Joe Dawson (racing driver)

Joe Dawson
Joe Dawson
	Dawson after winning the 1912 Indianapolis 500
Born	Joseph Crooke Dawson; July 17, 1889; Odon, Indiana, U.S.
Died	June 18, 1946 (aged 56); Bensalem, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Championship titles
	Major victories ; Indianapolis 500 (1912)
Champ Car career
	18 races run over 5 years
First race	1910 50-mile Race (Atlanta)
Last race	1914 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
First win	1910 Cobe Trophy (Indianapolis)
Last win	1912 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)

Joseph Crooke Dawson (July 17, 1889 – June 17, 1946) was an American racing driver. He was the winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 1912.

Biography

Dawson 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 was 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 when avoiding Ray Gilhooley. He died on June 17, 1946, at age 56 in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.^[1]^[2]

Motorsports career results

Indianapolis 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

^ "Joseph Dawson, 56, Auto Racing Figure". New York Times. Associated Press. June 19, 1946. Retrieved 2009-09-17. Joseph Dawson, winner of the 500 mile national sweepstakes auto race at ...
^ According to two separate handwritten documents one by Joe's father, Chase Dawson, and the other by his older brother, Charles F. Dawson, Joseph Crooke 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

Preceded by Ray Harroun	Indianapolis 500 Winner 1912	Succeeded by Jules Goux

[1] "Joseph Dawson, 56, Auto Racing Figure". New York Times. Associated Press. June 19, 1946. 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 Crooke Dawson was born in Odon on July 17, 1889. Family letters also place his death on June 17, 1946.

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[2]