Eugene Wesley "Jud" Larson (January 21, 1923 Grand Prairie, Texas – June 11, 1966 Reading, Pennsylvania) was an American racecar driver.
Career Larson drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1956-1959 and 1964-1965 seasons with 53 starts, including the 1958 and 1959 Indianapolis 500 races. He finished in the top ten 38 times, with 7 victories.
Less than two weeks before his death, Larsen pulled ahead of pole-sitter Greg Weld during the second lap of a feature USAC sprint race in Winchester, and held onto his lead to win the thirty-lap race."Jud Larson Annexes Winchester Feature." Muncie, Indiana: The Star Press, May 30, 1966, p. 9 (subscription required).
Accident, death and interment Larson died on June 11, 1966, as a result of injuries sustained in a sprint car crash at the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway in Berks County, Pennsylvania that also claimed the life of Red Riegel. According to The Kansas City Star, "Authorities said the accident occurred when the wheels of their cars locked during the second lap of the featured event." Both cars then "went up a short embankment around the first turn near the grandstand and tumbled back onto the track two times in succession," pinning both men inside their respective cars. A crowd of roughly six thousand witnessed the accident."Crash Is Fatal to Jud Larson." Kansas City, Missouri: The Kansas City Star, June 12, 1966, Sports section, front page (subscription required). Larson was buried at the Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery and Mausoleum in Pflugerville, Texas. Mario Andretti was among those who later paid tribute to him."Mourns Loss of Jud Larson—Andretti in LeMans Classic." Shreveport, Louisiana: The Shreveport Journal, June 17, 1966, p. 14 (subscription required).
Complete AAA/USAC Championship Car results Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Pos Points 1951 INDY MILDNQ LANDNQ DAR SPR MIL DUQ DUQ PIK SYR DET DNC SJS PHX BAY - 0 1952 INDYDNS MILDNQ RAL SPR MIL DET DUQ PIK SYR DNC SJS PHX-0 1953 INDYDNQ MIL SPR DET SPR MIL DUQ PIK SYR ISF SAC PHX-0 1956 INDY MIL LAN DAR ATL SPR MIL DUQ SYR ISF4 SAC1 PHXDNQ 22nd 320 1957 INDYDNQ LAN16 MIL DET4 ATL2 SPR2 MIL8 DUQ1 SYR6 ISF1 TRE22 SAC3 PHX12 5th 1,170 1958 TRE5 INDY8 MIL9 LAN3 ATL1 SPR13 MIL DUQ7 SYR5 ISF17 TRE22 SAC2 PHX1 4th 1,250 1959 DAY16 TRE INDY29 MIL4 LAN2 SPRDNS MIL DUQ SYR ISF TREDNP SAC PHX 20th 280 1964 PHX TREDNQ INDYDNQ MILDNQ LAN10 TRE15 SPR11 MIL17 DUQ6 ISF4 TRE SAC6 PHX6 13th 490 1965 PHX12 TRE5 INDYDNQ MIL LANDNQ PIP TRE6 IRP19 ATL16 LAN12 MIL7 SPR8 MIL9 DUQ4 ISF3 TRE8 SAC5 PHX8 9th 1,028 1966 PHX TREDNQ INDYDNP MIL LAN ATL PIP IRP LAN SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC PHX-0
Indianapolis 500 results YearJud Larson Indy 500 Race Stats CarStartQualRankFinishLapsLedRetired19584419143.5121182000Running1959719142.2982329450Crash T3Totals2450
Starts2Poles0Front Row0Wins0Top 50Top 101Retired1
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. Larson participated in two World Championship races but scored no World Championship points.
Awards Larson was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1992.
References
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