Hall of Fame Driver Ivan Little Passes  

Hall of Fame Driver Ivan Little Passes

Weedsport, NY (Oct. 25, 2023) – The Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame extends deepest condolences to the family and friends of Ivan Little, a standout Canadian competitor for more than 30 years, who passed away on October 25 at the age of 85.

Little, from St. Catharines, ONT, was inducted into the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame in 1996.

For much of his career, Little called Merrittville Speedway home, getting his start in June 1955 behind the wheel of a ’35 Ford he cobbled together with three of his buddies. It was a daunting debut: “That first race,” Ivan had recalled, “I got lapped twice.”

The partnership dissolved before the summer was over, but Little had caught the bug. He came back the following season in a car of his own, honing his skills at Ransomville and Humberstone, in addition to Merrittville.

Following a four-year detour into the asphalt Supermodified division with good friend Jeno Begolo, “Drivin’ Ivan” was back on the stock car scene in 1964. Two years later, he claimed his first driving title at Merrittville. Over the course of his career, Little would win a second Merrittville championship (17 years after the first), and Modified titles at Humberstone in 1970 and Ransomville in 1971. He hung up his helmet following the 1986 season, with an estimated 200+ wins to his credit.

A career highlight was his decisive victory in the 1970 Southern Tier Open at Five Mile Point, at a time when he was really tearing up the tracks.

“My best season was 1967 when we won 25 features,” Ivan said prior to his Hall of Fame induction.

“While he may have regularly been one of the last cars to arrive on race night, he was just as regularly the first car to the finish line,” son Jamie pointed out.

To be sure, when Little pulled through the gates, his entry was a showstopper: a painstakingly-prepared black No. 61 Modified with chrome-plated bumpers, emblazoned with crimson flames.

As an homage to his childhood hero and fellow Canadian, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series racer Stewart Friesen debuted a throwback paint scheme at Darlington this past May, in tribute to Ivan Little.