Smokey had been watching my career as a sprint car driver and was looking for a new driver. A versatile driver, he is world renowned for his recordbreaking successes in the ultracompetitive world of indy and sprint cars. Fort worth, texas johnny rutherford, the winner of three. Get the latest race results, news, videos, pictures, win record and more for johnny rutherford on. Johnny rutherford honored by rrdc at long beach the road. Bench racing, photo albums and vintage race cars will be on display starting at 4. Helio castroneves bio, facts, family famous birthdays. Three time indianapolis 500 champion johnny rutherford explains why indianapolis motor speedway is just the place to. Son of threetime indianapolis 500 winner and indycar champion johnny rutherford, john began his racing career while attending college in 1987. Betty went on to play a significant role in charity work related to indy car racing. Rutherford captured the hearts of racing fans all over the world during his stellar threedecadelong career. Hes heading to his 70th indy 500 and oh, the stories he. Bill blaylock will share with us stories about forgotten race tracks.
Racing legend johnny rutherford had his famed race car baked. 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. Johnny rutherford honored by road racing drivers club. Classics, race cars and honoree roger penske hit sunny sunday. 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.
May 24, 2019 hes heading to his 70th indy 500 and, oh my, the stories he has to tell. Johnny rutherford was born on march 12, 1938 in fort worth, texas, usa as john sherman rutherford iii. Born in kansas in 1938, rutherford began racing modified stock cars in 1959 and he. 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. 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. Johnny rutherford making return to last run car show.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Many times a champion he won the knoxville nationals in 1966, he raced against many of the notable drivers, such as a. 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. 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.
Texas motor speedway made sure to recognize that on wednesday. Johnny rutherford, dubbed lone star jr dues to his texas heritage, is one of only nine. Threetime indianapolis 500 winner and indy racing league indycar series pace car driver johnny rutherford gives thumbs up at the. Mar 01, 2018 fort worth, texas few have done it better than johnny rutherford. Parnelli jones won the 1970 sports car club of america transam. 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 also helped found the powhattan fire department. Johnny rutherford wiki ionformation include family relationships. The rutherfords had been married since 1963, when they met at indianapolis motor speedway.
Legend rutherford gets early 80th birthday surprise at texas. Racing legend johnny rutherford had his famed race car. Johnny even raced the beach course from 53 until the super speedway came into existence. The dinner and presentations with master of ceremony, johnny rutherford, will begin at 6. He was given the nickname of spiderman because of the way he celebrates victories by climbing fences. 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. Please make plans to join us because this will be a night to remember. 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. This made him one of the youngest drivers ever to win in nascar history, in a full pointspaying nascar race. Johnny rutherford and wife betty, date and location unknown. Foyt when the car s crankshaft broke with sixteen laps to go. Click on the number of races to see individual races for that year. 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.
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. Before johnnys father moved the family to texas in the early 1950s, they. Mar 23, 2019 johnny was a good allaround race driver, foyt said. Jan 21, 2019 betty rutherford, the wife of threetime indianapolis 500 winner johnny rutherford, died on sunday. American stock options car racer and threetime winner from the indianapolis 500. Betty rutherford, the wife of threetime indianapolis 500 winner johnny rutherford, died on sunday. American stock car racer and threetime winner of the indianapolis 500.
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. John sherman johnny rutherford iii born march 12, 1938, also known as lone star jr, is an american former automobile racing driver. Rutherford captured the hearts of racing fans all over the world during his stellar threedecade career. American driver, lone star jr johnny rutherford columns. Dec 29, 2018 complete johnny rutherford 2017 biography. 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. With his signature texas flag painted on his helmet, johnny j.
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. Rutherford name meaning, family history, family crest. Gleich sein erstes rennen 1963 konnte er gewinnen, es blieb jedoch auch sein einziger. Betty was serving as a nurse at the track during the month of may while johnny was a rookie at the speedway. He is one of ten drivers to win the indianapolis 500 at least three times, winning in 1974, 1976, and 1980. Drivers edge the team john rutherford iv, driving instructor. Johnny rutherford family, childhood, life achievements, facts, wiki and bio of 2017. Only three other drivers have started more than 300 indycar events. He started in 315 indycar races, took pole position in twentythree, and won twentyseven.
It was the first time id ever been in a late model stock car, he said. John started in karts and quickly progressed to the highly competitive usac f2000 pro series and the. He was a legendary sprint car and super modified driver, with a career spanning the mid 1950s to early 1980s. Johnny rutherford joins mclaren indy entry as team. Chief samqua was a mechanic and had owned and operated reservation motors. In 1976 and 1978 he finished third at indianapolis, and in 1977 he was leading a. Race car driver jim mcelreath, whose 23year usac and indycar career included 15 starts in the indianapolis 500, died thursday at his home. Johnny rutherford 3 in action during race at indianapolis motor speedway. Johnny rutherford racing career profile driver database. Johnny rutherford biography 2017 facts, childhood, wiki. Aug 05, 2011 bench racing, photo albums and vintage race cars will be on display starting at 4.
Johnny rutherford archives motorsportstalk nbc sports. Johnny was a good allaround race driver, foyt said. 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. Betty rutherford, the wife of threetime indianapolis 500 winner johnny. 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. Johnny rutherford making return to last run car show news. 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. 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. He raced in the formula three sudamericana from 1993 to 1994. Rodgers family moved to california when rodger was 14.
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. Rutherford, american republican politician, delegate to republican national convention from illinois, 1860 8. Fort worth, texas few have done it better than johnny rutherford. Foyt, johnny rutherford, jan opperman, mario andretti, parnelli. This familyfriendly event includes driver autograph sessions and the chance to walk on the legendary yard of bricks during the post race track invasion. 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. Johnny rutherford joins mclaren indy entry as team ambassador. Legend rutherford gets early 80th birthday surprise at. Rutherford was surprised when legendary stock car mechanic smokey yunick asked him to drive his chevrolet at daytona. Johnny rutherford stats, race results, wins, news, record. 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. 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.
Rutherford spent his preteen years in coffeyville, before his family. Hall of fame inductees national sprint car hall of fame. The rrdc evening with johnny rutherford presented by firestone was held at the hilton hotel before a capacity crowd of auto racing dignitaries. Johnny rutherford bio, facts, family famous birthdays. Pennzoil chaparral builder jim hall, left, has an alltexas look to his indianapolis racing effort, with johnny rutherford his driver in the 1980 season. This familyfriendly event includes driver autograph sessions and the chance to walk on. Complete wiki biography of johnny rutherford, which contains net worth and salary earnings in 2020. Legendary race car driver johnny rutherford goes by the nickname. Brazilian race car driver who began competing in the indycar series in 2001. 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. Johnny rutherford biography, family life and everything.
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. 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 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. Click on the site to see johnny rutherfords career results at that track glossary. 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. 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. 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. Johnny roberts maryland stock car racing hall of fame.
Veterans joe weatherly and fireball roberts tutored rutherford. The rutherford family at indy following johnnys third indy 500 win in 1980. He was an avid race car driver and was listed as a legend in the kansas auto racing museum in chapman. 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.
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. 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. Johnny rutherford body measurments, height, weight and age details. Driver johnny rutherford 1963 nascar grand national. Roberts auto flipped over five times, but he was not seriously injured. Music video by primus performing jerry was a race car driver. John rutherford iv fort worth, texas john literally grew up with auto racing. Being a sprint car driver, i kind of sawed that steering wheel and she got away. Hes heading to his 70th indy 500 and, oh my, the stories he has to tell. Click on the year to see the standings for that year.
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