Kevin Gobrecht was 30 years old when he was killed in a violent sprint-car crash at I-80 Speedway in Nebraska.
Today, the World of Outlaws rookie of the year receives the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award, named for the driver known on the Central Pennsylvania circuit as The G Man.
After a successful career racing micro sprints, Gobrecht won his first sprint-car feature in mid-1995, and in 1996, victories came more frequently.
He posted victories driving for various sprint-car owners before he got the call from Dave Blaney to drive his World of Outlaws car in 1999. Gobrecht posted his biggest victory when he picked up the $100,000 top prize for winning The Big One at Eldora Speedway. It was his last victory.
Featured here (clockwise from top left): Taking it easy at the track in the mid-1990s; In victory lane in 1997 at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa.; The G Man at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway in 1999; With Mouse Green (left) and car owner Jack Elden (right) at Knoxville in 1996 when Gobrecht subbed for Jac Haudenschild; Celebrating a victory in 1998 at Williams Grove; Hanging out with Brooke Tatnell (right); At Williams Grove in 1995. — NSSN Archives