JAMES EARNEST "JIM" HURTUBISE - 12/05/1932 - 01/06/1989
was an American race car driver who raced in USAC Champ Cars (including the Indianapolis 500), as well as sprint cars and stock cars (USAC and NASCAR). Despite his limited success, he was a fan favorite throughout much of his career as many characterized him as an "old style" race car driver. 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, IL. In 1964, after suffering serious burns in an accident during the Rex Mays Classic, in Milwaukee, doctors asked Hurtubise how he wanted his hands shaped permanently. "Just make 'em so I can hold a steering wheel," he replied. Hurtubise ran in ten Indianapolis 500 races between 1960 and 1974. His best finish was a 13th in 1962. In 1972 he ran out fuel, but was towed through the infield, which resulted in his disqualification. In the 1968 INDY 500 race, he ran the last front engined car to date in the race. He attempted to qualify a front engined car for the Indy 500 every year from 1975 to 1981 but failed to do so in each of those years. On May 21, 1972, on "bump day", he put his Miller Beer sponsored car 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. In 1978, he did not meet the certified speed and was denied an attempt to make the race. He sat in Bob Harkey’s car and locked the brakes. He then ran on the track until he was apprehended by the police. But by 1979, was back in USAC's good graces. In 1957, Hurtubise started his NASCAR career running two races. His first start came at Ascot Stadium in Los Angels CA. He would start seventh and finish 13th in his 1956
1964 Indy 500
1966
Chevy. This was also the first race at Ascot Stadium. His lone NASCAR win would come at Atlanta in 1966 in the Atlanta 500. He would start fifth after a great qualifying run, and lead 139 laps in route to the win. His final NASCAR Cup start would come in Dover DE in 1977 in the Delaware 500. He started 29th but crash out after only 12 laps and finish 39th. He would race 36 Cup races, winning at Atlanta, and amassing eleven top ten finishes. He raced for 22 seasons in the USAC and Champ Car Series making 96 starts and had the four victories mentioned above. Hurtubise died January 6, 1989 after suffering a heart attack near his home in Port Arthur, Texas. He was 56 years old. Some info from Wikipedia
1968 Indy 500
1972 Indy 500
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