Jerry Sneva, of prominent area racing family, dies at age 68

Jerry Sneva, an important member of the Inland Northwest’s most prominent motor-racing family, died Saturday in Indianapolis at the age of 68.

Among five sons of area racing pioneer Edsol Sneva, Jerry Sneva, a Spokane native, had lived in Indiana for several years. Although overshadowed by his oldest brother, Tom, a member of the Motorsports Hall of Fame, he made his own history at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the sport’s most prestigious venue.

Known to racing friends as Giles, his middle name, Jerry Sneva was the Indianapolis 500’s Rookie of the Year in 1970, when he finished 10th. His 28 career IndyCar starts included five other appearances in the 500, 1978-80 and 1982. In 1980, he raced with the leaders until he hit the wall on Turn 1.

Like other family members, Sneva drove stock cars on the Spokane area’s dirt tracks before graduating into open-wheel cars. He raced in the USAC and CART Championship Car series and on the Canadian-American Modified Racing Association (CAMRA) circuit.

For many years, he delivered school buses as a sideline, driving them to Washington state from the Wayne Corporation’s plant near Indianapolis.

Sneva is survived by his wife, Kathy, a son and a daughter, as well as his brothers Tom, Blaine and Jan, all of whom won CAMRA championships. Jerry won his in 1974. The fourth brother, Edsol “Babe” Sneva, died in a 1976 racing accident. Jerry’s son, Trevor, who is known as T.J., designs and manufactures custom alpine skis in Spokane.