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1/8/22, 3:00 PM   #1
Usac: 6-time usac winner kevin huntley passes away at 56
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1/8/22 2:52 PM 6-TIME USAC WINNER KEVIN HUNTLEY PASSES AWAY AT 56

http://usacracing.com/news/sprint-ca...ses-away-at-56



6-TIME USAC WINNER KEVIN HUNTLEY PASSES AWAY AT 56

By: Richie Murray – USAC Media

Speedway, Indiana (January 8, 2022)………Kevin Huntley, a six-time USAC National feature winning driver across three decades in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, passed away in his sleep overnight on January 8, 2022.* He was 56 years old.

Affectionately known as “Pup,” Huntley began his sprint car racing career on the bullrings near his Bloomington, Ind. home with a sprint car purchased with the help of his father, Rex, and three-time USAC National Sprint Car champion Sheldon Kinser.

In 1985, Huntley made his USAC National Sprint Car debut, finishing 19th at Paragon Speedway.* He captured his first career sprint car victory on the local level during the 1986 season at Bloomington Speedway, and ultimately capped off the successful campaign with dual track championships at both Bloomington and at southeastern Indiana’s Lawrenceburg Speedway.

Branching out the following season, Huntley took on the USAC National Sprint Car series in 1987, winning his first series event for car owner Terry Winterbotham at Oregon, Wisconsin’s Impact Speedway en route to a career-best 4th place finish in the championship standings. *He’d follow up in 1988 with a 9th place result in the final points.

Nearly a full decade later, Huntley scored his second career USAC National Sprint Car win, this time for team owner Dennis Stone at Rossburg, Ohio’s Eldora Speedway, the half-mile dirt oval in which we won five of his six career USAC features at.* He’d win twice more in USAC competition at Eldora in 1997, both for car owner Rick Daugherty, during a June matinee Sprint show, and for his first and only career Silver Crown score in September’s 4-Crown Nationals.

In 2004, Huntley earned the most lucrative triumph of his USAC Sprint Car career, fending off none other than Sammy Swindell to pocket $50,000 in the Mopar Thunder at Eldora for car owner Dan Roberts.* Huntley and Roberts teamed up once again in 2005 to snare his final career USAC Sprint victory, in June of that season at Eldora.

He made 34 starts in his USAC Silver Crown career between 1992 and 2008, while his USAC National Sprint Car career spanned from 1985-2008, before stepping away to devote his main focus on his growing excavation, composting and recycling businesses.

Huntley, however, was not completely absent from the driver’s seat in the following years, and returned to Bloomington in 2015 to win a RaceSaver 305 Sprint Car feature, promptly retiring in victory lane at the venue where he won his first career feature at 30 years prior.

His 44 career All Star Circuit of Champions victories rank 9th all-time.* He also notched two championships with the ASCoC in 1992 and 1993, the latter of which resulted in a rare tie in the final standings with rival Frankie Kerr.

*
 
1/8/22, 3:06 PM   #2
Re: Usac: 6-time usac winner kevin huntley passes away at 56
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Prayers to Kevin's family and friends
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1/8/22, 3:45 PM   #3
Re: Usac: 6-time usac winner kevin huntley passes away at 56
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This is kind of a shocker. Kevin was a huge part of what I'd call my biggest race chasing years 85-2005..


Prayers for his friends and family.
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1/8/22, 4:04 PM   #4
Re: Usac: 6-time usac winner kevin huntley passes away at 56
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Very sad news. Kevin in the Vandemark & Wahlie #1m and Frankie Kerr in the Shoff #23s put on some epic battles running with The Club All Stars in the early 90's. They finished one or two in the championship points several years running. Rest in Peace Kevin.....you will be missed.
 
1/8/22, 5:34 PM   #5
Re: Usac: 6-time usac winner kevin huntley passes away at 56
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Very sad news. Agree with Russ, those All Star years were great. That first Vandemark and Wahlie gold car, may have been the prettiest wing car ever. RIP Kevin.
 
1/8/22, 5:52 PM   #6
Re: Usac: 6-time usac winner kevin huntley passes away at 56
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Russ View Post
...The Club All Stars in the early 90's.
Now THERE'S a term I haven't heard in years!

RIP, Pup.
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1/9/22, 12:01 AM   #7
Re: Usac: 6-time usac winner kevin huntley passes away at 56
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BrentTFunk View Post
Very sad news. Agree with Russ, those All Star years were great. That first Vandemark and Wahlie gold car, may have been the prettiest wing car ever. RIP Kevin.
took me a minute to find them, here are 2 of my photos from the 1993 Hoosier Fall Classic - Lawrenceburg. R.I.P. Kevin!


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1/11/22, 12:17 PM   #8
Re: Usac: 6-time usac winner kevin huntley passes away at 56
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Kevin Rex Huntley, age 56, passed away in his sleep at home on January 8, 2022. Kevin was born to Rex and Karlene (Schiebner) Huntley on May 19, 1965, in Bloomington, Indiana.

Kevin was known by many in the racing community and for the excavating business he and his wife built. Kevin attended Bloomington High School North and graduated from Bloomington High School South in 1983 and started racing in 1984. In 1991, Kevin and Lisa founded Kevin Huntley Excavating, where they grew from a single backhoe operation to one of the most successful excavation companies in Monroe County. In 2013, he achieved becoming a licensed private pilot and enjoyed flying for himself and taking others on trips.

Kevin was a successful sprint car driver in multiple series, winning two championships and ranked 9th in all time wins with the All Star Circuit of Champions. In 2004, he won the prestigious Mopar Thunder at Eldora Speedway. He always appreciated his fans but downplayed the magazine articles and posts that told his story. He raced because he loved the sport. From helping people with small jobs to many large-scale projects, Kevin established himself as a key figure in Monroe County’s excavating industry and his recycling business, Green Earth.

Of all Kevin’s accomplishments, what many will remember him by is his genuine nature and willingness to help people. No matter how successful he became he was always just Kevin. If someone was in a pinch or needed help with equipment Kevin was there.

In recent years, Kevin and Lisa found a great deal of happiness at their place in Venice, Florida. Fishing at the pier, playing pickleball, riding bikes and relaxing with Lisa and friends became very important to him. Kevin was looking forward to spending winters in Venice.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents , father-in-law Emory King, mother-in-law Brenda King, and brother-in-law Brad King. He is survived by his wife Lisa Huntley, daughter Elizabeth Danielle Scott, parents Rex and Karlene Huntley, sister Jacque (Todd) Veney, brother-in-law Caleb (Kelli) King, sister-in-law Vicki (Brad) King, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Over the years, Kevin gained interest in helping with animal rescues. On several occasions, Kevin made efforts to protect wildlife discovered on jobsites and was known for fostering animals at his house. He supported this through philanthropic efforts for the Monroe County Humane Society. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Monroe County Humane Society.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 15, 2022, from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm at South Union Christian Church. Funeral service will be at 5:00 pm officiated by Pastor Jimmy Cain followed by continued fellowship and memory sharing.

Allen Funeral Home and Crematory, 4155 S. Old State Rd. 37 have been entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences, condolences, photos and memories may be shared with the family at www.allencares.com
 
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