Caruthers then served in the us army but still competed, wherever possible, in ardc events. Jimmy caruthers douglas jimmy caruthers january 18, 1945 october 26, 1975 was an american racecar driver from anaheim, california. His father, doug caruthers, owned and built championship cars and midgets, and operated the first quarter. Morales has had an alex foods special at indy every year since 1975 when he sponsored the late jimmy caruthers in one of his last rides. James richard davies august 8, 1929 june 11, 1966 was an american racecar driver in champ cars and midgets. In fact, the usac national midget division didnt find its first driver champion under the age of 30 until its 15th year of existence when 25yearold jimmy caruthers.
Jimmy, dannys brother and cousin of lonnie was also a great midget driver, and all of them won hundreds of 14 midget races. Jimmy caruthers nationality american born january 18, 1945 hometown anaheim, california died october 26, 1975 place of death orange, california racing highlights. My brothers jimmy and danny were the 1970 and 1971 usac midget national champions, jimmy also won the usac dirt title and drove indy cars. And some more american midget hall of fame drivers 1989 duane carter 1990 duane pancho carter 1991 wally zale 1992 jimmy caruthers jr 1993 doug caruthers sr,larry rice.
Jack gesler, at left, and jimmy caruthers, at age 6, cruise around viking trailer in a quarter midget car built especially for them in the early 1950s. Jimmy caruthers racing career profile driver database. Wally has a successful and wellrespected driving school held at orange show speedway in san bernardino, california. I was at danny carruthers last race at corona speedway, it was a crazy night at the races. Jan 27, 2017 jimmy also won the 1970 usac national midget championship. He won 12 features in his first full year of midget racing in usac, and was just 21 years old, but eldon danny caruthers will ever be remembered for what. I have the history from the last owner driver forward. With only the one usac race to his credit, danny caruthers, driving one of his fathers potent sescochevypowered midgets, tackled the. In lima, ohio, on may 15, caruthers won his first usac midget feature, beating his brother at the checkered flag. Jimmy won 21 usac midget car features between 1967 and 1975 sprint car career.
Jimmy also won the 1970 usac national midget championship. Rounding a turn at start of main event, jimmy caruthers, 9, in car 7 takes the lead. Competing while stationed stateside with the us armed forces, he nearly won the ardc sprint car championship before being shipped. Nov 02, 1975 jimmy won the 1970 usac midget championship and waged a fierce battle with his brother, danny, for the 1971 crown. Passed away after a courageous fight against cancer, whilst still at his peak, indeed he won the 1975 dirt car title as he was dying. In the 80s he started building radiocontrolled model airplanes, then moved up to work on fullsize planes, first as a restorer and then as. Caruthers started his racing career at the age of 9, driver quarter midgets at upland calif. His championship was the closest in usac midget history, as he beat dave strickland by 12. In 1971, he finished second to his brother danny, but danny won the title. One glorious summer for danny caruthers page 2 of 2 speed.
Click on the site to see jimmy caruthers s career results at that track glossary. Larry burton was the crew chiefengine builder for billy engelhart in 1973 when the wisconsin driver won ascots turkey night grand prix, then and now the biggest midget race in the country. His father, doug, is the founder of the quarter racing association. Small hands take the wheel sports illustrated vault. A week after danny had clinched the title, the throttle on his car stuck during. Caruthers, kenyon, kinser, and rice selected for usac hall. Eddie won his first rmmra title in 1960, adding to his main event totals and became the man to beat in the rmmra, and was a tough midget driver to beat, anywhere he went. He competed in the ardc while stationed on the east coast during his.
Oct 26, 2015 40 years ago today jimmy caruthers passed away after a wellchronicled battle with cancer. Jan 17, 2008 kinda eerie seeing the indy car that jimmy caruthers crashed at pocono in 1973, it hasnt been touched since he wrecked it, his name is even still on the tub although faded, i remember where we were in springfield illinois when we got a phone call telling us they didnt think he was going to make it, he not only made it he ran 2nd the next year 1974 at the pocono 500 and also 2nd the same year. First multitime usac midget winners can gain edge in usac. Bob wente 1961, billy vukovich 1968, jimmy caruthers 1973, bob wente 1979, jeff. He followed that win by topping the next two, once again beating jimmy caruthers. Girl driver donna richards, 8, patiently waits for the race to begin while her. Jimmy, and many other young men who impacted american racing during. Growing up in fresno, california, his father, tommy astone sr. Danny caruthers took the ultracompetitive usac national midget. Usac national midget driver champions year driver 1956 shorty templeman. The objective was to race all the usac points races in 1979. The run of the twenties continued for a fouryear string, followed by jimmy s 21yearold brother, danny caruthers, in 1971, 22yearold pancho.
Gary bettenhausen, danny and jimmy caruthers, mel kenyon, larry rice, rich vogler and billy vukocvich. He finished second to his brother danny caruthers in 1971. National midget driver of the year 40 years ago today jimmy caruthers passed away after a wellchronicled battle with cancer. Wally pankratz driving school and three generations of midget. Apr 25, 2008 and some more american midget hall of fame drivers 1989 duane carter 1990 duane pancho carter 1991 wally zale 1992 jimmy caruthers jr 1993 doug caruthers sr,larry rice 1994 johnny parsons jr 1995 stan fox 1996 dave strickland 1997 jimmy snyder 1998 bill vukovich jr,don kenyon mel kenyon. His cars were driven by some of the best in the business, including. He won the united states auto club midget championship in 1970 and. From 1956 to 1979, usac sanctioned the united states national championship, and from 1956 to 1997 the organization sanctioned the indianapolis 500.
He won 12 features in his first full year of midget racing in usac, and was just 21 years old, but eldon danny caruthers will ever be remembered for what he did that season, and what he could have done in the future. He won the united states auto club midget championship in 1970 and raced in his first indianapolis. Features vintage sprint car pic thread, 1965 and older. In 1971, he finished second to his brother danny, but danny won the title posthumously after dying in a race crash in november. Features vintage sprint car pic thread, 1965 and older only. Tiny racers were at disneyland long before cars land. He captured the national midget title in 1970 and five years later 1975 won the silver crown title before his untimely death due to cancer near the end of that year. Click on the number of races to see individual races for that year. The great jimmy caruthersone of my favorite drivers race car track, race. Jimmy caruthers he was born on january 18, 1945 died on october 26, 1975, he was 30 years old. I started my own racing career when i was about 12 racing go karts. Dec 04, 2007 i was at danny carruthers last race at corona speedway, it was a crazy night at the races.
He was the second man to win three usac national midget championships. National midget auto racing hall of fame driver tommy. Injured driver who specializes in midget cars has been a favorite at the track. Meteoric rise and tragic death of a midget champion posted in midgetmadness forum. At the time of his death he had won more races than any other car owner in the history of the united states auto club. Jimmy caruthers american racing driver age, birthday. Rodney dangerfield at his best on the tonight show starring johnny carson 1983 duration. Inductees are often honored with their award in january at the chili bowl at tulsa list of inductees. Driver inductions and special award ceremonies are scheduled for thursday, july 25, at the northeast dirt modified museum and hall of fame on the grounds of. In fact, across the board, its almost a scattershot of whether a first multitime winner.
In progress as of february 2020, complete racebyrace results are available for 1985, 19951996, and from 1999 to the present, with race listings available from the series inception in 1956 to 1998. Jimmy caruthers born 18 jan 1945 anaheim, california. It became obvious the battle for the 1971 national title would be a family affair between talented brothers, driving their dads cars. Today, usac serves as the sanctioning body for a number of racing series, including the silver crown series, national sprint cars, national.
In 1979, which was the very first year that he raced a midget, stan fox was the driver, and don edmunds built the car from his shop edmunds auto research shop in anaheim, california. History vintage cageless midget picture thread page 12. Ocfs pioneer driver ray brown joins ne mod hall of fame. From usac sprint history 19561980, cal hungness, publisher. First multitime winners gain edge on usac midget season. Jimmy bryan was one of his drivers and took his rookie test at. Girl driver donna richards, 8, patiently waits for the race to begin while her father, earl, kneels beside the tiny car. Oddly enough, in those average years of five races before a driver first reached victory lane twice in a season, not a single usac national midget champion arose. Tiny racers were at disneyland long before cars land orange. The united states auto club usac is one of the sanctioning bodies of auto racing in the united states. Aug 01, 20 rodney dangerfield at his best on the tonight show starring johnny carson 1983 duration. Arizona motorsports racer larry burton obituary attesa. Apr 16, 2020 astone was part of a legendary west coast racing family that has been involved in the sport for over 75 years.
Apr 20, 2015 jimmy caruthers excelled in usacs national championship, silver crown and midget series. I have never in my life scene such dusty conditions as that day. Meteoric rise and tragic death of a midget champion. Bob wente 1961, billy vukovich 1968, jimmy caruthers 1973, bob wente 1979, jeff nuckles 1981, dan drinan 1995, ricky shelton 1998, ryan newman 1999, darren hagen. Danny caruthers responded with an impressive seventhplace finish. Don edmunds was one of the most prolific builders of midgets through the 1960s and 1970s. When davies won the 100mile 160 km aaa championship race at del mar, california on november 6, 1949 aged 20 years, 2 months, 29 days, he became the. The always playful jimmy caruthers hammed it up, right on the top of johnny parsons. He scored 21 midget wins and made 43 indy car starts, including four indianapolis 500s.
According to steve, the 9 actually came about by accident. He was a six time champion at that tough kansas city olympic stadium 193840414249 under kcmara and 1952 under the aaa banner. Douglas jimmy caruthers was an american racecar driver from anaheim california. Driver relations cousin of lonnie caruthers disclaimer. Roy caruthers racing career profile driver database. Eddie jackson number 5 page 2 auto racing memories.
Jimmy broke in as a driver at the age of 6, in quarter. Caruthers, kenyon, kinser, and rice selected for usac hall of. He was 2nd in rmmra points in 61, champ in 62 and 63. In fact, across the board, its almost a scattershot of whether a first multitime winner will eventually become the champion later that year. Quarter midget racers from late 50searly 60s page 27. National midget auto racing hall of fame wikipedia.
In fact, the usac national midget division didnt find its first driver champion under the age of 30 until its 15 th year of existence when 25yearold jimmy caruthers captured the crown in 1970. He won 21 usac midget features between 1967 and 1975. Usac names final four 2015 hof inductees performance. He won the usac national midget championship in 1970. I had reason to speak to the promoter of the grand prix du canada this past week and he remains optimistic that there will be a race at the circuit gillesvilleneuve in montreal this year. National midget auto racing hall of fame driver tommy astone. One for ray lattie, and he believes one for doug caruthers, and one for bob bahre.
Kinda eerie seeing the indy car that jimmy caruthers crashed at pocono in 1973, it hasnt been touched since he wrecked it, his name is even still on the tub. Lonnie was the cousin of 1970 usac national midget and 1975 usac silver crown champion driver jimmy caruthers as well as 1971 usac. Edmundssesco midget speedway motors museum of american. Click on the site to see jimmy caruthers s career results at that track. National midget champion in 1971, tragically, he received fatal head injuries during a main event warmup session at one of the final races of the season. Jun 14, 2019 the late ray brown, a pioneering modified driver in the 1950s and later a standout ardc midget racer, will be honored as a 2019 inductee into the northeast dirt modified hall of fame. His father, doug caruthers also raced midgets and also died of cancer. Caruthers won the 1970 usac national midget series championship. There were 248 inductees after the 2019 induction ceremony. The late ray brown, a pioneering modified driver in the 1950s and later a standout ardc midget racer, will be honored as a 2019 inductee into the northeast dirt modified hall of fame. National midget champion in 1971, tragically, he received fatal head injuries during a main event warmup session at one of the final races of the season register sign in. Youth movement makes waves entering 2020 usac midget season. The hall of fame is located at angell park speedway in sun prairie, wisconsin, and can be accessed during weekly sunday races during the summer. Jimmy caruthers excelled in usacs national championship, silver crown and midget series.
Jimmy caruthers secured the ride for danny caruthers. One glorious summer for danny caruthers page 2 of 2. Eldon daniel danny caruthers 19501971 find a grave. In 1971, he finished second to his brother danny, but danny won the. He eventually turned to track racing and had midgets, sprint cars, champ dirt cars and indy cars. Click on the year to see the standings for that year. In 1964 jackson and some other midget drivers and owners boycotted rmmra, and ran englewood, not lakeside. For those of you who know of my restoration of the edmunds midget. Jan 05, 2010 1997 jimmy caruthers memorial award usac like his father however, wally may be best remembered for what hes done with his post race career. Jimmy won the race, received a small cup for his efforts. Drivers jimmy caruthers, sheldon kinser and larry rice, and car owner don kenyon will join eight previously announced inductees in a ceremony that accompanies the july 25 tony stewart classic midget race at the lincoln tech indianapolis speedrome. The national midget auto racing hall of fame is a hall of fame and museum for midget cars. Don edmunds stated that he built 4 or 5 cars like mine single tube, spring front, half torsion rear.
Usac national midget series central the third turn. With only the one usac race to his credit, danny caruthers, driving one of his fathers potent sescochevypowered midgets, tackled the full usac schedule in 1971. Feb 03, 2020 oddly enough, in those average years of five races before a driver first reached victory lane twice in a season, not a single usac national midget champion arose. Features vintage sprint car pic thread, 1965 and older only please.
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