Larry Dickson (born September 8, 1938 in Warren, Ohio) is a former auto racing driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He competed during the 1965–1973 and 1975–1983 seasons, with 108 combined career starts, including eight in the Indianapolis 500. He failed to qualify for the race on five other occasions. He had 43 top-ten finishes, with a best of second at Springfield in 1968. He also participated in a non-championship race at Fuji Speedway in 1966.
Dickson was a three-time USAC Sprint Car Series Champion in 1968, 1970 and 1975. He won 43 USAC Sprint car races and was the all-time leader in the division until Tom Bigelow broke his record. Between 1968 and 1971, Dickson and Gary Bettenhausen raced each other in what was billed as "The Larry and Gary Show" or "Thunder (Bettenhausen) and Lightning (Dickson)", exchanging the USAC Sprint Car title between them during those years.
Dickson also ventured to NASCAR to drive Richie Giachetti's Ford Torino in the 1972 Daytona 500, running in the top-ten before the engine expired. He finished his racing career in a USAC Silver Crown car owned by his brother, Tommy, and Max Brittain.
Dickson is now semi-retired, living in Indianapolis and tending to his real estate investments.
Awards In 1990, Dickson was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class.
Indy 500 results Year Chassis Engine Start Finish 1966 Lola Ford 32nd 32nd 1967 Lotus Ford 21st 15th 1968 Brawner Ford 33rd 28th 1969 Vollstedt Ford 31st 9th 1970 Gerhardt Offy Failed to Qualify 1971 King Offy 26th 28th 1972 King Offy Failed to Qualify 1973 King Offy Failed to Qualify 1976 Eagle Offy Failed to Qualify 1977 McLaren Offy Practice Crash 1978 Penske Cosworth 9th 22nd 1979 Penske Cosworth 24th 24th 1981 Penske Cosworth 19th 18th USAC Sprint Cars = Three-time National Champion1968, 1970 and 1975. USAC records, National Speed Sport News and other national racing press. uNITWS RACING CLUB - National Champion and Rookie of the Year 1964National Speed Sport News, Winner of the US Open supermodified race at Williams Grove, PA 1964
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