Jan Opperman

Opperman driving at Williams Grove Speedway in the 1970's

Jan Opperman (February 9, 1939 - September 4, 1997), was an American racecar driver. He won the 1971 Knoxville Nationals, the premiere event in sprint car racing.

Born in Long Beach, California, Opperman died in Fountain, Florida, 16 years after suffering critical injuries from a crash during a race in Jennerstown, Pennsylvania. Known primarily as a sprint car driver, he also drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1974 and 1976 seasons. He had 9 champ car starts, including the 1974 and 1976 Indianapolis 500 with 3 top ten finishes.

Early in his career, Opperman was known as a hippie and part of the drug culture. He later became a dynamic Christian, who, until his catastrophic accident, was working toward creating a ranch in western Montana for troubled youth.

Awards

• Opperman was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in the first class in 1990.

Indy 500 results

Year	Chassis	Engine	Start	Finish
1974	Parnelli	Offy	32nd	21st
1975	Eagle	Offy	Failed To Qualify
1976	Eagle	Offy	33rd	16th

External links

• Reflections on Auto Racing's Original Outlaw, Johnson County Daily Journal, September 13, 1997