The late Al Unser discovered his dream of becoming a race car driver while working in his father’s auto repair shop in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Drivers competing on dirt tracks from California to Ohio would stop there for repairs before heading to the next race. Legends like A.J. Foyt, Lloyd Ruby, and Parnelli Jones were teenage Al’s idols.

The legendary Unser family went on to build an enduring legacy in the racing world, collectively winning nine Indianapolis 500s. Al himself claimed four of them. He left an incredible mark on the world of racing that now has a direct impact on Purdue students in the Circle City through a new scholarship program established by his wife of 21 years, Susan.

“We met on a blind date and were married by one of the two judges who introduced
us,” Susan says. “We had both just retired, and that first date begged the question, ‘What are you going to do for the second half of your life?’ We did some traveling, sat on the porch for a few months, and then realized we needed a project.”

First, the couple founded the Unser Racing Museum in Albuquerque. The next project was to remodel a building for the first 170 students admitted into Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School—New Mexico’s first public International Baccalaureate school.

“Interacting with the founders, staff, and students, Al recognized how important it is to have a broad education,” Susan says. “He was the official greeter each morning and was amazed by the energy, enthusiasm, and joy they brought to him and the campus.”

In 2004, Al was diagnosed with hemochromatosis. He passed away in 2021 after a 17-year battle with cancer.

“Not one to ever complain, Al embraced every day,” Susan says. “During his last year, he and I did a lot of reflecting on our lives and how we could share how fortunate we have been.”

Susan ultimately created the Al Unser Sr. Legacy Scholarship, which gives a full ride to selected Purdue students enrolled in the motorsports engineering program. Through the only accredited motorsports engineering degree in the country, Purdue University in Indianapolis teaches engineering with a focus on racing. Students get hands-on experience and direct connections to the industry in the
 “racing capital of the world.”

“Al always gave credit to the team he was on and to the engineers and crew who gave him a good car to win,” Susan says. “I know this scholarship would have made him very happy.”

—Nicolle DeWitt