Rocky Moran, one of the greatest IndyCar drivers in his craft, has died after a courageous and lengthy battle with cancer at the age of 74. Moran is survived by his wife Kayla, sons Cody and Rocky Jr., daughter Kelly, and seven grandchildren. The driver leaves behind a legacy like no other. Many in the Indy community remember him as a great driver with a warm personality who had never met a stranger, and coupled with his stellar racing skills, it wouldn’t be long before he would begin gaining noticeability on the track.
How it All Got Started
Rocky Moran began his journey in 1971 as an amateur racer and drove for several teams on the West Coast. But he had his sights set on bigger and better things. This determination would eventually allow him to race in national series like the International Motorsports Association (IMSA), Trans-Am, and Can-Am until he was noticed by Dan Gurney, one of the best in the business. Gurney, a racer and owner of All-American Racers in Santa Ana, California, was no stranger to good talent when he saw it and jumped at the chance.
Therefore, he invited him in 1981 to drive for his team in the iconic no. 48 Eagle Chevrolet, known to fans as the “Pepsi Challenger.” Rocky Moran debuted behind the wheel at Watkins Glen in the IndyCar cart series race with a pretty impressive qualification of 7th in a field of 24. The driver would luckily lead the first 24 laps of the race, but this luck would be shortlived after a pit stop left him lacking the fuel needed to make it to the checkered flag.
Left feeling disappointed, Moran wasn’t sure how he stood after the race, and minus the hiccup, he was still honored with sixth in entry for his first IndyCar race. Regardless, he decided to take a three-year break, returning in 85′ to race for the Leader Card Racing Team, where he earned 15th on his home turf in Long Beach. That’s pretty impressive for a career start, but it was only the beginning.
Rocky Moran’s Most Notable Accomplishments
Though Rocky Moran had a shaky start, he was thrust into the spotlight once joining Leader Card Racing. Still, once he learned his childhood idol and former boss Dan Gurney was joining the International Motorsports Association (IMSA), he thought he’d give it a shot. Also, the opportunity to race with Gurney again was equally tempting, and it wouldn’t be long before he’d be behind the wheel of a Toyota Celica GTO as the team’s factory driver while racing in IndyCar with Gohr Racing and accomplished a 13th spot in standings.
Yearning for more, Moran returned to IndyCar full-time in 1987, where he tested and failed to qualify for the Indy 500 for former racing great Salt Walther,, who passed in 2012. Salt Walter is most well known for a near-fatal crash in 1973 during an 11-car pile-up in the Indianapolis 500. After failing the qualification, he continued to race in IMSA until 1989, when Gohr obtained a Toyota GTO program for IndyCar and secured a 6th-place win.
He would finish the season with Gohr until he came under A.J. Foyt’s radar and subsequently signed with Curb Racing, skyrocketing his career in 1989. He started in 28th position but didn’t let that stop him from holding on until he made it to 14th in the overall standings. He would continue his success into the 90s, focusing more on endurance. Perhaps the greatest of Rocky Moran’s achievements was supporting his eldest son, Rocky Jr., in chasing his professional racing dreams.
Final Thoughts
Rocky Moran had a career most could only dream of racing for revered figures in the business like Dan Gurney, Gohr Racing, and A.J. Foyt, balancing Cart IndyCar and IMSA, and supporting his son Rocky Jr. Though he was known for being a notable figure racing he was best known for his kindness and willingness to make those around him feel accepted and welcome and that’s how he’ll continue to be remembered by all those who knew him in the open-wheel community.
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