Dayton-born Frank Lockhart won the Indy 500 in his rookie start in 1926, leading 95 of the 160 laps in the rain-shortened race. He got the ride the day before the race when driver and car owner Pete Kreis came down with the flu and offered Lockhart the wheel.
Lockhart – an engineering and mechanical wizard – grew up next to the father of the Wright brothers and may have been a distant relative, himself.
His celebrated racing career and life were cut short in 1928 when Lockhart – inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame’s first class in 1990 – blew out a tire traveling more than 200 mph while attempting a land speed record at Daytona Beach. His car somersaulted for about 500 yards, and at one point ejecting Lockhart.
Here are seven more Indianapolis 500 drivers with a Dayton connection:
Duke Dinsmore
The sprint car driver – whose real name was J. Carlyle Dinsmore – had six starts from 1946 through 1956. Dinsmore, who worked as a bus driver in Dayton, recorded his best finish in 1947 when he finished 10th. It was one of only two races he finished.
Sam Hanks
The Columbus native lived in Dayton during World War II and worked at Wright Field as a project engineer for Pratt & Whitney engines. Hanks had 13 starts from 1940 through 1957, leading three races and winning in 1957. After winning with a then-record speed of 135.601 mph, Hanks immediately announced his retirement.
Jack Hewitt
At age 46, Troy’s Hewitt became the oldest rookie to qualify in 1998. Hewitt – both colorful with his words as he is controversial at times – was as engaging as he was entertaining, doing his best to stick around and sign autographs for the fans during the Month of May. “This has been a 25-year struggle to get to Indianapolis, and now that I’m here I’m going to say ‘thank you’ to all the fans that cheered me on and helped me keep fighting, to keep trying to get here,” Hewitt said. He had a crowd-pleasing run for 195 laps, starting 22nd and finished 12th.
Mauri Rose
The three-time winner was a co-champion in 1941 and scored consecutive victories in 1947 and 1948. The Columbus native, who worked as an engineer at General Motors in Dayton, led seven of the 15 races he competed in and had six top-five finishes. His most unusual win came in 1941. Rose was already out of the race when he was was asked to relieve Floyd Davis during a pit stop after Davis’ car owner wasn’t satisfied with his driver’s performance. Rose drove the car to victory and both Davis and Rose were credited as co-champions.
Tony Stewart
The Indiana native made five starts from 1996 through 2001, making an immediate impact by winning the pole as a rookie but finished 24th with engine trouble. The Eldora Speedway owner started second in 1997 and led in four races. His best finish was fifth in 1997. Stewart moved onto NASCAR Sprint Cup racing – this is is farewell season – and won three Sprint Cup championships.
Salt Walther
The Dayton native made seven starts, but is most famous for surviving some of the worst carnage the race has seen. Seconds after the start of the 1973 race, Walther – who started 17th – was sent airborne and upside down into the catch fence during a melee that collected 11 cars. His fuel tank was punctured and 80 gallons of fuel spilled into the crowd and doused the front stretch. Walther’s car burst into flames and he sat trapped upside down for six minutes. Walther was given a five percent chance to live. He gained the respect of fellow drivers when he returned to race in 1974 and four more times after that, including a career-best ninth in 1976.
Travis “Spider” Webb
The Missouri native found his way to Dayton through sprint car racing, and turned the wheel for legendary owners like Johnny Vance and Clarence “Mutt” Anderson. Webb raced in six races from 1948 to 1954, with a career-best finish 19th in 1953.
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