Elmer George... Born ... He drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1956-1963 seasons with 64 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in 1957, 1962, and 1963. He finished in the top ten 36 times, with one victory, in 1957 at Syracuse.
George was also the 1957 USAC Sprint Car Series champion. Elmer George was married to Mari Hulman George, daughter of Tony Hulman, owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Elmer and Mari's son is Tony George, founder of the Indy Racing League, and current CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. On race day, May 31, 1976, Elmer George argued by telephone with a horse trainer at the family farm near Terre Haute. After the race, George drove to the farm and confronted the trainer. George was shot and died the next day.
Manuel Ayulo drove a Kuzma-Offy to victory in the 200 mile AAA Championship race at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. It was the first Champ Car win of Ayulo's career.
Don Branson won the IMCA Sprint Car race at the Riverside Stadium, Kansas City, MO.
Pete Folse won the IMCA Sprint Car race at the Hawkeye Downs Speedway, Cedar Rapids,IA.
Don Branson won the USAC Sprint Car race at the Salem Speedway, Salem,IN. Jim McWithey was second followed by A.J. Foyt, Bud Tingelstadt, Eddie Sachs, Jim Packard, Al Miller, Ed Elisian, Dick Northam and Russ Congdon.
Fred "Jiggs" Peters, driving the Nelson Offy, won the 100-lap National Championship Midget race before an estimated 7,500 fans at the Williams Grove Speedway, Williams Grove,PA. Len Duncan in the Harry Hespell #1 finished second followed by Bill Homeier, Jimmy Davies, Bobby Marshman, Tony Bonadies, Russ Klar, Gig Stephens, Al Herman, Hal Horan, Don Wood and Jim Schaeffer.
Lou Johnson won the URC Sprint Car race at the Nazareth Speedway, Nazareth, PA .
Tony Bonadies... Died ... A very popular midget car driver, Tony Bonadies' career spanned over twenty-four years during which he competed in more than one thousand races. Although he never won the ARDC Midget Championship, he was ranked amongst the top six in seven out of his last eight seasons in the series' final classification table, and he was twice the title runner-up. He entered the Indy 500 three times, but failed to qualify in all attempts: in 1955 and the following year his times aboard a Kurtis 3000D - Offenhauser were simply not quick enough, and in 1957 he wrecked his Kurtis 500C - Offenhauser at the Turn 4 at the northwest end of the track during practice and had to withdraw from the race.
Bonadies was taking place in an ARDC midget race at the Williams Grove Speedway on 05 July 1964 when, as he pitched his Frankenfield - Offenahuser into a slide at the entrance to Turn 1, the right rear axle of the car snapped. The vehicle barrel rolled several times and then got airborne. Tony was thrown to the ground and died instantly.
Bobby Grim won the USAC Midget race at the Belleville High Banks , Belleville,KS.
Tommy Copp won the USAC Midget race at the Flat Rock Speedway , Flat Rock, MI.
Jud Larson won the USAC Sprint Car race over Don Branson, Chuck Engel, Bud Tingelstad and A.J. Foyt at the Eldora Speedway, Rossburg, OH.
Jiggs Peters won the ARDC Midget race at the Williams Grove Speedway, Williams Grove, PA.
Carl Williams won the USAC Sprint Car race at the Lakeside Speedway (1/2d), Kansas City, KS. George Snider was second followed by Larry Dickson, Gary Bettenhausen and Greg Weld.
Mitch Smith won the Super Sprint Car race over Ray Tilley, Bobbie Adamson, Paul Long and Bobby Allen at the Williams Grove Speedway, Williams Grove,PA.
Larry McCoy won the ARDC Midget race at the Freeport Speedway, Freeport,NY.
Steve Troxell won the Mile-High Classic USAC Midget race at the Pikes Peak Speedway (1/5p) , Colorado Springs,CO.
Larry Rice won the USAC Midget race at the Tri-City Speedway (1/2d), Granite City,IL.
Gary Bettenhausen won the USAC Sprint Car race at the Salem Speedway, Salem,IN. Larry Dickson was second followed by Sammy Sessions, Todd Gibson and Karl Busson.
Kenny Weld won the Super Sprint Car race over Irvin King, Milt Miller, Ed Zirkle and Smokey Snellbaker at the Hagerstown Speedway, Hagerstown,MD.
Harry Benjamin won the URC Sprint Car race over Jan Opperman, Stan Ploski, Buck Buckley and Joe Tetz at the Flemington Fair Speedway, Flemington,NJ.
Gary Ponzini won the USAC Midget race at the Santa Fe Speedway, Chicago,IL. Dave Strickland was second followed by Mel Cornett, Jim McClean and Jerry McClung.
Gary Iulg won the Modified race and Doug Hoffman won the Sportsman race at the New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, NY. ( Click here for the race report. )
ONE DAY
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