American driver, lone star jr johnny rutherford columns. Rutherford captured the hearts of racing fans all over the world during his stellar threedecadelong career. Many times a champion he won the knoxville nationals in 1966, he raced against many of the notable drivers, such as a. Race car driver and indy 500 winner johnny rutherford shakes hands with a fan during the ims green flag celebration on monument circle, friday, may. He was also the first driver to finish the nascar triple threat at the same track martinsville and over a fulltime, 25year career he won 21 races. Johnny rutherford stats, race results, wins, news, record. Aug 05, 2011 bench racing, photo albums and vintage race cars will be on display starting at 4. Mar 08, 2020 charlie sabo of asheville was watching as threetime indy 500 winner johnny rutherford helped open up the back of a brabham race car to judge it, saying hes been coming to the concours for 17.
Jan 19, 2017 bobby is recognized as the only driver to have won both the busch series championship in 1991 as well as the winston cup in 2000 prior to being called the sprint cup. Click on the number of races to see individual races for that year. He also helped found the powhattan fire department. The 26 yearold long beach, california driver sustained severe first degree burns over 35 percent of his body when his roadster crashed and burst into flames in the. Betty rutherford, the wife of threetime indianapolis 500 winner johnny rutherford, died on sunday. Rodgers family moved to california when rodger was 14. Johnny rutherford and wife betty, date and location unknown. Race car driver jim mcelreath, whose 23year usac and indycar career included 15 starts in the indianapolis 500, died thursday at his home. Betty was serving as a nurse at the track during the month of may while johnny was a rookie at the speedway. Being a sprint car driver, i kind of sawed that steering wheel and she got away.
Gleich sein erstes rennen 1963 konnte er gewinnen, es blieb jedoch auch sein einziger. Bill blaylock will share with us stories about forgotten race tracks. Please make plans to join us because this will be a night to remember. Drivers edge the team john rutherford iv, driving instructor. Jul 08, 2016 race car driver and indy 500 winner johnny rutherford shakes hands with a fan during the ims green flag celebration on monument circle, friday, may 11, 2012.
Foyt when the car s crankshaft broke with sixteen laps to go. Johnny rutherford honored by rrdc at long beach the road. American stock car racer and threetime winner of the indianapolis 500. In 1976 and 1978 he finished third at indianapolis, and in 1977 he was leading a.
The dinner and presentations with master of ceremony, johnny rutherford, will begin at 6. Rutherford was surprised when legendary stock car mechanic smokey yunick asked him to drive his chevrolet at daytona. Bench racing, photo albums and vintage race cars will be on display starting at 4. Dec 29, 2018 complete johnny rutherford 2017 biography. He was given the nickname of spiderman because of the way he celebrates victories by climbing fences. Johnny rutherford bio, facts, family famous birthdays. Veterans joe weatherly and fireball roberts tutored rutherford. Johnny rutherford making return to last run car show news. A fort worth woman baked famed race car driver johnny. One of the hardest guys to get by when you were racing was lloyd ruby. Johnny rutherford joins mclaren indy entry as team ambassador. Johnny rutherford honored by road racing drivers club. Click on the site to see johnny rutherfords career results at that track glossary. Rutherford, 66, has driven the pace car at every irl race, meaning he and his wife of 41 years, betty, still live the touring life, often traveling hundreds of miles a week in a highend motor.
Mar 01, 2018 fort worth, texas few have done it better than johnny rutherford. Johnny rutherford biography, family life and everything. For the past several years rutherford has attended the arkansas city last run car show, and he will return again this year, said his friends wyatt swaim, of geuda springs, and. Chief samqua was a mechanic and had owned and operated reservation motors. He is one of ten drivers to win the indianapolis 500 at least three times, winning in 1974, 1976, and 1980.
May 18, 2017 race car driver jim mcelreath, whose 23year usac and indy car career included 15 starts in the indianapolis 500, died thursday at his home in arlington, officials at texas motor speedway announced. He started in 315 indycar races, took pole position in twentythree, and won twentyseven. Johnny rutherford making return to last run car show. Helio castroneves bio, facts, family famous birthdays. Complete wiki biography of johnny rutherford, which contains net worth and salary earnings in 2020. This made him one of the youngest drivers ever to win in nascar history, in a full pointspaying nascar race. The threetime indy 500 champion was honored by the road racing drivers club prior to the running of the 44th toyota grand prix of long beach. In 1967, marios passion for racing saw him compete and win in the daytona 500 stock car race, take his second pole at the indy 500, claim his first of three career victories in the 12 hours of sebring endurance race, finish as runnerup in the indy car national championship and be. Johncock won the usac national championship in 1976, snatching the title from johnny rutherford in the final race of the season at phoenix international raceway. Gmr grand prix get closer to the action at the gmr grand prix as the stars of the ntt indycar series take on the twists and turns of the ims road course. At the tracks annual media day to promote its major races for the season, tms and the guest drivers in attendance delivered a surprise early birthday present to the indy car great better known as lone star jr, who turns 80 on march 12. Rutherford name meaning, family history, family crest. Apr 14, 2018 the rrdc evening with johnny rutherford presented by firestone was held at the hilton hotel before a capacity crowd of auto racing dignitaries, corporate executives and champion race car drivers.
Rutherford captured the hearts of racing fans all over the world during his stellar threedecade career. The rutherfords had been married since 1963, when they met at indianapolis motor speedway. Legendary race car driver johnny rutherford goes by the nickname lone star jr pointing out his longtime texas home, but hes never forgotten his kansas roots. This familyfriendly event includes driver autograph sessions and the chance to walk on the legendary yard of bricks during the post race track invasion. Smokey had been watching my career as a sprint car driver and was looking for a new driver.
Three time indianapolis 500 champion johnny rutherford explains why indianapolis motor speedway is just the place to. Johnny rutherford body measurments, height, weight and age details. Fort worth, texas johnny rutherford, the winner of three. Brickyard vintage racing invitational the pedigree of the brickyard vintage racing invitational june 2021 at the indianapolis motor speedway is elite, for both machines and drivers.
The april 12 rrdc evening with johnny rutherford presented by firestone was held in front of a capacity crowd of auto racing dignitaries, corporate executives and champion racecar d rivers, as. The mclarenoffy was fast in race trim too, allowing rutherford to lead 122 of the final 6 laps on the way to the biggest win of his career to date. Johnny rutherford family, childhood, life achievements, facts, wiki and bio of 2017. Roberts auto flipped over five times, but he was not seriously injured.
Mar 23, 2019 johnny was a good allaround race driver, foyt said. Original caption driver johnny roberts pokes his head out the window as his car falls to pieces thats the hood and front fenders at right during a 250 mile stock car race in daytona beach. Parnelli jones won the 1970 sports car club of america transam. Get the latest race results, news, videos, pictures, win record and more for johnny rutherford on. At indianapolis in 1974, rutherford blew an engine on pole day and had to start 25th despite posting the second fastest speed in the 33car field. Only three other drivers have started more than 300 indycar events. Betty rutherford, the wife of threetime indianapolis 500 winner johnny. Music video by primus performing jerry was a race car driver. The april 12 rrdc evening with johnny rutherford presented by firestone was held in front of a capacity crowd of auto racing dignitaries, corporate executives and champion race car d rivers, as.
Classics, race cars and honoree roger penske hit sunny sunday. Johnny rutherford biography 2017 facts, childhood, wiki. American stock options car racer and threetime winner from the indianapolis 500. He was inducted into the national sprint car hall of fame in 1995 and the international motorsports hall of fame in 1996. John rutherford iv fort worth, texas john literally grew up with auto racing. A versatile driver, he is world renowned for his recordbreaking successes in the ultracompetitive world of indy and sprint cars. Johnny rutherford joins mclaren indy entry as team. Hes heading to his 70th indy 500 and, oh my, the stories he has to tell. Race driver jerry unser died in an indianapolis hospital early may 17 of burns and multiple injuries suffered may 2 in a crash in preparation for this years 500mile race. Legend rutherford gets early 80th birthday surprise at. Johnny roberts maryland stock car racing hall of fame.
Hall of fame inductees national sprint car hall of fame. Betty went on to play a significant role in charity work related to indy car racing. In 1967, marios passion for racing saw him compete and win in the daytona 500 stock car race, take his second pole at the indy 500, claim his first of three career victories in the 12 hours of sebring endurance race, finish as runnerup in the indy car national championship and be named driver of the year for the first time. Hes heading to his 70th indy 500 and oh, the stories he. Driver johnny rutherford 1963 nascar grand national. The yellow race car brought onto the stage at the texas motor speedways media day looked very familiar to racing fans in attendance, including threetime indianapolis 500 winner johnny rutherford. It was the first time id ever been in a late model stock car, he said. Brazilian race car driver who began competing in the indycar series in 2001. Threetime indianapolis 500 winner and indy racing league indycar series pace car driver johnny rutherford gives thumbs up at the.
Sep 14, 2019 legendary race car driver johnny rutherford goes by the nickname lone star jr pointing out his longtime texas home, but hes never forgotten his kansas roots. He was inducted in to the country wide sprint car hall of popularity in 1995 as well as the international motorsports hall of popularity in 1996. This familyfriendly event includes driver autograph sessions and the chance to walk on. Johnny rutherford racing career profile driver database. He raced in the formula three sudamericana from 1993 to 1994. Johnny rutherford wiki ionformation include family relationships. He was a legendary sprint car and super modified driver, with a career spanning the mid 1950s to early 1980s. Son of threetime indianapolis 500 winner and indycar champion johnny rutherford, john began his racing career while attending college in 1987.
Rutherford, american republican politician, delegate to republican national convention from illinois, 1860 8. The rrdc evening with johnny rutherford presented by firestone was held at the hilton hotel before a capacity crowd of auto racing dignitaries. Pennzoil chaparral builder jim hall, left, has an alltexas look to his indianapolis racing effort, with johnny rutherford his driver in the 1980 season. The yellow race car brought onto the stage at the texas motor speedways media day looked very familiar to racing fans in attendance, including threetime indianapolis 500 winner, johnny rutherford. Bobby is recognized as the only driver to have won both the busch series championship in 1991 as well as the winston cup in 2000 prior to being called the sprint cup. The rutherford family at indy following johnnys third indy 500 win in 1980. Legend rutherford gets early 80th birthday surprise at texas.
John sherman johnny rutherford iii born march 12, 1938, also known as lone star jr, is an american former automobile racing driver. Rutherford spent his preteen years in coffeyville, before his family. Click on the year to see the standings for that year. At indianapolis in 1974, rutherford blew an engine on pole day and had to start 25th despite posting the second fastest speed in the 33 car field. Legendary race car driver johnny rutherford goes by the nickname. Johnny even raced the beach course from 53 until the super speedway came into existence. Texas motor speedway made sure to recognize that on wednesday. However, johnny didnt do much as he ended up in the middle of a 37 car pile up right at the start of the race. Racing legend johnny rutherford had his famed race car.
Jan 21, 2019 betty rutherford, the wife of threetime indianapolis 500 winner johnny rutherford, died on sunday. John started in karts and quickly progressed to the highly competitive usac f2000 pro series and the. Before johnnys father moved the family to texas in the early 1950s, they. More than 300 of the worlds most exceptional vintage race cars will compete in 12 different sportscar vintage racing association svra classes on the 14turn, 2. Johnny rutherford, dubbed lone star jr dues to his texas heritage, is one of only nine. Apr 14, 2018 the april 12 rrdc evening with johnny rutherford presented by firestone was held in front of a capacity crowd of auto racing dignitaries, corporate executives and champion race car drivers, as the threetime indy 500 champion was honored by the road racing drivers club, prior to the running of the 44th toyota grand prix of long beach. We named this award after johnny rutherford, threetime winner of the famed indianapolis 500 and an individual of great character who has served his family and community faithfully throughout the years, as well as a role model for drivers and business leaders alike. With his signature texas flag painted on his helmet, johnny j.
Johnny rutherford archives motorsportstalk nbc sports. Born in kansas in 1938, rutherford began racing modified stock cars in 1959 and he. Johnny was a good allaround race driver, foyt said. Johnny rutherford was born on march 12, 1938 in fort worth, texas, usa as john sherman rutherford iii. Last thursdays rrdc evening with johnny rutherford presented by firestone was held in front of a capacity crowd of auto racing dignitaries, corporate executives and champion race car drivers. Fort worth, texas few have done it better than johnny rutherford. Foyt, johnny rutherford, jan opperman, mario andretti, parnelli. He was an avid race car driver and was listed as a legend in the kansas auto racing museum in chapman.
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