Cavalcade's Extraordinary Grand Marshall

May 13, 2008

Occasionally, we are privileged to have with us, a living page of drag racing history. Our Grand Marshall for the 2^nd Annual B’laster PB 50 Cavalcade of Stars presented by Budweiser is just such a man. Tom Kasch made drag racing history by repeatedly resetting national records in some of the sports most competitive classes. Competing in Stock and Super Stock classes, Tom, with the help of his dedicated wife, Ruth, was class winner in NHRA events a total of 44 times, and runner-up 18 times. He also drove to 11 IHRA wins and 1 AHRA win. Tom and Ruth set NHRA class records an amazing 10 times, then backed that up with 8 IHRA records, and 1 AHRA record. That feat would be the envy of any professional driver on the national circuit, but those figures are just the highlights of a racing career that spanned more than 30 years and seemingly insurmountable odds.

Tom and Ruth have been together since Tom challenged her to a race on a Toledo, Ohio street at a time when police cars still had a single “bubble gum ball” on the top of their cars. As a matter of fact, they were both on their way home from the same drag race when cupid turned the stoplight red at that fateful intersection. Tom and Ruth married in 1962 and continued in the sport that they both loved. In 1969 Tom was struck from behind in a devastating accident, the result of which saw his right leg amputated above the knee, and left him with only 40% use of his left leg. The couple’s racing enterprise had been interrupted once when they were forced to sell their racecar to buy their first house, and an accident of the magnitude that befell Tom would have permanently sidelined a lesser man. Through years of grueling therapy, the couple’s love of racing never faded, and in 1972 Tom was back on the racetrack with a 1968 Camaro, fully equipped with hand controls, and with Ruth by his side. Over time, Tom’s accomplishments on the racetrack attracted the attention of some major automotive entities. In an unprecedented circumstance for sportsman racers, Tom was sponsored by Plymouth from 1979-80, Dodge, from 1984-87, Oldsmobile, from 1988-96, and by Pontiac from 1996-2000.

Ruth’s roll took on greater proportions than ever before. She pulled the heads of the racecar, changed cams, made sure everything was secure under the hood, changed the tires, cleaned and waxed, and loaded and unloaded the racecar. She kept everything in the garage in working order, and managed to remain strikingly good-looking in the process. In 1973, she even went so far as to drive the car at one of the WCS meets of the time, and followed that up with driving duties at the U.S. Nationals! Despite the impossible demands of their racing schedule, the couple managed to raise three children, one of which has made a career of building engines for one of the major NASCAR teams. It seems in the case of Tom and Ruth Kasch and their family, racing is hereditary.

Tom Kasch’s racing record stands by itself as a shining example of dedication, and the fortitude he has demonstrated in the face of such seemingly impossible odds stands as an example of the best that men can hope to be. Ruth’s dedication to Tom, family, and the sport that both of the couple love is as rare as it is wonderful. We are privileged and honored to have Tom Kasch as Grand Marshall of the 2^nd Annual B’laster PB 50 Cavalcade of Stars presented by Budweiser, and to have his lovely wife Ruth with us in her steadfast position by Tom’s side.