David Stremme: the other 1977

Born 1977 — racing

A racing family's son: David Stremme was born in South Bend on 19 June 1977 — the same year as Ryan Newman, in the same city — and came out of a racing family entire: his great-uncle raced in the 1950s, and his father, his mother, and his brother were all racers and champions at Midwest tracks; the Stremme name appears among the racing families of South Bend Motor Speedway in SPEED SPORT's account of the track. His first stock-car victory came at fifteen, at New Paris Speedway, in his mother's street stock — and was forfeited, because he had no driver's license. He climbed the short-track ladder to NASCAR: Rookie of the Year in the Busch Series in 2003, and more than two hundred starts in the Cup Series for owners including Ganassi and Penske. After his driving years at the top level he founded Lethal Chassis, a race-car chassis builder, in Mooresville, North Carolina — a South Bend racer become a supplier to the sport that raised him.

Sources:

1. Penske Racing media guide, David Stremme biography — born 19 June 1977, South Bend; the racing family (great-uncle in the 1950s; father, mother, and brother racers and champions); the first win at fifteen at New Paris in his mother's street stock, forfeited for want of a driver's license; the 2003 Busch Series Rookie of the Year; the Cup career with Ganassi and Penske past two hundred starts; Lethal Chassis in Mooresville.
2. Stan Kalwasinski, SPEED SPORT, 27 May 2024 — the Stremme family among the racing families of South Bend Motor Speedway.