Altoona Starting Field

This wonderful photo shows us the starting field of the June 12, 1926 250-mile race at the Altoona Speedway board track. Dave Lewis, prevailed for the win. Lewis had a long and very interesting career. He was a veteran of four "500s" with a best result of runnerup in 1925 with the help of relief driver Bennett Hill. It is worth noting that his first "500" was in 1916 but he did not return until nine years earlier. Lewis lost his life in 1928 not in a racing accident, but by suicide after a brushfire destroyed his ranch. Check out another image of Lewis during this same race on First Super Speedway. 
 
Note that drivers and crews are looking upward to the sky. One of our followers has indicated that there may have been a pre-race air show and that would explain the observation. First Super Speedway follower Carl Schulz has provided information that the airshow troupe "Three Musketeers" performed in a pre-race show.
 
Thanks to the Paul Sheedy Collection for this photo.