Vern Slagh

17/1/1940

Record updated 17-Jan-07

Vern Slagh didn't start racing until 1990, at the age of 50. He raced in the late-model division until 1999 when he joined the ARCA series. He made one appearance in NASCAR at the Busch Series event at Michigan in 2003.

Vern Slagh was born Zeeland, Michigan, USA. He didn't start racing until 1990, at the age of 50, when he was looking to promote one of the mobile-home parks he owned. He sponsored a car in a local race and while watching, he decided that it would be fun to drive. So, after attending the Fast Track High Performance Driving School at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, he took up competing in the late-model division in Marne, Michigan.

Over the next nine years he also raced in the RE/MAX Challenge Series, USAR Pro Cup and Midwestern late model divisions at Berlin, Winchester, Salem and Toledo Speedways. He was competed at Speedweeks at Volusia Speedway Park Florida.

In 1999 he moved up to ARCA. His best finish in ARCA is fifth, once at Berlin Raceway in 2000 and once at Winchester Raceway in 2001.

In 2002, Slagh took pole for the Channel 5-205. But after setting his time, race officials informed him that his right-side tires were too soft, and although they gave him the trophy for taking pole, he was forced to “withdraw” after a lengthy meeting with ARCA officials where he was basically told to jump, or be pushed. He thus became the only pole winner in Kentucky Speedway history not to take part in the race. Slagh denied treating his tires. Less than a week later, he put all his ARCA equipment up for sale and announced plans to move to the NASCAR Busch Series in 2003.

He only competed in one Busch Series event at Michigan. Starting 34th in the race, Slagh ended up with a 30th place finish in the race, two laps down.

He returned to the ARCA Series in 2004. A licensed fixed wing and helicopter pilot Slagh now concentrated on being a team owner.



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