Professional Race Car Driver. He was an American race car driver, who was known as "The King of the Outlaws." He was a two-time starter of the Indianapolis 500, finishing 21st in 1974 and 16th in 1976. As a legendary sprint car driver, he was the winner of the prestigious Tony Hulman Classic; Terre Haute Action Track in 1976; National Super modified Champion in 1971 in Knoxville; two-time National Super modified Champion in 1971 and 1972 in Phoenix; and World Dirt Track Champion in 1973. He suffered from a head injury with a five-week hospitalization after a crash at the 1976 USAC Hoosier 100 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds at Indianapolis, returning to racing two years later, but never meeting his earlier achievements. A confessed born-again-Christian, Jan Opperman was very popular with his fellow drivers, the media and fans. He earned the nicknamed "The Preacher." During this time, he worked to create a camp for trouble youth in Montana. He suffered a career-ending injury at the United Racing Club Sprint Car half-mile asphalt race held at Jennerstown, Pennsylvania on June 20, 1981. After this last crash with catastrophic injuries, he was discharged from the hospital to his parents' home, living as an aphasic invalid for sixteen years. Cause of death was listed as lingering injuries received in a racing accident. Out of the media for years, his death was almost unnoticed in the media as it was overshadowed by the deaths of Princess Diana and Mother Teresa. Born the oldest of two sons, his interest in sports began as an outstanding high school football quarterback, but injuries to his shoulder halted any career in football. Before graduating high school, he started racing across the Pacific coast circuit with the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) bikes all. During this time, he embraced the "hippie" lifestyle with long hair, worn jeans, and a cowboy hat. Taking a break from motorcycles in the 1960s, he became interested in race car competitions, racing a hundred races a year at first, before receiving a first-place winner's cup in the early 1970s. He married twice and had three daughters and a son. In recognition of his outstanding career, the Jan Opperman Memorial is held annually at Selinsgrove as part of Pennsylvania Sprint Car Speedweeks. In 1990 he was inducted to the National Sprint Race Car Hall of Fame.