If you’ve lived in Indianapolis for long, it’s a good bet you’ve heard of the Rahal Letterman Racing Team. Racing in Indy is legendary, especially the IndyCar series. The most popular place to watch this team race is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It’s one of the premier race tracks in the world, and resides right here in Speedway, Indiana. The track is the home of the famed Indianapolis 500 Mile Race (the Indy 500), the biggest spectacle in racing and the single biggest event in Indianapolis sports.
The Rahal Letterman Racing Team is one of the most popular in the league, headed up by one of the most famous faces in Indianapolis, David Letterman. Letterman has made his mark on the Indianapolis media and beyond, becoming one of the most popular talk show hosts in the world.
Letterman is a world-wide celebrity, not only for his quick wit and enormous talent, but for his dedication to the sport of racing. He knows all about the spirit of racing in the Hoosier state. Born and raised in Indianapolis, he attended Broad Ripple High School and is a proud graduate of Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.
Growing up near the speedway, Letterman was a frequent visitor to the track. It’s no surprise that he eventually formed his own racing team. After he met with successful retired IndyCar driver Bobby Rahal in 1986, the Rahal Letterman Racing Team was born, and the rest is Indianapolis history.
The Rahal Letterman Racing Team owes much of its early success to the big names of its creators. Not only did Rahal retire from the sport of racing with 24 victories and 17 pole position starts under his belt, but he holds the title of winner of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race in 1986. The Circle City thus eagerly embraced his new team, along with its other beloved Indianapolis public figure, David Letterman.
Rahal realized his life-long dream with the formation of the Rahal Letterman Racing Team. His hard work and determination soon paid off, as he became the first rookie team owner/driver in the history of IndyCar racing to win a coveted championship title in his first year as team owner. Four wins and and the season title in his very first season catapulted his and Letterman’s team to fame.
Now seasoned veterans in the racing world, Rahal and Letterman put a great deal of effort into making sure their team has the cream of the crop when it comes to IndyCar drivers. The world of racing is highly competitive, and the Rahal Letterman Racing Team is widely regarded as one of the best out there. Rahal and Letterman proved this theory true with a Indianapolis 500 Mile Race Win in 2004, with driver Buddy Rice.
For more information on the Rahal Lettterman Racing Team, check out their official website.
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Rahal Letterman Racing was created in 2004.
Seventh Grade Teachers
Prairie Heights Middle School
0395 South 1150 East
LaGrange, IN 46761
Dear Sponsor,
We realize that you have an unbelievably busy schedule and we are very
grateful you are considering helping our school. We try to engage and
challenge our students in every way possible. By giving them the chance
to meet you and learn more about racing, you are creating an experience
that will not be forgotten. Our program is called “Race into Reading”
and the seventh grade has a racing theme all year long. Our students
work for over two months to achieve over ten hours of reading time; this
reading time is above and beyond the normal scheduled work and homework.
We are so very proud of our students and hope you could possibly help
us award successfully met educational goals.
Last year, we had an extraordinary Race into Reading day at Prairie
Heights Middle School. We had several local stock car racers, ATV
racers, midget racers, drag racers, as well as 2 professional drag
racing cars. They were able to give our students a glimpse into the
wonderful world of racing. We hope to continue this annual event and
we need your help.
We are asking you to participate in our Race into Reading program in any
way you can. The ideal situation would be by bringing yourself, your
car, or any combination of the two to Prairie Heights Middle School on
Friday, May 27, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. We would love to
have a commitment from you as soon as you know your schedule for that
time period. Please call Rick Hammer at 351-3214 extension 6611 or
Twylla Hinkle at extension 6608 as soon as possible. Thank you for your
time.
Sincerely, (Seventh Grade Teachers)
Rick Hammer Connie Harmon Linda Glave
Twylla Hinkle Lori Bailor Dawn Keplinger