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April 1955 IL 5

Chicago Spring 1955, Dutch Munsinger

Dutch Munsinger is a former NASCAR driver from Tabor, IA. He competed in four Nextel Cup Series events in his career, earning one top-ten.

NASCAR Career[]

Munsinger's debut came in 1954, when he competed at LeHi. Starting positions in the field of fifty-two are unknown, but Munsinger didn't last long in the race before a transmission issue left him 43rd.

Things didn't start off for Munsinger much better in 1955, competing at Altamont. Starting 9th in the field of twenty-five, Munsinger had early engine issues and struggled to a 24th place finish. Luckily, Munsinger had a much better outing at Syracuse. Starting 7th in the field, Munsinger ran near the front all day and came home with a career best 8th place finish.

Munsinger's final NASCAR race came in the 1956, when he competed at Phoenix. Starting 17th in the field, Munsinger again had early mechanical issues, this time falling to 26th with early transmission issues.

DUTCH MUNSINGER in Other Racing Series[]

Born in 1921, Munsinger was a WWII USAF heavy bomber top turret gunner veteran, and he died in Jan 1960 in a highway crash in central IL, while towing his new race car to Daytona.

He raced from 1954 until his death and was in several circuits such as SAFE, NASCAR and IMCA. In 1954 he began his racing career in the SAFE "Circuit of Champions All Stars" Convertibles Division, and then he was in the "Grand Natls Convertibles Division" part of NASCAR.

Munsinger raced in more than 200 races in 4 circuits (that we know of): SAFE NASCAR, MARC, IMCA from Spring 1954-Dec 1959. Dutch began racing in 1954 at Blue Island IL, "RACEWAY PARK" in the SAFE Circuit of Champions All Stars for Illinois owner George Petit, taking over from Illinois race driver JOHNNY SCHIPPER in Petit's car (#49, a factory pink Cadillac).

He won several 1sts, such as June 1, 1955 at Cinncinnati OH; and he also raced under an alias ("Tom Wolf") in unsanctioned races, with fellow racers like Johnny Beauchamp.

In 1954, he raced a Cadillac, Dodge and Lincoln; and 1955-56, he raced both new 1955 and 1956 BUICK CENTURY convertibles.

In his early days 1954-1955 on the SAFE Circuit he had matching '55 BUICK CENTURY stock cars with friend DON OLDENBERG of Hammond IN. Dutch's was #76 white over red and Don's was #86 red over white. (Don's son Mike still races as #86.) In 1956, Dutch switched to a blue/white Buick Century convertible.

DM moved from Illinois/Indiana to OKC,OK in 1955. He lived in IL in 1959. Off season, Dutch was an airplane pilot and a mechanic.

In OKC, OK in 1956, he also drag-raced his stock car at a local dragstrip and won 1st (with 98mph).

1957-58-59 predominantly in the IMCA circuit he raced at several speedways and State Fairs thru the MidWest, East Coast and South. He was very well-known as a "hard charger" and took several wins over the years.

A Spring 1955 set of publicity photos shows Dutch with 5 "1st Place" wins trophies on the hood of his new race car.


{SAFE merged with NASCAR in Dec 1955.}

External Links[]

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