Former Indiana driver Cooksey dies
Former Late Model racer Gary Cooksey of Solsberry, Ind. died May 15 after a battle with cancer. He was 66.
Cooksey began his racing career driving hobby stocks in the 1970s before transitioning to Late Models in 1985 driving the No. C3 car owned by Bloomington, Ind.-based Wayne and Connie Feltner.
Cooksey’s biggest career win came in 1985 at Twin Cities Raceway Park in North Vernon, Ind. when he won the Joe James-Pat O’Connor Memorial Race. The long-standing open wheel race traditionally held at Salem Ind. Speedway was moved to Twin Cities that year because of storm damage at Salem as it became a Dirt Late Model race that season.
Cooksey’s best overall season was in 1988 when he finished fifth in Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway's Late Model points. Cooksey was followed in the No. C3 by Bloomington, Ind., brothers Gary and Ernie Barrow.
Gary Elmer Cooksey was a logger and farmer and former member of the Solsberry Masonic Lodge.
Survivors include three children, Ryan Josh and Ashley, along with 10 grandchildren. Find the complete obituary at jenkinsfuneralhomes.com. — James Essex
