1968 Buick 7-11 Crapshooter

When David Thompson and his father-in-law, 'Pappy' Dekker, built this Sprint Car in 1968, they knew they had something special - but they also saw the racing game changing to sponsor-supported teams. 'We had a sales gut set us up (at a Big Three manufacturer),' relates Thompson, 'but then we found out that the company wanted to dictate even the color of the car, the number we wanted to put on it - even who would drive it.'

Thompson hired well-known driver Duane Knoll to drive the Buick that became one of the last track record-setting cars to go without a sponsor. Thompson estimates he put no more than $6,000 - $8,000 into the car. Money and deep pocket sponsors soon changed the sport and the car could no longer compete with teams investing $60,000 - $80,000 into their rides.

Source - Gilmore Car Museum