Dick Rathmann
Born: January 6, 1924 Los Angeles, CA.
Died: February 1, 2000 Melbourne, FL

Dick Rathmann drove in the AAA Championship Car series in the 1949 and 1950 seasons with 4 starts, including the 1950 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten once, in 6th position at Milwaukee in 1950.

In 1951, he moved to NASCAR, where he was a very successful Grand National driver through 1955.

In 1956, he returned to the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1956-1964 seasons with an additional 41 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in 1956 and 1958-1964. He finished in the top ten 21 more times, with his best finish in 2nd position in 1959 at Daytona.

In 1956, he returned to the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1956-1964 seasons with an additional 41 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in 1956 and 1958-1964. He finished in the top ten 21 more times, with his best finish in 2nd position in 1959 at Daytona.

Dick sat on the pole for the 1958 Indianapolis 500. On the first lap, he and fellow front-row starter Ed Elisian raced into turn 3 and started a chain-reaction accident which involved 15 cars and cost the life of Pat O'Connor. With that accident, Rathmann became the first Indy pole-sitter to complete no laps. This feat has been repeated only twice in Indy history, first by Roberto Guerrero and then by Scott Sharp.

The Name Game Dick was the elder brother of 1960 Indianapolis 500 winner Jim Rathmann. Jim and Dick switched names in 1946 so that his younger brother could enter a race while underage. For what was supposed to be a short time, he adopted the name "Dick" and his brother adopted the name "Jim." The name change stuck for life.

 

Dick Rathmann #3

racing against

Curtis Turner's Olds #87

 

 

Dick Rathmann in the pits
with # 20 Hudson

 

What race or racetrack? Email Here.

 

 

Dick Rathmann on Daytona Beach

North Turn

 

 

 

World Championship career summary 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. Dick Rathmann participated in 5 World Championship races. He started on the pole 1 time, won 0 races, set 0 fastest laps, and finished on the podium 0 times. He accumulated a total of 2 championship points.

Indy 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired 1950 45 18 130.928 17 32 25 0 Stalled 1956 73 4 144.471 6 5 200 0 Running 1958 97 1 145.974 1 27 0 0 Crash T3 1959 73 4 144.248 5 20 150 0 Fire in pit 1960 97 4 145.543 6 31 42 0 Brake Line 1961 97 6 146.033 8 13 164 0 Fuel Pump 1962 9 13 147.161 13 24 51 0 Magneto 1963 22 17 149.130 14 10 200 0 Running 1964 23 12 151.860 17 7 197 0 Flagged Totals 1029 0

Starts 9 Poles 1 Front Row 1 Wins 0 Top 5 1 Top 10 3 Retired 6

A Watson patterned car, built by Floyd Trevis and driven by A.J. Foyt, Jr., won the 1961 Indy 500ﾮ. Jim Rathmann also won the 1958 Monza 500 and the 1959 Daytona 100 in Watson Roadsters. The 1963 Indy field held 14 Watsons, but new rear engines and aerodynamics had begun to take over. Watson himself built rear engine cars for 1964 and Ward drove one of them to 2nd in the 500. A.J. Watson's record-setting Indy career continues in the late 1990's. Specs: Design.....WATSON Front Engine Roadster Chassis.....Tube Frame, Off-set engine & suspension Engine...Meyer Drake "Offy" 252 CID 4.2L/ Inline 4 Cylinder/400HP/ DOHC16-Valve/Hilborn Fuel Injection Gearbox...2-Speed Halibrand Wheelbase.......96IN. Weight.......1472 LBS. Top Speed.......180 MPH

Rare Postcard  - Name misspelled
 

2007 WEST COAST STOCK CAR HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE Dick Rathmann: born in Southern California, ran his first race at Carroll Speedway and went on to win 13 NASCAR Grand National races, 79 top tens and 13 poles in 128 races over 5 years. His best finish in points was 3rd in 1953.

Dick Rathmann Grand National DRIVER Statistics

Dick Rathmann finished in the Top 10 and astounding 62% of the time
and in the Top 5 an incredible 54% of the time! He had the pole and won in 1 out of every 10 races

Here Are The Wins -- Go Hudson!

Nascar Nextel Cup Series Tickets

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