The Test: Hodnett’s Brush with the IRL

Before I dive in, I feel the need to share some personal commentary in regards to this piece. This story is very personal for me, and here’s why…

My best friend Brandon Dupert and I helped Greg Hodnett, Ryan Hand and the Heffner #27 team for the first time on July 26, 2017. We drove four hours on a Wednesday night to New Jersey’s New Egypt Speedway, only for the races to be rained out at the conclusion of warmups. Despite the long trip home that was ahead of us, Greg, Ryan, Brandon and myself hung around the trailer after the races were canceled. Since this was our first night all working together, we stood around for a while shooting the breeze and getting to know each other better in the process. One thing lead to another, and eventually the topic of my Vintage Sprint Cars social media pages was discussed. Greg and Ryan had no idea that I was the one behind the account, and they immediately began quizzing me on random sprint car history facts for what seemed like forever. Eventually I turned the tables on them, however, and asked Greg to discuss something that I had uncovered in my studies a year or so before. In the process of my many hours of internet searching and digging for content for my social media pages, I uncovered an old motorsport.com article about Greg participating in an Indy Racing League (IRL) test at Texas Motor Speedway in December of 1998. I was never able to find any additional articles or information on the test, and so I had always wanted to discuss the event with Greg to gain further insight. That night at New Egypt was the perfect time to do so. Greg was shocked that I even knew the test took place, let alone that I was interested enough to ask him about it! For the next several minutes Brandon, Ryan and myself stood in the trailer and listened to Greg reminisce about that test, the opportunity he had, and how it got away. I intended to interview Greg this winter about the test, and gather as many facts as I could from other sources, before writing a detailed piece on the test from Greg’s perspective. Unfortunately, that interview will have to wait until Greg and I meet again… In the meantime, I have gathered as many facts as I can, and combined them with all of the things Greg told me on that night in New Egypt to write this piece. I would like to thank Ryan Hand, Sherry Hodnett, Mike Goss, Roger Johnson, Len Sammons and the staff at Area Auto Racing News for their efforts in helping me gather information for this story. Enjoy.

Scott Goodyear competes in the 1998 Indianapolis 500.

In the winter of 1998, Pennzoil, the World of Outlaws, the United States Auto Club, and the Indy Racing League collaborated to provide their top drivers a once in a lifetime chance to earn their IRL competition license via scheduling a rookie test on December 3^rd and 4^th at the Texas Motor Speedway. The test would utilize the Pennzoil sponsored IRL team Panther Racing’s cars, as normally driven by Scott Goodyear. The tests were to be offered to champions in all three major USAC divisions — Silver Crown, Sprint and Midget. If the champion had previously acquired their IRL competition license, then the test spot was to be awarded to the next highest finisher without an IRL license. In addition to the USAC champions, Pennzoil’s own World of Outlaws series driver, Jac Haudenschild, was also granted an opportunity to participate in the test sessions.

At the end of the 1998 season, the World of Outlaws, USAC and the IRL announced the participants for the upcoming IRL rookie testing session: Jac Haudenschild, Jay Drake, Ryan Newman & Tony Elliott. The late Jason Leffler won his first of three consecutive USAC Midget National Championships that season, but already had his IRL license, thus handing the opportunity over to second place finisher Jay Drake. Leffler also won the USAC Silver Crown championship in 1998, while IRL standout Brian Tyler finished second in points. This handed the chance to test over to future NASCAR star Ryan Newman, who accepted the opportunity. Tony Elliott’s 1998 USAC National Sprint Car Series championship granted him the opportunity to test as USAC’s third testing entry. Jac Haudenschild was granted the opportunity as a result of the association with Pennzoil and his World of Outlaws team.

Greg Hodnett #12 races with Tyler Walker #35 at Williams Grove – 1998 – Chad Updegraff photo

As the word spread about the opportunity that was to be granted to these four drivers, another name was quietly added to the list of those that would participate in the test. That driver was none other than Greg Hodnett. In the midst of the 1998 World of Outlaws season, Greg and the #11 Selma-Shell racing team parted ways, resulting in Greg relocating to Central Pennsylvania and competing in the famous #12 Apple Chevrolet machine for the remainder of the season. Despite the great success that Greg and the Apple team experienced in 1998, Greg was still in search of finding a way to further his racing career, no matter where his efforts might lead him. Greg considered making a trip to Daytona to attempt to meet with individuals associated with NASCAR in hopes of potentially going the stock car route, and with the assistance of former car owner Roger Johnson of KELE & Associates, Greg turned laps at the Sonoma Road Course in Skip Barber’s Racing School that winter. According to Johnson, Greg picked up on things quickly, and impressed the instructors at the school with his ability to adapt to racing on asphalt as opposed to the dirt surfaces that he was accustomed to. Greg would later make an asphalt USAC Silver Crown start for Johnson’s team in 1999 at Memphis Motorsports Park, but failed to make the main event. In the end, Greg was interested in trying his hand at asphalt racing if at all possible, and the 1998 Pennzoil IRL test was a great way to get himself in front of the right people. That said, this is where a mysterious side note of Greg’s involvement with this test comes into play…

To be direct: I don’t know how Greg managed to land a seat in the IRL tests in the winter of 1998. In fact, no one close to Greg seems to have an answer to this question either. While writing this piece, I spoke with some of Greg’s closest family and friends including his wife Sherry, a close friend Mike Goss, Roger Johnson and others, and no one can answer what has become the biggest looming question in regards to Greg’s participation in the 1998 test: How did he get there? Greg certainly didn’t satisfy any of the qualifications from the USAC perspective, and had no association with Pennzoil, Panther Racing or Scott Goodyear as far as anyone can remember. I cannot recall if Greg mentioned how he became involved with the test during our talk at New Egypt, and neither can Ryan or Brandon. To be honest, none of us are sure that the topic of how he got there was ever even discussed! It is fascinating that no one, not even those closest to Greg, can answer this question. Somehow, someway Greg found a way to be allotted track time during the test, which showcases his pure determination to succeed as a racer. Nothing stood in the way of Greg Hodnett’s success, so the idea that he managed to land a seat in the test, despite not qualifying for the opportunity in any clear way, really shouldn’t surprise anyone.

Fast forward to Thursday, December 3, 1998. Drake, Newman, Elliott, Haudenschild and Hodnett travel to Texas Motor Speedway for their big day. Panther Racing fulfills their promise of providing a car for the test, and Johnny Rutherford, Scott Goodyear and IRL Executive Brian Barnhart arrive to supervise the sessions. On the surface, everything seemed to be coming together nicely. There was one major problem, however, as Mother Nature decided to be uncooperative, and threatened to rain at any moment. This resulted in IRL officials trying to move the test along as quickly as possible. As they began to determine what order the drivers would test, the officials noticed that Greg was significantly taller than his fellow testers, which created a problem. As result of Greg’s difference in height, significant cockpit adjustments were required to fit him into the car. IRL officials determined that he would be the last of the group to test as a result, as this would allow the officials to only have to make cockpit adjustments once, rather than make the changes multiple times as Greg switched out with other drivers.

Despite the threat of weather, the majority of Thursday’s test went off without a glitch, with Tony Elliott and Jay Drake each earning their IRL license by passing each of the four phases, with the final phase requiring the drivers to reach speeds of 210 MPH. Unfortunately for Ryan Newman, the rains came as he was beginning his fourth and final phase of his test. A thirty-five-minute downpour was enough to put an end to the first day of the rookie tests, with the remaining sessions being rescheduled for the following day. Newman had completed 35 laps and was in need of just 10 more between 205 and 210 mph to be officially licensed to race in the IRL. Because of Thursday’s bad weather and the forecast for rain throughout Friday morning, Friday’s agenda was scheduled to begin with Jac Haudenschild, with plans for Newman to be back in the car to complete his final phase after Jac, and Greg to follow.

Each driver returned to the speedway the following day in hopes of completing their tests, but overnight rains delayed the start of the sessions. Once things finally got back underway, Haudenschild was only able to complete 44 laps before the rains returned. Haudenschild turned a lap of 192.77 MPH and almost completed his first test phase before the session ended.

Having exhausted their two-day rental of the speedway, the IRL decided to cancel the remaining sessions. Newman was granted an opportunity to complete the final phase of his test at a later date, but Haudenschild and Hodnett would never set foot in an Indy car again. Of the five drivers that attended the test, Hodnett was the only one to never turn a lap.

During my conversation with Greg about the test, he repeatedly mentioned how disappointed he was that he never actually got to turn a lap in the car. As I reflect on his life, I can’t help but wonder what might have happened with Greg’s career if he had actually gotten a chance to test. Would he have ever been granted an opportunity in the IRL? How could have his career, and thus his life, been different? Greg was one of the most modest people I have ever known, as he was never one to brag or talk about his accomplishments. For that reason, very few people know that Greg ever had this opportunity. As someone with a medium such as this website, I felt it was my duty to tell this story. Greg Hodnett was an extraordinary man that did extraordinary things. This test was just a small chapter in his historic career, but a fascinating chapter nonetheless. I hope Greg doesn’t mind me sharing this story, because I know I’m not the only one that finds it interesting. Someday, when I can finally discuss the test with Greg again, he will be able to tell me the story of how he landed a seat in that test session. Until then, I will keep searching for answers, and crack a smile every time I hear the sound of an Indy Car engine. Rest in peace, Greg. I look forward to discussing this topic again someday.