An IndyCar racing driver who carried his family’s name to the Brickyard, Richard Rick Treadway died on May 30, 2026, at the age of 56. Known for his competitive run in the 2002 Indianapolis 500 and his vibrant entrepreneurial spirit, he was a beloved figure in the American open-wheel racing community.

Treadway's journey in racing was inextricably linked to his father, Fred Treadway, a prominent Indianapolis businessman whose team famously won the 1997 Indianapolis 500. While Rick honed his skills in midgets and sprint cars, his ultimate goal was contributing to the Treadway family legacy. He often expressed immense pride in the organization, noting that it was a thrill to race for his father's IndyCar team when they set speed records. As reported by WTHR, this familial bond anchored his professional life even as he carved out his own identity on the track.

During his peak years in the Indy Racing League, Treadway found a formidable mentor and teammate in two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk. The pair raced together for Treadway and Associates Racing during the 2002 season, a year that saw Rick qualify 17th for the 86th Indianapolis 500. Luyendyk remembered his teammate as a fun, crazy, humble, wild and brave personality. This partnership was a highlight of Treadway's 11 career starts, which included a career-best fifth-place finish at the 2001 Chevy 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. As noted by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, his presence in the paddock was defined by a mix of high-speed ambition and approachable charm.

Beyond the cockpit, Treadway was a man who embraced his public persona with self-deprecating humor, often leaning into the Ricky Bobby moniker. As the President of Ricky Bobby USA, LLC, he channeled his entrepreneurial spirit into digital media and consumer technologies. He remained a fixture in the racing community long after his professional retirement, frequently participating in the Indy Legends Charity Pro-Am races between 2014 and 2018. Fellow driver Conor Daly noted the significance of the Treadway name to the racing community, while others recalled him as a personable guy who loved signing autographs for fans. He once joked about his name, calling himself Ricky Bobby Treadway or actually Richard Treadway.

Treadway will be remembered as a driver who balanced the intensity of 230 mph competition with a grounded, accessible nature. He treated the racing world not just as a series of statistics, but as a network of friends and family. His legacy remains tied to the speedway where he carried his father's colors, leaving behind a reputation for bravery on the track and warmth in the grandstands.