I started watching races at Winchester in 1945. I saw many of the drivers at this high bank track go on to race the 500. Such as Charlie Van Acker, Hal Robson, Duane Carter,Spider Webb,Troy Ruttman,Mack Hellings,George Lynch,Cecil Green,Lee Wallard,Myron Fohr,Jerry Hoyt,Jackie Holmes,Duke Dinsmore,Mike Nazaruk,Andy Linden,Gene Force,Bill Mackey,Joe James,Jimmy Reece,Jimmy Daywalt,Larry Crockett,Pat OConnor, and the list goes on and on. The feeder system at this time was the midget, sprint car drivers.
Some were more adapt at the changes from the dirt big cars and the roadsters to come. But they were all my race driving hero's. While in Indianapolis in the 50's, I worked at a clothing store, Jacob's, downtown and Reece was a regular customer of our store. I would see Daywalt at the bars on the south side of town.
Times sure have changed. Money always wins because the cream of the crop navigates to it. Back in the 40's and 50's you would have 70, 80 plus entries. Most were not going to win but it afforded a driver a chance to compete in the 500. Good for them.
We up to 35 entries for this 500. And money is still the driving force for this race.