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Jim Hurtubise

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Jim Hurtubise
BornJames Ernest Hurtubise
(1932-12-05)December 5, 1932
North Tonawanda, New York, U.S.
DiedJanuary 6, 1989(1989-01-06) (aged 56)
Port Arthur, Texas, U.S.
Champ Car career
96 races run over 23 years
Best finish6th (1961, 1962)
First race1959 Hoosier Hundred (ISF)
Last race1974 Pocono 500 (Pocono)
First win1959 Golden State 100 (Sacramento)
Last win1962 Tony Bettenhausen Memorial (Springfield)
Wins Podiums Poles
4 15 3
NASCAR Cup Series career
36 races run over 16 years
Best finish46th (1968)
First race1957 Race 22 (Ascot Park)
Last race1977 Delaware 500 (Dover)
First win1966 Atlanta 500 (Atlanta)
Wins Top tens Poles
1 11 0
Formula One World Championship career
Active years1960
TeamsChristensen
Entries1
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1960 Indianapolis 500
Last entry1960 Indianapolis 500

James Ernest Hurtubise[1] (December 5, 1932 – January 6, 1989) was an American racing driver who competed in Championship Cars, sprint cars and stock cars. Hurtubise enjoyed much success in sprint cars, champ dirt cars, and stock cars, and was the winner of the 1966 Atlanta 500; however, he never achieved the success at the Indianapolis 500 which his rookie qualifying run promised, when he out qualified pole-sitter Eddie Sachs by three mph, nearly breaking the 150 mph mark.

"Herk" was a fan favorite throughout much of his career because of his fun-loving attitude and his hard driving style.[2]

Championship Car career

[edit]

Hurtubise raced in the USAC Championship Car series in the 1959–1968 and 1970–1974 seasons, with 97 career starts. He finished in the top ten 38 times, with 4 victories, in 1959 at Sacramento, 1960 at Langhorne, and 1961 and 1962 at Springfield.[3] In 1964, after suffering serious burns in an accident during the Rex Mays Classic at the Milwaukee Mile, doctors asked Hurtubise how he wanted his hands shaped permanently. Hurtubise told them to pin his hands so he cold hold a beer can, knowing that if he "could hold a beer can, (he) could hold a steering wheel."[4] Hurtubise would later be awarded the Ralph DePalma award for overcoming his injuries to return to racing.[4][5]

Hurtubise ran in ten Indianapolis 500 races between 1960 and 1974. His best finish was a 13th in 1962. Hurtubise was named the 1960 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year.[6]

In 1965, he qualified using a Novi engine, the last year that engine would be used in the race, having been considered obsolete several years before.[7] The engine failed on the first lap, and he finished last.[8]

In 1966, he entered a rear-engined car, which was taking over from the front-engined roadsters as the standard for the race, and finished 17th.

After failing to qualify in 1967, in 1968 he ran the last front-engined car to date in the race. He and his brother Pete designed and built the new roadster in their garage, naming it the "Mallard". He claimed the car was lighter than previous roadsters, which would allow it to be competitive with the other rear-engine cars.[9]

From 1969 through 1971, he would continue to attempt to qualify with the roadster, but failed to make the field, which was now fully rear-engined cars.

In 1972, he had qualified a rear-engine car 13th.[10] However on "bump day", he put the roadster, sponsored by Miller Beer in line to make a qualification attempt shortly before the closing deadline of 6:00 pm. The time expired before it was his turn to qualify. He then removed the engine cover to reveal that the car had no engine, but five chilled cases of his sponsor's product, which he shared with the other pit crews and race officials[2][11]

From 1973 through 1975, he attempted to qualify rear-engine cars, missing the field in 1973 and 1975, while qualifying 28th in 1974, finishing the race 28th after blowing the engine on lap 31. This would be the last year he would successfully qualify for the race.

For the 1976 and 1977 races, he was back with his front-engine Mallard roadster, but wasn't quick enough to make the field. In 1978, he returned, once again attempting to qualify the Mallard, but Tom Binford, the chief steward, refused to allow him a qualifying attempt, stating the car had not showed it was capable of race speed during practice. He then sat in entrant Bob Harkey’s car for ten minutes refusing to move. After finally leaving the car he ran onto the track where he was tackled and apprehended by the police.[12]

In subsequent years, he continued to attempt to get the Mallard into the field, with his final attempt in 1981. This was the final attempt for any front-engine car in the race, 13 years after the last time a car of that type had qualified for the race, and 17 years since the last time one had won.[13]

Final race for the Mallard

[edit]
Hurtubise attempted numerous Indianapolis 500s in his self-built Mallard

In 1972, Hurtubise drove the Mallard in an IndyCar race at Michigan in 1972, qualifying 26th (last) and finishing 23rd. He drove the same car a year earlier at the Pocono 500, qualifying 33rd (last) and finishing 30th.[14] This would be the last time a front-engine car would ever run in an IndyCar race.

NASCAR career

[edit]

In 1957, Hurtubise started his NASCAR career running two races. Over the next twenty years, he would enter 36 races, winning one race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and amassing eleven top ten finishes.[15]

Personal life

[edit]

Hurtubise was from the Buffalo suburb of North Tonawanda, New York.

Hurtubise died January 6, 1989, after suffering a heart attack near his home in Port Arthur, Texas. He was 56 years old. He is interred at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.[16][17]

Awards and honors

[edit]

He was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1993.[18] Hurtubise was the 1998 pioneer selection for the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame.[19]

Racing record

[edit]

Complete USAC Championship Car results

[edit]
Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Pos Points
1959 DAY TRE INDY MIL LAN SPR MIL DUQ SYR ISF
16 		TRE
7 		PHX
DNQ 		SAC
1 		21st 260
1960 TRE
17 		INDY
18 		MIL
11 		LAN
1 		SPR
10 		MIL
26 		DUQ
13 		SYR
15 		ISF
12 		TRE
13 		SAC
14 		PHX
2 		16th 420
1961 TRE
2 		INDY
22 		MIL
5 		LAN
8 		MIL
7 		SPR
1 		DUQ
18 		SYR
3 		ISF
18 		TRE
2 		SAC
14 		PHX
DNS 		6th 939
1962 TRE
6 		INDY
13 		MIL
3 		LAN
3 		TRE
5 		SPR
1 		MIL
21 		LAN
2 		SYR
4 		ISF
8 		TRE
9 		SAC
4 		PHX
5 		6th 1,340
1963 TRE
3 		INDY
22 		MIL
19 		LAN
3 		TRE
4 		SPR
17 		MIL
8 		DUQ
8 		ISF
10 		TRE
24 		SAC
11 		PHX
 9th 660
1964 PHX
16 		TRE
2 		INDY
14 		MIL
14 		LAN TRE SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC PHX 25th 160
1965 PHX
4 		TRE
19 		INDY
33 		MIL
DNQ 		LAN
21 		PPR TRE
2 		IRP
18 		ATL
4 		LAN
21 		MIL
16 		ISF
DNQ 		MIL
21 		DSF
7 		INF
16 		TRE
25 		SAC PHX
16 		14th 743
1966 PHX
13 		TRE INDY
17 		MIL
22 		LAN
17 		ATL
26 		PIP IRP LAN SPR
DNQ 		MIL
26 		DUQ ISF TRE
17 		SAC PHX
DNQ 		- 0
1967 PHX TRE INDY
DNQ 		MIL
16 		LAN
15 		PIP MOS
8 		MOS
9 		IRP
11 		LAN
13 		MTR
17 		MTR
7 		SPR
5 		MIL
19 		DUQ ISF
DNQ 		TRE SAC HAN PHX RIV
18 		23rd 280
1968 HAN LVG PHX TRE INDY
30 		MIL MOS MOS LAN PIP CDR NAZ IRP IRP LAN LAN MTR MTR SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC MCH HAN PHX RIV - 0
1969 PHX HAN INDY
DNQ 		MIL LAN PIP CDR NAZ TRE IRP IRP MIL SPR DOV DUQ ISF BRN BRN TRE SAC KEN KEN PHX RIV - 0
1970 PHX SON TRE INDY
DNQ 		MIL LAN CDR MCH IRP SPR MIL ONT
32 		DUQ ISF SED TRE SAC PHX - 0
1971 RAF RAF PHX TRE INDY
DNQ 		MIL POC
30 		MCH MIL ONT
DNQ 		TRE PHX - 0
1972 PHX
12 		TRE
21 		INDY
23 		MIL
DNQ 		MCH
23 		POC
DNQ 		MIL ONT TRE PHX 41st 15
1973 TWS TRE TRE INDY
DNQ 		MIL POC
23 		MCH MIL ONT ONT ONT
DNQ 		MCH MCH TRE TWS PHX - 0
1974 ONT ONT ONT
DNQ 		PHX TRE INDY
25 		MIL POC
24 		MCH MIL MCH TRE TRE PHX - 0
1975 ONT ONT ONT PHX TRE INDY
DNQ 		MIL POC MCH MIL MCH TRE PHX - 0
1976 PHX TRE INDY
DNQ 		MIL POC MCH TWS TRE MIL ONT MCH TWS PHX - 0
1977 ONT PHX TWS TRE INDY
DNQ 		MIL POC MOS MCH TWS MIL ONT MCH PHX - 0
1978 PHX ONT TWS TRE INDY
DNQ 		MOS MIL POC MCH ATL TWS MIL ONT MCH TRE SIL BRH PHX - 0
1979 ONT TWS INDY
DNQ 		MIL POC TWS MIL - 0
1980 ONT INDY
DNQ 		MIL POC MDO - 0
1981-82 INDY
DNQ 		POC ILL DUQ ISF INDY - 0

Complete PPG Indy Car Series results

[edit]
Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pos. Pts
1979 Hurtubise Racing PHX ATL ATL INDY
DNQ 		TRE TRE MCH MCH WGL TRE ONT MCH ATL PHX - 0
1980 Hurtubise Racing ONT
 INDY
DNQ 		MIL
 POC
 MDO
 MCH
 WGL
 MIL
 ONT
 MCH
 MEX
 PHX
 - 0

Indianapolis 500 results

[edit]
Year Chassis Engine Start Finish
1960 Christensen Offy 23rd 18th
1961 Epperly Offy 3rd 22nd
1962 Watson Offy 29th 13th
1963 Kurtis Kraft Novi 2nd 22nd
1964 Hurtubise Offy 11th 14th
1965 Kurtis Kraft Novi 23rd 33rd
1966 Gerhardt Offy 22nd 17th
1967 Mallard Offy Failed to Qualify
1968 Mallard Offy 30th 30th
1969 Mallard Offy Failed to Qualify
1970 Mallard Offy Failed to Qualify
1971 Mallard Offy Qualifying Crash
1972 Coyote Foyt 13th 23rd
1973 Lola Offy Failed to Qualify
1974 McLaren M16 Offy 28th 25th
1975 Eagle Offy Failed to Qualify
1976 Mallard Offy Failed to Qualify
1977 Mallard Offy Failed to Qualify
1978 Mallard Offy Failed to Qualify
1979 Mallard Offy Failed to Qualify
1980 Mallard Offy Failed to Qualify
1981 King Offy Failed to Qualify

World Championship career summary

[edit]

The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Hurtubise participated in one World Championship race, finishing eighteenth and receiving no points.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Jim Hurtubise". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  2. ^ a b Chapin, Kim (1978-05-15). "The Ghost Of Indy's Past". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 2008-08-29. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  3. ^ Kavanagh, Rick. "Jim Hurtubise Remembered". Merrittville Speedway. Archived from the original on 2008-10-03. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  4. ^ a b Graham, Tim. "After a mutilating fire, Jim Hurtubise returned to break more racing records". The Athletic. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  5. ^ "Hurtubise to Receive Award For Auto Racing Comeback". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  6. ^ "Rookie Award to Hurtubise". The Wichita Beacon. Associated Press. June 1, 1960. p. 2B. Retrieved December 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  7. ^ Studebaker Indianapolis 500 Novi Race car Studebakerinfo.org. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  8. ^ Race Results - Indianapolis 500 - 1965 Indianapolis 500 Historical Stats at Indianapolis Motor Speedway website. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  9. ^ 1967 Hurtubise Mallard Offy: The last roadster to run at Indy Autoweek, September 20, 2001. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  10. ^ Miller, Robin (May 16th, 2018) Robin Miller's Mailbag for May 16 Racer.com. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  11. ^ Larson, Mike (April 28, 2016). "#31 Jim Hurtubise fails to qualify for Indy 500, treats everyone to beer instead". AutoWeek. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  12. ^ "Hurtubise Disrupts Indy 500 Qualifying". The New York Times. May 22, 1978. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  13. ^ Kelly, Paul (May 10, 2018) Indy Memories: A.J Foyt takes last win for a front-engine car WKRN Television. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  14. ^ "Driver Jim Hurtubise's AAA / USAC Champ Car Series Results at Michigan International Speedway - Racing-Reference.info". www.racing-reference.info. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  15. ^ "Jim Hurtubise". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  16. ^ KUPPER, MIKE (10 January 1989). "FLAMBOYANT FIGURE : Auto Racing World Will Miss Fun-Loving Driver Jim Hurtubise". Retrieved 14 January 2019 – via LA Times.
  17. ^ "Indianapolis Auto greats" (PDF). Celebrating Automotive Heritage at Crown Hill Cemetery. Crown Hill Cemetery. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
  18. ^ "inductees". National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2008-07-05. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  19. ^ Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame
[edit]
Sporting positions
Preceded by Indianapolis 500
Rookie of the Year
1960 		Succeeded by
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