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For every race, every practice, and every qualifying run at Toledo Speedway, Leo Caldwell is there, watching and no doubt keeping a vigilant eye on the competition.
The legendary local racer from Perrysburg, who competed at Toledo, Flat Rock, Fremont, and Sandusky speedways, had his ashes spread over the half-mile layout on Benore Road in 1999, three years after his death at the age of 70.
Caldwell will now be ever present at the Fremont facility, as well, following his recent induction into that track’s hall of fame. Known as "The Gobbler" during his racing days for his ability to gobble up the competition, Caldwell won more than 400 races before his retirement in 1967.
"He was hard to beat", said Rollie Beale, the Toledo racing icon who raced against Caldwell in events at Flat Rock and Toledo speedways that were administrated by ARCA Series founder John Marcum.
Beale, a former USAC champion, said "The Gobbler" had a distinct style that allowed him to be so successful. "He was a great driver who knew how to stay out of trouble and how to work his way through traffic. He was a smart driver who really knew his way around the track. He was good, and he raced you clean, and there weren’t a lot of drivers like that."
Caldwell’s induction into the Fremont Speedway Hall of Fame honors the winner of the inaugural event at that track. In September of 1951, on a layout just a tenth of a mile in length, Caldwell bested a field of 38 drivers to win the 20-lap feature. Hours before the race, it was Caldwell who was out there working on preparing the track surface with a grader.
"He has a special tie to Fremont Speedway, and during the induction ceremony they even referred to my dad as the ‘Father of Fremont Speedway’," Charlie Caldwell said. "It was very emotional to see him remembered and honored in that way. It was actually a tear-jerker moment at the ceremony."
Caldwell was racing on the beach at Daytona from 1948-52, taking on the likes of Lee Petty, the father of Richard Petty. Caldwell raced in what was the predecessor to the Toledo-area based ARCA Racing Series in 1953, the year the circuit was founded. In that circuit, he went up against Iggy Katona, Jim Romine, Buckie Sager, and Russ Helper.
"The Gobbler" won the Motor City Speedway season titles in 1949 and 1950 and was the track champion at Raceway Park in the 1954 and 1955 seasons.
"I remember he raced a Chrysler Hemi, and like I said, he was tough to beat," Beale said. "He’s a guy that belongs in the hall of fame."
Caldwell, who was born in 1926, competed in four events at NASCAR’s highest level, known today as the Sprint Cup Series. He debuted in the series in 1950, finishing 12th at Winchester, and was 23rd the following year at Canfield. His final two Sprint Cup races came in 1952, with a 14th place finish at Palm Beach, and a 20th place on the road course at Daytona, where he had started 45th.
Caldwell was recognized as the Michigan State Champion in 1952 in the Sportsman Division of NASCAR, and won the Fremont Speedway track championship in 1951 and 1952. He was Sandusky’s track champ in the 1957 season.
Caldwell was part of a class of 10 inducted at Fremont as part of the facility’s 60th anniversary celebration. The hall of fame and museum at Fremont Speedway feature racing uniforms, helmets, photos, and memorabilia, including several restored race cars. It is located on the midway leading to the grandstands and is open on race nights with free admission.
Here is an abstract of what was/is probably the greatest sprint car race of all time:
The Peach Blossom 200, (miles at Atlanta) was held on October 11, 1964, and was promoted by American Raceways, Inc. Greg Weld was not the winner, but did win the pole at a tour of 157.434 MPH; the fastest IMCA sprint lap in history. It's entirely possible that this was the fastest average speed ever turned for a lap by anything classified as a "sprint car," anywhere.
Leo Caldwell won in a Ford-powered upright in a field mixed with uprights and roadsters.
Other top finishers:
2nd - Clare Lawicki
3rd - Curly Boyd
4th - Sam Sessions
5th - Red Amick
6th - John Logan
Average Speed - 124.998 MPH (probably also a record for a long sprint car race). Caldwell won $4,125 of a total purse of $25,000; 28 cars started the race. Six of the year's 13 USAC National Championship races paid a lower purse, if that gives you an idea of the significance.
. . . written by Bob Riebe
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