Joe Dawson (racing driver)

Joseph Crook Dawson
Dawson after winning the 1912 Indianapolis 500
Born	July 17, 1889 Odon, Indiana
Died	June 18, 1946 (aged 56)
Nationality	American

Dawson winning the 1912 Indianapolis 500

Joseph Crook Dawson (July 17, 1889 - June 17, 1946) was an American race car driver.

Biography

He was born in Odon, Indiana on July 17, 1889. Dawson competed in the Indianapolis 500 race three times, beginning in 1911 when he drove a Marmon to a fifth-place finish. The following year, Dawson won after Ralph DePalma, who had led for 196 laps of the 200 lap race, dropped out with a mechanical failure. At age 22 years and 323 days, Dawson stood as the youngest winner of the "500" until Troy Ruttman won the 1952 Indianapolis 500 at age 22 years and 86 days. In his final Indy 500 race in 1914, Dawson retired after an accident on the 45th lap.

He died on June 17, 1946 at age 56.^[1][2]

Indy 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired 1911 31 27 — — 5 200 0 Running 1912 8 7 86.130 4 1 200 2 Running 1914 26 17 93.550 5 25 45 0 Crash BS Totals 445 2

Starts 3 Poles 0 Front Row 0 Wins 1 Top 5 2 Top 10 2 Retired 1

References

1. Associated Press (June 19, 1946). "Joseph Dawson, 56, Auto Racing Figure". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-09-17. Joseph Dawson, winner of the 500 mile national sweepstakes auto race at ...
2. According to two separate handwritten documents one by Joe's father, Chase Dawson, and the other by his older brother, Charles F. Dawson, Joseph Crook Dawson was born in Odon on July 17, 1889. Family letters also place his death on June 17, 1946.

External links

• Profile on Historic Racing