Woody Brinkman’s driving career began in 1947 in a midget at Playland Speedway Park in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and continued until 1953, even driving a Horning GMC-powered super roadster on the west coast during the Korean War. The year 1953 was the start of his long career as a race official with the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) and National Speedways, Inc. He retired from that side of racing in 1977 after serving as an advance man performing public relations, pit official and becoming one of the most respected starters in the business. He was also Vice-President of National Speedways, Inc. Brinkman was inducted into the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1999.