Penske goes into motorsports’ big weekend as a Hall of Famer

INDIANAPOLIS » Roger Penske spent three summers of his childhood at Culver Military Academy, where young boys gathered for eight weeks at a time to learn about leadership, teamwork, integrity and accountability.

Penske looks back at those summers in Indiana and knows they helped lay the groundwork for the empire he’s built.

“Ironically, not too far from Indianapolis” Penske said.

Penske heads into the biggest weekend of motorsports with four cars capable of winning the Indianapolis 500, and another three that should contend in NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600. It’s his favorite weekend of the year because it celebrates motorsports — Penske’s equivalent of fishing or golfing or hunting — and this year, he is a central part of the celebration.

Penske was one of five nominees selected this week for NASCAR’s Hall of Fame . NASCAR Chairman Brian France called Penske “a man of the highest integrity” and cited the standard of excellence “The Captain” sets in every aspect of his life — excellence found in every element of the Penske Corp.

In his first interview since he learned of his election, Penske pointed to his parents and the childhood they gave him for shaping his career. Yes, they sent him to Culver, but “I wasn’t a bad boy,” he insisted. They also sent him to YMCA camp in Canada, where he learned portaging, rode the rapids and lived in jungle hammocks.