Gary Sokola, whose 10-year tenure as USAC's Assistant Director of Competition and Sprint Car Series Supervisor served to expand USAC's Sprint Car operations, passed away yesterday in a Wichita, Kansas hospital at age 59. Complications from gall bladder problems were given as the cause of death.
Following an abbreviated 14-race Sprint Car campaign in 1987, USAC Competition Director Roger McCluskey secured the services of Sokola, who became a USAC employee on December 1 of that year. He continued in his USAC position until 1997 when he moved to Dodge City, Kansas to oversee the construction of one of America's newest state-of-the-art short-track racing facilities - Dodge City Raceway Park. As that track's race organizer, he invited the USAC Western Sprint Car Series to compete as part of this year's inaugural racing season at the 3/8-mile paved oval.
Gary was born in Livonia, Mich. in 1941 and growing up in the midwest, quickly became an avid racing fan. In 1960 he moved to the west coast after a two-year hitch in the U.S. Navy. In 1977 he replaced the late Don Peabody as the Director of Racing and Director of Marketing for the California Racing Association (CRA) and served in that capacity until his move to USAC.
A primary mover in the formation of USAC's extremely-competitive Western Midget Car Series in the early-1980's, Gary also was instrumental in the return of pavement USAC Sprint car racing in 1988 after a six-year hiatus. He survived by parents Pete and Marie Sokola of Grass Valley, Calif., son Mark of Costa Mesa, Calif., daughter Laurie of Laguna Beach, Calif. and granddaughter Kandace.
MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR GARY SOKOLA WILL BE HELD AT THE SHERATON FOUR POINTS HOTEL IN MONROVIA, CALIFORNIA ON WEDNESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 22 AT 7:00 P.M.
THE SCRA HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WILL NAME A RACE IN SOKOLA'S HONOR DURING THE 2001 SEASON.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS THE FAMILY HAS REQUESTED THAT DONATIONS BE MADE TO THE SCRA (2760 MENDOZA, COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA 92626) FOR THAT EVENT.
