Steve Shunck Steve Shunck

Bio:

I am the Vice President of Public Relations for INDYCAR and grew up loving racing and the Indianapolis 500. I attended my first Indy 500 in 1973 and the week of the race I memorized the starting line-up instead of my spelling list. My mother wanted to know “what good will that ever do you?” After traveling from Whitehouse, Ohio to Indianapolis and back two of the three days it took to run the race in 1973 my father said, “never again.” Guess what? We came back in 1975 and it rained again – but at least I got to see my hero Bobby Unser splash to his second Indy victory. In 1977 when Gordon Johncock’s car broke with 16 laps to go and A.J. Foyt took the lead I will never forget how loud the crowd cheered – the loudest I have ever heard at the Speedway- (sorry Danica) knowing they were going to see A.J. become the first four-time winner. I’ve attended the race as a spectator, I’ve worked for ABC Sports, held a pit board on race and worked for sanctioning bodies but no matter where you are or what you are doing when Jim Nabors sings “Back Home Again in Indiana“ the balloons are released and the cars start their engines it is Christmas seven months early and all is well in the world!



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