Stan Fox

Stanley Cole Fuchs (July 7, 1952 – December 18, 2000), known professionally as Stan Fox (Fuchs being the German word for "fox"), was an American open wheel race car driver. Fox was one of the last links between the midget car racing world and the Indianapolis 500.

Fox began his career as a midget car racer. He won the 1979 Badger Midget championship, and the 1979 and 1980 Belleville Midget Nationals. He placed in the top twelve in points in nine seasons, even after he raced sporadically after moving to United States Auto Club (USAC) open wheel events. He had 19 USAC career wins. He won the Turkey Night Grand Prix in 1990 at the last event at Ascot Park. He won the 1991 Turkey Night Grand Prix, two Copper World Classics, three Rex Easton Memorials at Springfield, Illinois, two Rodger Mauro Classics, and the midget car portion of the 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway.

Fox competed in the Indianapolis 500 eight times between 1987 and 1995 driving for A. J. Foyt and Ron Hemelgarn. He was also a motorcycle racing enthusiast.

While driving for Ron Hemelgarn, Fox was seriously injured during the 1995 Indianapolis 500 in an accident. After starting ninth, Fox went low into the first turn on the first lap of the race and spun. His car connected with the car of Eddie Cheever, Jr. and slammed into the outside wall. Several other cars also became involved. The front nose-cone was ripped from his car, exposing his legs. Fox suffered serious head injuries which put him in a coma for five days, and had surgery to have a blood clot removed from his brain. After a month, Fox was moved from the Methodist Hospital critical care unit to a private room, and showed signs of improvement.

The accident ended Fox's racing career but he stayed involved with the sport. He started the non-profit organization Friends of the Fox which supports people with head injuries and brings a person to the track each May to meet drivers and get VIP treatment.

Fox was killed in a head-on collision on December 18, 2000, on the Desert Road some 200 miles (320 km) south of Auckland, New Zealand. Fox was driving through the night to attend a speedway meeting and collided head on with a northbound vehicle.

• Fox was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.

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(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)