DICK FREEMAN
Dick Freeman began racing at Forest Park Speedway with Harold Smith and Jack Price around 1954. Dick was a fixture at every track in the Dayton area throughout his career and he collected wins at every track. He always made time for his fans and his cool blue eyes were a reflection of his driving style.
His first big race at Dayton Speedway was the 1955 Dayton 500. In his career, Freeman had two Dayton wins. The biggest was probably the 1965 Dayton 200 when he broke up a remarkable win ARCA win streak by New Harmony, Ohio’s Jack Bowsher.
ARCA RECORD
5 ARCA Poles.
12 ARCA Wins, tied for 22nd in all time victories
ARCA Final Points Standings
1962 3rd
1963 3rd
1964 6th
1965 4th
1966 3rd
1967 8th
OTHER HONORS
1958 National Modified Champion
Won 100-lap race March 30
Dick raced Super Modifieds in the Dayton area in the late ‘50s.
In 1959, Freeman went from racing in Dayton to racing at Daytona. Dick drove in the first Daytona 500, or the 500-Mile International Sweepstakes as it was then called on February 22, 1959.
Dick finished 15th in the fifty-nine car field of the best Stock Car Drivers in the country. Driving a Chevrolet #29 he out drove legends like Richard Petty, Fireball Roberts, Glen Wood, Buck Baker, Marvin Panch and Tiny Lund.
He won $250 for the days work.
Freeman returned to Daytona in 1960 but was involved in a lap 5 accident and didn't finish.
Freeman’s last active season was in 1973, when he won a pair of ASA races, one at Salem Speedway and the other at Winchester. He also finished second in his last race at Tri-County Speedway, behind winner John Vallo. He ended the season with the most USAC points at Tri-County. He was entered in the September 30, 1973 Dri-Powr 400 at Winchester, but did not make it.
Dick Freeman died of Cancer on August 15, 1975. He was laid to rest under a Maple tree on the Northwest corner of Evergreen Cemetery in West Carrollton. The location of the plot is one of the closest to Dayton Speedway. He left behind his wife Alice and a daughter, Vicki.
[Do you have additional photos or information regarding Dick Freeman's racing career? Please contact me here! --- Mickey April 10, 2009]
(Above) My favorite Dick Freeman photograph, from the collection of Marvin Goins. Freeman prepares to take his ARCA Mercury out onto Dayton Speedway. This is the same photo that appears on our home page.
(Below left) Freeman driving a 1966 Ford at Dayton Speedway in 1967 competition.
(Below right) A very young looking Dick Freeman at the start of his driving career in the 1950s.
(Above) Dick Freeman was a regular competitor in supermodifieds in the late '50s. In the photo above from the collection of the Gilberg Brothers, Freeman is shown behind the wheel of his #2 supermodified at New Bremen Speedway in 1958.
(Below) Freeman in the same car at Dayton Speedway in the late '50s.
(Above and Below) These two photographs come to us from the collection of former official MARC/ARCA photographer Tom Davidson
(Above and below) Ken Chew found these two photos of Freeman while surfing the web.
