Scott Brayton


Scott Everts Brayton was an American race car driver on the American open-wheel circuit. He competed in 14 Indianapolis 500s, beginning with the 1981 event. Brayton was killed in practice after qualifying for the pole position for the 1996 race.

Career

During the mid-1980s, Brayton helped introduce the Buick stock-block V-6 engine to Indianapolis. His father's firm, Brayton Engineering, was a major developer of the race engine. In 1985, he qualified 2nd and set the one-lap Indianapolis Motor Speedway track record in the process. He dropped out early and finished 30th when the engine expired. He would not finish the race again until 1989, when he scored his best finish at the Speedway, 6th place but seven laps down. He would equal this finishing position in 1993, driving a Lola-Cosworth for Dick Simon Racing.
When Buick pulled out of IndyCar racing in 1993, John Menard continued developing the engine, now badged as the Menard V-6. Brayton, now without a regular ride in the CART IndyCar series, joined the Indy-only Menards team in 1994. Their belief in the powerplant paid off when Brayton won his first Indy 500 pole position in 1995, at an average speed of. Turbocharger boost and pop-off valve problems relegated him to a 17th-place finish.
Brayton was prepared to make his NASCAR debut at the 1995 Brickyard 400. However, he crashed his car during a private test session, and suffered a broken ankle and a concussion.
In 1996, Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George established the Indy Racing League, and Team Menard signed up to compete in their first full season of IndyCar racing. Because the majority of the established teams and drivers of open-wheel racing competed in the rival CART series, Brayton were considered legitimate contenders for the IRL title. After a bad start to the season, Brayton asserted his competitiveness by winning his second Indy pole after a dramatic qualifying session in which he withdrew an already-qualified car to get a second chance at taking the top spot.
Brayton was making a practice run on May 17 in his backup car when it blew a tire going into turn two, and it then half-spun and hit the outside retaining wall at more than. Brayton's car scrubbed off virtually no speed as it spun, and as the car impacted the wall on its left side, the force was such that Brayton's head also impacted the wall. Brayton was killed instantly by the severe impact. His funeral, held in his hometown of Coldwater, Michigan, was attended by a large contingent of drivers and racing personalities.
Teammate Tony Stewart, who qualified second, took over the pole starting position. A substitute driver, Danny Ongais, took over the car with which Brayton had qualified for the pole, and finished seventh.

Personal life

Brayton began dating his future wife, Becky, in 1981 and an 11-year courtship followed. The couple have a daughter named Carly, who was 2 and a half years old at the time of Scott's death.
On Easter Sunday 1999, Becky married another IRL driver, Robbie Buhl, who would later become a partner in Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.

Memorial Street Circuit

A street course in Grand Rapids, Michigan, used for SCCA racing was known as the Scott Brayton Memorial Street Circuit. It was used for the West Michigan Grand Prix in 1998 and 1999, after which the event folded.

Scott Brayton Trophy

Following Brayton's death, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced a new trophy for the Indianapolis 500 dedicated to the driver who best exemplifies the attitude, spirit and competitive drive of Brayton. A driver could only be awarded the trophy once in his/her Indy career. It was awarded through 2009.
YearWinner
1997John Paul, Jr.
1998Roberto Guerrero
1999Eliseo Salazar
2000Eddie Cheever
2001Davey Hamilton
2002Arie Luyendyk
2003Buddy Lazier
2004Hélio Castroneves
2005Kenny Bräck
2006Sam Hornish, Jr.
2007Tony Kanaan
2008Vítor Meira
2009Sarah Fisher

Racing record

American open-wheel racing results

PPG Indycar Series

YearTeam1234567891011121314151617RankPoints
1981Brayton RacingPHX
15
MIL
11
ATL
9
ATL
10
MCH
7
RIV
8
MIL
21
MCH
24
WGL
20
MEX
23
PHX
DNQ
13th57
1982Brayton RacingPHX
14
ATL
MIL
14
CLE
MCH
11
MIL
POC
24
RIV
ROA
MCH
10
PHX
33rd11
1983Brayton RacingATL
INDY
9
MIL
CLE
24
MCH
12
ROA
POC
28
RIV
MDO
MCH
13
CPL
26
LAG
PHX
24th5
1984Brayton RacingLBH
PHX
INDY
18
MIL
22
POR
25
MEA
14
CLE
11
MCH
13
ROA
12
POC
6
MDO
12
SAN
11
MCH
DNS
PHX
23
LAG
15
CPL
8
23rd19
1985Brayton RacingLBH
11
INDY
30
MIL
DNQ
POR
6
MEA
15
CLE
25
MCH
8
ROA
POC
16
MDO
SAN
MCH
22
22nd15
1985Hemelgarn RacingLAG
26
PHX
18
MIA
DNQ
22nd15
1986Hemelgarn RacingPHX
24
LBH
INDY
30
MIL
POR
MEA
CLE
TOR
MCH
13
POC
27
MDO
SAN
MCH
19
ROA
LAG
PHX
MIA
NC0
1987Hemelgarn RacingLBH
PHX
INDY
12
MIL
POR
5
MEA
10
CLE
TOR
MCH
22
POC
25
ROA
MDO
NAZ
LAG
MIA
22nd14
1988Hemelgarn RacingPHX
15
LBH
23
INDY
31
MIL
10
POR
9
CLE
16
TOR
14
MEA
11
MCH
26
POC
10
MDO
ROA
NAZ
18
LAG
MIA
24
23rd12
1989Dick Simon RacingPHX
15
LBH
12
INDY
6
MIL
18
DET
DSQ
POR
13
CLE
28
MEA
10
TOR
14
MCH
11
POC
14
MDO
15
ROA
13
NAZ
10
LAG
20
15th17
1990Dick Simon RacingPHX
13
LBH
9
INDY
7
MIL
20
DET
10
POR
25
CLE
22
MEA
9
TOR
14
MCH
16
DEN
12
VAN
9
MDO
8
ROA
13
NAZ
12
LAG
24
15th28
1991Dick Simon RacingSRF
6
LBH
8
PHX
13
INDY
17
MIL
6
DET
9
POR
15
CLE
7
MEA
9
TOR
6
MCH
9
DEN
16
VAN
10
MDO
13
ROA
11
NAZ
19
LAG
27
12th52
1992Dick Simon RacingSRF
20
PHX
9
LBH
17
INDY
22
DET
12
POR
22
MIL
3
NHA
17
TOR
17
MCH
10
CLE
21
ROA
12
VAN
8
MDO
10
NAZ
8
LAG
10
15th39
1993Dick Simon RacingSRF
16
PHX
25
LBH
24
INDY
6
MIL
6
DET
14
POR
17
CLE
18
TOR
19
MCH
11
NHA
6
ROA
7
VAN
24
MDO
9
NAZ
15
LAG
24
15th36
1994Team MenardSRFPHX
LBH
INDY
20
MIL
DET
POR
CLE
TOR
MCH
MDO
NHA
VAN
ROA
NAZ
LAG
49th0
1995Team MenardMIA
SRF
PHX
LBH
NAZ
INDY
17
MIL
DET
POR
ROA
TOR
CLE
MCH
MDO
NHA
VAN
LAG
34th1

Indy Racing League

Indianapolis 500

For the 1996 Indianapolis 500, Brayton qualified on the pole. The following Friday he was fatally injured driving a back-up car during practice. In the race Danny Ongais drove the pole car and finished seventh.