Rager 's underdog story became one of the feel - good stories of that year 's 500 .
Rager 's underdog story come race day the Nebraska native was a firm underdog with the 250,000 people in attendance at the Brickyard .
Rager 's underdog story became one of the feel - good stories of that year 's 500 , and come race day the Nebraska native was a firm underdog with the 250,000 people in attendance at the Brickyard .