Lennie Waldo, a USAC Silver Crown Rookie of the Year and one-time USAC National Sprint Car feature winner, passed away Wednesday, February 1, 2017.* He was 72 years old.
Waldo, of Columbus, Ohio, was a long-time competitor with the USAC National Sprint Car series, making his debut during the 1969 season.* That same year, he collected what was to be his only USAC National series win on Independence Day at International Raceway Park in Charleston, West Virginia.
Later in his career, Waldo earned USAC Silver Crown Rookie of the Year honors after earning a ninth-place result in the series standings with five top-ten finishes and a best finish of seventh at Williams Grove during the 1980 season.
USAC extends its condolences to Waldo as well as his family and friends.
It was the mid 70's and a buddy & me would ride to kil-kare speedway in Xenia to watch the late model stock car races on Friday nites. One Friday we were sitting at an intersection when my buddy spotted lennie driving thru the intersection. We were just kids & lennie was one of our favorites and we were thrilled to be following him on the road. At a stop sign lennie must have noticed we were looking and he proceeds to take off as to instigate a race. My car was much faster but when we came up on traffic lennie passed them on a blind corner going over a crest while I let off...this forever gave him immortal status to both of us. RIP lennie Waldo.
