Today the racing world mourns another loss with the passing of Earl Gaerte. Known as an innovator in oval short track engines, Gaerte was elected to numerous Hall of Fame because of his lifelong work.

Gaerte was hospitalized in April and had been battling an infection. At 8:50 this morning, 8 August, 2011, Earl Gaerte passed away.

Earl made his name in open wheel racing by building engines that have taken Steve and Karl Kinser, Sammy Swindell, Levi Jones, and many others to championships. None of these were more telling than Sammy Swindell’s years of chasing the WoO Championship only to get edged out by Steve Kinser. Swindell switched to Gaerte engine power and won his first two Championships. Continue Reading »