Howdy Wilcox facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Howdy Wilcox |
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Wilcox, circa 1919
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| Born | Howard Samuel Wilcox June 24, 1889 Crawfordsville, Indiana, U.S. |
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| Died | September 4, 1923 (aged 34) Tipton, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Championship titles | |||||||
| Major victories Indianapolis 500 (1919) |
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| Champ Car career | |||||||
| 36 races run over 12 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 11th (1916) | ||||||
| First race | 1910 100-mile Remy Brassard (Indianapolis) |
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| Last race | 1923 Altoona 200 (Altoona) | ||||||
| First win | 1910 Remy Grand Trophy (Indianapolis) |
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| Last win | 1919 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis) | ||||||
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Howard Samuel "Howdy" Wilcox (born June 24, 1889 – died September 4, 1923) was an American racing driver. He was very active during the early days of car racing. Howdy is best known for winning the famous 1919 Indianapolis 500 race.
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Early Life and Family
Howdy Wilcox was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, on June 24, 1889. His wife passed away in 1918. Howdy's son, Howard Jr., later started the Little 500 bicycle race. This race has been held every year at Indiana University since 1951.
Racing Career Highlights
In 1911, Howdy Wilcox set a world record for speed on a beach. He drove his car at 89.23 miles per hour. This was a very fast speed for that time!
His biggest win came in 1919 at the 1919 Indianapolis 500. He started the race in second place. Howdy then led the last 98 laps of the race. He crossed the finish line first to become the champion.
How Howdy Wilcox Died
Howdy Wilcox passed away on September 4, 1923. This happened during a car crash at the Altoona Speedway. The Altoona Speedway was a special type of race track called a board track. It was located in Tyrone, Pennsylvania. Howdy was buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis 500 Race Results
Howdy Wilcox raced in the Indianapolis 500 several times. Here are some of his results:
- Starts: He started the race 11 times.
- Poles: He earned the pole position (starting first) once in 1915.
- Wins: He won the race once in 1919.
- Top 10 Finishes: He finished in the top 10 five times.
