By Lindsay Doty
Dick Jordan has passed away at the age of 74. The Hendricks County resident was a longtime public relations man for the United States Auto Club (USAC) – one of the sanctioning bodies of American auto racing.
He spent more than 50 years tirelessly working and promoting auto racing and drivers.
Jordan died on Friday, according to the USAC website. He was battling an inoperable form of pancreatic cancer.
The organization’s website posted this: “We are saddened by the passing of our friend , Dick Jordan,” USAC President Kevin Miller said.
“His career in racing was unparalleled and his devotion to USAC was second to none. More than that, he was a devoted friend to everyone he ever met. It is a very sad day at USAC, and he will be greatly missed.”
Jordan started at USAC in 1968 when he had to call in race results from a pay phone. Through the decades, he had multiple roles at the organization, including communications director and vice president. To many, he was USAC.
In May, Jordan shared some of his sports collection with the Hendricks County ICON. He said then he knew his days were numbered.
“I look at it as one day at a time,” he told a reporter. “That’s the only way you can look at it and see how far it all lasts.”
Jordan has been the ultimate public relations guy, making sure the fans and media heard about the races. He wrote more than 25,000 press releases and was a walking encyclopedia of driver stats and races.
He collected signed helmets, autographs, vintage program, and other rare motorsports memorabilia.
He has been inducted into multiple racing Hall of Fames and was recently awarded his own plaque with The Indiana Racing Memorial Association.
For a man who grew up going to the track with his parents in the 50s and attended his first Indy 500 in 1956 (and every one since), it was a dream job.
