INDIANAPOLIS -- It's an incredible story: One man's passion for auto racing has entered its ninth decade.
Russ Vantreese will celebrate his 90th Indianapolis 500 this month – just 10 shy of the 100th anniversary the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is celebrating.
"I just think that as long as I'm still here, I'm going to be out there on race day," Vantreese said. "That's all there is to it."
Vantreese was 8 months old when his family took him to his first race in 1923. The winner was Tommy Milton.
The Indy 500 wasn't held during World War II from 1942-1945 – the same years Vantreese spent serving his country.
His wife of nearly 73 years, Donace, stopped attending the race in the 1970s.
"In our family, it's just natural. It's going to happen," she said. "Russ is going to the track, and that's fine."
Speed runs in the family. Vantreese's son David has joined his father on race day f or 55 years.
"From the time that I could start going, I've looked forward to it myself," David said. "So it's part of us. It's ingrained in us."
The same goes for David's sister Susie.
"He's down the row from me," Susie said. "He's in the first turn. I'm in the second turn. I can't think of a better way to honor my dad than to be out there when he's out there."
Vantreese says the racing bug bit him at age 12 – setting in motion a love for auto sports, particularly the Indianapolis 500.
MORE ON THE ROAD TO 100
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