Ernie Gahan

Ernest E. Gahan was an American stock car racing driver. He spent the majority of his career racing in the Modified division, and won the 1966 NASCAR Modified Championship.

Racing career

Ernie Gahan started racing in 1947 at the Dover Speedway, New Hampshire, and regularly competed at the renowned tracks of the northeast including Cheshire Fairgrounds, New Hampshire; Stafford Motor Speedway, Connecticut; and in New York at Fonda Speedway and Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon. He made eleven appearances in the NASCAR Grand National Series between 1960 and 1966 with a best finish of 6th at the Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds, South Carolina.
Gahan was inducted into the New England Auto Racers, the New York State Stock Car Association, and the Northeast Dirt Modified Halls of Fame.

Carnegie Hero

Ernie Gahan along with four others rescued Marvin Panch from a burning race car at the Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 1963, and each received the prestigious Carnegie Medal for their heroism. That same year, Gahan pulled fellow racer Bill Wimble from a burning wreck during a race in Syracuse, New York.