Vic Kangas

Mechanic
CLASS OF 2011

Vic Kangas gained notoriety as the mechanical mind behind the rise of young Ron Bouchard. With Vic massaging the chassis, Ronnie won the four Seekonk “Class A” championships (1966-69) that propelled him to New England fame. When Bouchard got his first solid NASCAR Modified ride with Dick Armstrong in 1971 (leading at Pocono and then finishing second in the Trenton Race of Champions) he had Kangas in his corner again.

But Kangas had done some winning before pairing with Bouchard. He worked with Brookline/Westboro icon Pete Salvatore, wrenched Tinker Progin to the 1965 Hudson Speedway title, and helped build one of the Modifieds that carried Ernie Gahan to the 1966 NASCAR championship. And in the years ahead, Kangas stood in victory lane with a number of drivers.

Another Bouchard, Ken, blossomed under Vic’s guidance, shining in both Late Models (in the fabled Oxford Opens) and Modifieds (taking the Yankee All-Star League crown) before his 21st birthday.

Vic’s path intersected with several NEAR Hall-of-Famers. George Summers won the 1976 Maine State Championship for Late Models with Kangas, and Pete Fiandaca often relied on Vic’s setup advice. Dave Dion, Gene Bergin, and Rene Charland also benefited from having Kangas in their pits.

After decades of short-track success, Kangas hit the big time, directing NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series efforts for drivers Ron Bouchard, Greg Sacks, Rob Moroso, and Kenny Wallace. In 1992, Vic served as crew chief for rising star Joe Nemechek, and together they won the 1992 NASCAR Busch Series Championship. Motorsports America now knew what New England racers had known for years: that Vic Kangas was an asset to any team, anytime, anywhere.