1/8/2018
RacinBoys
Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex Club President Dean Hathman passes away
By Chris Hale (Sweet Springs, MO) -- Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex lost their club president Dean Hathman on Friday the 5th of January.
Dean had a long history in open wheel racing. He started in the 1960’s as a car owner. He fielded cars that ran primarily at Sportsman Speedway in Marshall, but he also ran other tracks in the Midwest.
In 1968, he teamed with Sedalia driver Bill Utz and took to the prestigious IMCA Sprint Car trail. They successfully finished 13th in points that season. In 1973 they reunited mid-season to take on the IMCA stars again. They finished 3rd behind Thad Dosher and Gene Gennetten. They stayed together and won the IMCA Championship in both 1974 and 1975, besting the likes of Jan Opperman and Ralph Parkinson Sr.
Dean later became very involved in Micro Sprint racing. From 1992 to 2018, Dean was either Chairman of Region 11 (that included Sweet Springs) or President of the Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex.
Dean also fielded 3 Micro Sprints for his son Scott and grandson Dean. They were a very successful team and won many championships.
Dean will be greatly missed by all of his friends at Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex and the entire motorsports community.
Submitted By: Kirk Elliott
