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John Sherman Rutherford III (born March 12, 1938), better known as Johnny Rutherford, and also known as "Lone Star JR" is a former U.S. automobile racer known for being one of nine drivers to win the prestigious Indianapolis 500 mile race at least three times. Rutherford won that race in 1974, 1976, and 1980.[1]

Rutherford began racing Modified stock cars in 1959 and he also dabbled in stock car racing, making 35 NASCAR Winston Cup starts from 1963 to 1988. Rutherford won in his first start, at Daytona International Speedway driving for Smokey Yunick. This made him one of the youngest drivers ever to win in NASCAR history, in a full points-paying NASCAR race.

Racing career[]

In 1959, Rutherford started driving modified stock cars in Dallas. He joined the International Motor Contest Association sprint car circuit in 1961 leading it for most of 1962. Rutherford later joined the United States Auto Club (USAC) starting in the Hoosier Hundred and later winning his first championship.[1]

Rutherford set a world record for speed in his first qualifying effort in a stock car during qualifying for the 1963 Daytona 500. Later that year he also had his first start in the Indianapolis 500. Rutherford's first Indy car race took place at the Atlanta 250. He won the USAC National Sprint Car Championship in 1965.[1]

On April 3, 1966, Rutherford suffered a serious crash at Eldora Speedway. His car flipped out of the track, and he suffered broken arms, a broken finger, and a head injury. He was forced to sit out the 1966 Indy 500.

Rutherford won pole position at the Indy 500 in 1973, 1976, and 1980. In 1973, Rutherford set a one-lap track record of 199.071 mph, falling just shy of becoming the first driver to break the 200 mph barrier at Indianapolis. Victories at the Indy 500 for him came in the years 1974, 1976 and 1980. In 1984, at Michigan International Speedway, Rutherford set an all time Indy car qualifying lap speed record of 215.189 mph. He became the first driver to win all three 500 mile races, in 1986, by winning the Michigan 500. Rutherford recorded 9 straight seasons with a victory making him one of just 6 drivers in Indy Car history to do so.[1]

Rutherford's NASCAR Winston Cup career included 35 starts from 1963 to 1988. He won in his first start, at Daytona International Speedway driving for Smokey Yunick. The win, in the second 100-mile Daytona 500 qualifying race, made him one of the youngest drivers ever to win in NASCAR history, in a full points-paying NASCAR race. (Until 1971, the qualifying races were full points-paying races.) In 1981, Rutherford drove twelve races, the most he ever raced in a single NASCAR season. In addition, Rutherford competed in five runnings of the International Race of Champions – 1975, 1977, 1978, 1980, and 1984.

Post-racing career[]

Rutherford's 24th and final start at Indianapolis would be 1988. By that time he was running only a part-time schedule, and was splitting time working as a television analyst on NBC, ABC, CBS and ESPN and radio analyst on Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network . He also served as the pace car driver for the PPG Indycar series for most of that period. He failed to qualify at Indy in three attempts (1989, 1990, 1992) and was not able to find a ride in 1991 or 1993. Starting in 1989, Rutherford began serving as the driver analyst on the IMS Radio Network. He was never able to achieve his milestone 25th Indy start.

During the month of May 1994, Rutherford officially retired from racing. At its inception in 1996, Rutherford took a full-time position as an official with the IRL, serving as pace car driver and driver coach. Rutherford also served as a racing consultant for Team Pennzoil.[1]

Personal life[]

Rutherford was born in Coffeyville, Kansas. Rutherford was the Honorary Chairman of the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in 2006.

Johnny's wife Betty was a fixture at his side throughout his racing career. His first Indy 500 win in 1974, with Betty looking on from the pits, helped to end the taboo in American racing against allowing women in the pit area. Rutherford, whom has been invited to The White House on behalf of Indy on multiple occasions, is considered a popular ambassador and spokesman for the sport of Indy car racing.

Awards[]

Indy 500 results[]

Year Chassis Engine Start Finish
1963 Watson Offy 26th 29th
1964 Watson Offy 15th 27th
1965 Halibrand Ford 11th 31st
1966 Did not compete due to injury
1967 Eagle Ford 19th 25th
1968 Eagle Ford 21st 18th
1969 Eagle Offy 17th 29th
1970 Eagle Offy 2nd 18th
1971 Eagle Offy 24th 18th
1972 Brabham Offy 8th 27th
1973 McLaren Offy 1st 9th
1974 McLaren Offy 25th 1st
1975 McLaren Offy 7th 2nd
1976 McLaren Offy 1st 1st
1977 McLaren Cosworth 17th 33rd
1978 McLaren Cosworth 4th 13th
1979 McLaren Cosworth 8th 18th
1980 Chaparral Cosworth 1st 1st
1981 Chaparral Cosworth 5th 32nd
1982 Chaparral Cosworth 12th 8th
1983 Wildcat Cosworth Practice Crash
1984 March Cosworth 30th 22nd
1985 March Cosworth 30th 6th
1986 March Cosworth 12th 8th
1987 March Cosworth 8th 11th
1988 Lola Buick 30th 22nd
1989 Lola Cosworth Failed to Qualify
1990 Lola Cosworth Failed to Qualify
1991 Did not enter
1992 Lola Chevrolet Failed to Qualify
1994 Retired

References[]

External links[]


Preceded by:
Gordon Johncock
Indianapolis 500 Winner
1974
Succeeded by:
Bobby Unser
Preceded by:
Bobby Unser
Indianapolis 500 Winner
1976
Succeeded by:
A. J. Foyt
Preceded by:
Rick Mears
Indianapolis 500 Winner
1980
Succeeded by:
Bobby Unser
Preceded by:
Rick Mears
PPG Indycar World Series Champion
1980
Succeeded by:
Rick Mears

Template:USAC Drivers' Champions Template:CART/CCWS Drivers' Champions

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Smallwikipedialogo.png This page uses some content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Johnny Rutherford. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Autopedia, the text of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.


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