Lee Kunzman was a resilient IndyCar driver who made four Indianapolis 500 starts between 1972 and 1979, achieving his best finishes of seventh place in both 1973 and 1977. His highest qualifying position was 11th in his final Indy 500 appearance in 1979.

Kunzman's career peak in IndyCar came with a second-place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1979, following an intense battle with Johnny Rutherford. After retiring from driving, he managed Hemelgarn Racing, leading them to victory at the 1996 Indianapolis 500 and the 2000 IndyCar Series championship with Buddy Lazier.

His impressive USAC career included 30 national feature victories (16 in Midget and 14 in Sprint Car). Kunzman's racing journey began with a victory in his first USAC race at Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, eventually leading to his 2006 induction into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame.

Despite suffering severe injuries throughout his career – including burns covering 40% of his body in 1970 and a devastating crash in 1973 that left him partially paralyzed – Kunzman demonstrated remarkable resilience. He returned from both accidents to achieve significant victories, including winning his first race back after the 1970 accident and finishing fourth at Ontario Motor Speedway in 1975, the very track where he had crashed just 15 months earlier.

Kunzman passed away on February 27, 2025, at age 80, leaving behind a legacy of determination and success in American motorsports.

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