Lee Kunzman

Lee Kunzman (November 29, 1944 – February 27, 2025) was an American driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1969, 1972–1973 and 1975-1980 seasons, with 48 combined career starts, including the 1971-1973, 1977, and 1979 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 21 times, with his best finish in 2nd position in 1979 at Atlanta.

Early in his career, he was the 1967 IMCA sprint car Rookie of the Year. Severe injuries from two accidents limited his driving in the early 1970s. In June 1970, Kunzman suffered an accident driving a sprint car at I-70 Speedway that left him with 3rd degree burns over 40% of his body, including severe burns to his nose, eyelids and lips, as well as a broken neck and right arm. Kunzman took 11 months to recover, returning to racing in April 1971, but suffered permanent scaring from the burns. Kunzman suffered a second major crash in December 1973 driving an IndyCar at Ontario Motor Speedway for a tire test. The accident left Kunzman with major head injuries and paralysis on the left side of his body. Kunzman did not return to racing until 1975. After completing his driving career, he became the general manager for Hemelgarn Racing and was part of Buddy Lazier's Indianapolis 500 winning team in 1996 and championship winning team in 2000.

Kunzman died on February 27, 2025, at the age of 80.