working as a mechanic, driver and radio and television announcer before becoming a promoter.
He brought super sprint cars, popular in the midwest, to Williams Grove in 1968, shortly after taking over the track's Operation. Gunn was named National "promoter of the year" by RPM Promoter, an organization of small track promoters.
Gunn gave up operation of Selinsgrove before the past season due to poor health and ran the Williams Grove and Hagerstown tracks this year.
The owners of the Hagerstown track indicated that Gunn's death was a "great loss to auto racing" but that the track will be in operation next season. Details will not be announced until January.
Published in the Bedford Inquirer, Bedford, PA, November 7, 1980
KARS Promoter Jack Gunn Dies At 48
John Whyte Gunnells, known as KARS promoter 'Jack Gunn' to racing fans in the tri-state area, died Tuesday at Carlisle Hospital after an 18-month battle with cancer. Gunn, 48, had been promoter of the KARS circuit for the past five years.
Shortly after taking over Hagerstown Speedway in 1975, Gunn formed Keystone Auto Racing on Speedways to sanction racing at all three of his tracks— Hagerstown, Williams Grove, near Mechanicsburg, and Selinsgrove. In doing so, he became one of a few single promoters of a racing sanctioning body in the country.
During his career, Gunn was involved in all phases of auto racing, working as a mechanic, driver and radio and television announcer before becoming a promoter.
He brought super sprint cars, popular in the midwest, to Williams Grove in 1968, shortly after taking over the track's Operation. Gunn was named National "promoter of the year" by RPM Promoter, an organization of small track promoters.
Gunn gave up operation of Selinsgrove before the past season due to poor health and ran the Williams Grove and Hagerstown tracks this year.
The owners of the Hagerstown track indicated that Gunn's death was a "great loss to auto racing" but that the track will be in operation next season. Details will not be announced until January.
Published in the Bedford Inquirer, Bedford, PA, November 7, 1980
John Whyte Gunnells, known as KARS promoter 'Jack Gunn' to racing fans in the tri-state area, died Tuesday at Carlisle Hospital after an 18-month battle with cancer. Gunn, 48, had been promoter of the KARS circuit for the past five years.
Shortly after taking over Hagerstown Speedway in 1975, Gunn formed Keystone Auto Racing on Speedways to sanction racing at all three of his tracks— Hagerstown, Williams Grove, near Mechanicsburg, and Selinsgrove. In doing so, he became one of a few single promoters of a racing sanctioning body in the country.
During his career, Gunn was involved in all phases of auto racing, working as a mechanic, driver and radio and television announcer before becoming a promoter.
He brought super sprint cars, popular in the midwest, to Williams Grove in 1968, shortly after taking over the track's Operation. Gunn was named National "promoter of the year" by RPM Promoter, an organization of small track promoters.
Gunn gave up operation of Selinsgrove before the past season due to poor health and ran the Williams Grove and Hagerstown tracks this year.
The owners of the Hagerstown track indicated that Gunn's death was a "great loss to auto racing" but that the track will be in operation next season. Details will not be announced until January.
Published in the Bedford Inquirer, Bedford, PA, November 7, 1980
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