Len Sutton

{{Infobox racing driver

| name = Len Sutton

| image =

| caption =

| nationality =

| birth_name = Lenard Dale Sutton

| birth_date = {{birth date|1925|08|09}}

| birth_place = Aims, Oregon, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2006|12|04|1925|08|09}}

| death_place = Portland, Oregon, U.S.

| titles =

| awards =

| module1 = {{Infobox Champ Car driver|child=yes

| years = 1955–1965

| Total_Champ_Races = 74

| Years_In_Champ = 11

| Champ_Car_Team =

| Best_Champ_Pos = 7th – 1961, 1962

| First_Champ_Race = 1955 Golden State 100 (Sacramento)

| Last_Champ_Race = 1965 Langhorne 100 (Langhorne)

| First_Champ_Win = 1958 Trenton 100 (Trenton)

| Last_Champ_Win = 1960 Milwaukee 200 (Milwaukee)

| Champ_Wins = 3

| Champ_Podiums = 8

| Champ_Poles = 1

}}

| module2 = {{Infobox F1 driver

| child = yes

| Years = {{F1|1956}}, {{F1|1958}}–{{F1|1960}}

| Team(s) = Lesovsky, Kurtis Kraft, Watson, Kuzma

| Races = 4 (3 starts)

| Championships = 0

| Wins = 0

| Podiums = 0

| Points = 0

| Poles = 0

| Fastest laps = 0

| First race = 1956 Indianapolis 500

| First win =

| Last win =

| Last race = 1960 Indianapolis 500

}}}}

Len Sutton{{Cite web |title=Len Sutton |url=http://www.champcarstats.com/drivers/SuttonLen.htm |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=www.champcarstats.com}} (August 9, 1925 – December 3, 2006)[http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/motor/2006-12-05-sutton-obit_x.htm Legendary racer Len Sutton, 81, dies from cancer complications] was an American racecar driver. He is best known for finishing second at the 1962 Indianapolis 500.[http://www.stockcarreunion.com/inductees/2005inductees.html Biography] at the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame, Retrieved November 21, 2007

Early racing career

A lifelong resident of Portland, Oregon, Sutton became involved in auto racing after serving in the Navy during World War II. He spun out in the first corner on his first lap at a dirt track. Sutton won Oregon Racing Association championships in 1949, 1950, 1954, and 1955. He flipped his car to avoid cattle during the 1954 Carrera Panamericana road race (now Baja 1000). He was in a body cast for 4 months. He also won midget car racing championships in Portland before he headed east to become a national touring driver.

National circuits

He raced in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series from 1955 to 1965, with 76 career starts, 43 top ten finishes, and 3 victories.

Sutton completed his rookie test for the Indianapolis 500 in 1956. He flipped his car while attempting 140 miles per hour for the 1957 Indianapolis 500. He slide upside down with his helmet scraping the asphalt for nearly 1000 feet (300 m). A report in the following day's Indianapolis News said "Sutton was at first believed dead by observers on the scene." His injuries included broken shoulder, serious abrasions on his back, and a fractured skull. He returned to Indianapolis the following year and made his first start in the event. That year he finished 32nd after being eliminated in a multi-car accident during the first lap. He competed in the 500 six more times and had his best result in 1962. After starting the race 4th, he led 9 laps and finished second behind his teammate Rodger Ward. The next year, he set an unofficial Indianapolis Motor Speedway record when he went over {{convert|155|mi/h|km/h}} during a tire test.

Known for his versatility as a driver, Sutton also competed in roadsters, midgets, sprint cars, and stock cars. He finished 31st in the 1963 Daytona 500. Sutton decided to retire from driving during a 1965 race at Langhorne Speedway. Fellow competitor Mel Kenyon was severely burned in the race.

Broadcaster after retirement and death

After retiring from driving, Sutton went into broadcasting and was a member of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network for many years.

Sutton died at his home in Portland at age 81 after a long battle with cancer.

Awards

He was inducted in the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame in 2005
He was a member of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
Sutton was named to the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2009{{cite web|title=14 Welcomed As New Midget Hall Class|url=http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/sprints-midgets/14-welcomed-as-new-midget-hall-class/|publisher=National Speed Sport News|accessdate=December 27, 2013}}

Complete AAA/USAC Championship Car results

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%" ! Year ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 !14 !15 !16 !17 !18 ! Pos ! Points
rowspan=1\| 1955 \| INDY \| MIL \| LAN \| SPR \| MIL \| DUQ \| PIK \| SYR \| ISF \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| SAC 17 \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| PHX 17 \|colspan=7\| !- !0
rowspan=1\| 1956 \|style="background:#FFCFCF;"\| INDY DNQ \| MIL \| LAN \| DAR \| ATL \| SPR \| MIL \| DUQ \| SYR \| ISF \|style="background:#EFCFFF;" \| SAC 18 \| PHX \|colspan=6\| !- !0
rowspan=1\| 1957 \| INDY \| LAN \| MIL \| DET \| ATL \|style="background:#FFCFCF;" \| SPR DNQ \|style="background:#EFCFFF;" \| MIL 19 \|style="background:#CFEAFF;" \| DUQ 7 \|style="background:#EFCFFF;" \| SYR 17 \|style="background:#DFFFDF;" \| ISF 4 \|style="background:#DFFFDF;" \| TRE 4 \|style="background:#FFCFCF;" \| SAC DNQ \|style="background:#EFCFFF;" \| PHX 17 \|colspan=5\| ! style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 16th ! style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 300
rowspan=1\| 1958 \|style="background:#FFFFBF;" \| TRE 1 \|style="background:#EFCFFF;" \| INDY 32 \|style="background:#CFCFFF;" \| MIL 11 \|style="background:#CFEAFF;" \| LAN 9 \|style="background:#DFFFDF;" \| ATL 4 \|style="background:#EFCFFF;" \| SPR 9 \|style="background:#CFEAFF;" \| MIL 9 \|style="background:#CFEAFF;" \| DUQ 6 \|style="background:#FFCFCF;" \| SYR DNQ \|style="background:#FFCFCF;" \| ISF DNQ \|style="background:#CFEAFF;" \| TRE 8 \|style="background:#FFCFCF;" \| SAC DNQ \|style="background:#CFEAFF;" \| PHX 9 \|colspan=5\| !style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 11th !style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 670
rowspan=1\| 1959 \| style="background:#efcfff; \| DAY 20 \| style="background:#efcfff; \| TRE 16 \| style="background:#efcfff; \| INDY 32 \| style="background:#cfeaff; \| MIL 10 \| style="background:#efcfff; \| LAN 14 \| style="background:#ffffbf; \| SPR 1 \| style="background:#efcfff; \| MIL 19 \| style="background:#dfffdf; \| DUQ 4 \| style="background:#cfeaff; \| SYR 8 \| style="background:#dfffdf; \| ISF 5 \| style="background:#efcfff; \| TRE 22 \| style="background:#efcfff; \| SAC 16 \| style="background:#efcfff; \| PHX 11 \|colspan=5\| !style="background:#CFEAFF;"\| 9th !style="background:#CFEAFF;"\| 520
1960 \|style="background:#EFCFFF;" \| TRE 18 \|style="background:#EFCFFF;" \| INDY 30 \|style="background:#FFDF9F;" \| MIL 3 \| LAN \|style="background:#CFEAFF;" \| SPR 8 \|style="background:#FFFFBF;" \| MIL 1 \|style="background:#FFCFCF;" \| DUQ DNQ \|style="background:#FFCFCF;" \| SYR DNQ \|style="background:#CFEAFF;" \| ISF 7 \|style="background:#DFFFDF;" \| TRE 5 \|style="background:#CFEAFF;" \| SAC 10 \|style="background:#FFCFCF;" \| PHX DNQ \|colspan=6\| !style="background:#CFEAFF;"\| 8th !style="background:#CFEAFF;"\| 780
1961 \|style="background:#FFCFCF;" \| TRE DNQ \|style="background:#EFCFFF;" \| INDY 19 \|style="background:#DFFFDF;" \| MIL 4 \| LAN \|style="background:#DFDFDF;" \| MIL 2 \|style="background:#CFEAFF;" \| SPR 10 \|style="background:#CFEAFF;" \| DUQ 9 \|style="background:#CFEAFF;" \| SYR 9 \|style="background:#DFFFDF;" \| ISF 4 \|style="background:#CFCFFF;" \| TRE 11 \|style="background:#DFFFDF;" \| SAC 4 \|style="background:#CFEAFF;" \| PHX 8 \|colspan=6\| !style="background:#CFEAFF;"\| 7th !style="background:#CFEAFF;"\| 860
1962 \|style="background:#CFEAFF;" \| TRE 7 \|style="background:#DFDFDF;" \| INDY 2 \|style="background:#EFCFFF;" \| MIL 15 \| LAN \| TRE \| SPR \|style="background:#EFCFFF;" \| MIL 20 \| LAN \| SYR DNP \| ISF \|style="background:#DFDFDF;" \| TRE 2 \|style="background:#EFCFFF;" \| SAC 10 \|style="background:#CFEAFF;" \| PHX 9 \|colspan=5\| !style="background:#CFEAFF;" \| 7th !style="background:#CFEAFF;" \| 1,250
1963 \|style="background:#CFEAFF;" \| TRE {{small\|7}} \|style="background:#FFCFCF;" \| INDY DNQ \|style="background:#CFEAFF;" \| MIL 6 \| LAN \|style="background:#EFCFFF;" \| TRE {{small\|21}} \|style="background:#CFCFFF;" \| SPR {{small\|12}} \|style="background:#CFCFFF;" \| MIL {{small\|12}} \|style="background:#CFCFFF;" \| DUQ {{small\|13}} \|style="background:#FFCFCF;" \| ISF {{small\|DNQ}} \| TRE \|style="background:#FFCFCF;" \| SAC {{small\|DNQ}} \| PHX \|colspan=6\| !style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 20th !style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 170
1964 \|style="background:#EFCFFF;" \| PHX 22 \| TRE {{small\| }} \|style="background:#EFCFFF;" \| INDY {{small\|15}} \|style="background:#DFDFDF;" \| MIL {{small\|2}} \| LAN {{small\| }} \|style="background:#CFEAFF;" \| TRE 10 \|style="background:#DFFFDF;" \| SPR {{small\|5}} \|style="background:#FFCFCF;" \| MIL {{small\|DNQ}} \|style="background:#CFCFFF;" \| DUQ {{small\|11}} \|style="background:#CFEAFF;" \| ISF {{small\|8}} \|style="background:#EFCFFF;" \| TRE 15 \| SAC \|style="background:#FFCFCF;" \| PHX DNQ \|colspan=5\| !style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 17th !style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 338
1965 \| PHX {{small\| }} \| TRE {{small\| }} \|style="background:#CFCFFF;" \| INDY 12 \|style="background:#EFCFFF;" \| MIL {{small\|21}} \|style="background:#CFEAFF;" \| LAN {{small\|7}} \| PPR {{small\| }} \|style="background:#FFCFCF;" \| TRE {{small\|DNQ}} \| IRP {{small\| }} \| ATL {{small\| }} \| LAN {{small\| }} \| MIL {{small\| }} \| ISF {{small\| }} \| MIL {{small\| }} \| DSF {{small\| }} \| INF {{small\| }} \| TRE {{small\| }} \| SAC {{small\| }} \| PHX {{small\| }} !style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 35th !style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 110

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"

! Year

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

!14

!15

!16

!17

!18

! Pos

! Points

rowspan=1| 1955

| INDY

| MIL

| LAN

| SPR

| MIL

| DUQ

| PIK

| SYR

| ISF

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SAC
17

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| PHX
17

|colspan=7|

rowspan=1| 1956

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| INDY
DNQ

| MIL

| LAN

| DAR

| ATL

| SPR

| MIL

| DUQ

| SYR

| ISF

|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | SAC
18

| PHX

|colspan=6|

rowspan=1| 1957

| INDY

| LAN

| MIL

| DET

| ATL

|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | SPR
DNQ

|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | MIL
19

|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | DUQ
7

|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | SYR
17

|style="background:#DFFFDF;" | ISF
4

|style="background:#DFFFDF;" | TRE
4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | SAC
DNQ

|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | PHX
17

|colspan=5|

! style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 16th

! style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 300

rowspan=1| 1958

|style="background:#FFFFBF;" | TRE
1

|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | INDY
32

|style="background:#CFCFFF;" | MIL
11

|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | LAN
9

|style="background:#DFFFDF;" | ATL
4

|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | SPR
9

|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | MIL
9

|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | DUQ
6

|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | SYR
DNQ

|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | ISF
DNQ

|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | TRE
8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | SAC
DNQ

|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | PHX
9

|colspan=5|

!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 11th

!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 670

rowspan=1| 1959

| style="background:#efcfff; | DAY
20

| style="background:#efcfff; | TRE
16

| style="background:#efcfff; | INDY
32

| style="background:#cfeaff; | MIL
10

| style="background:#efcfff; | LAN
14

| style="background:#ffffbf; | SPR
1

| style="background:#efcfff; | MIL
19

| style="background:#dfffdf; | DUQ
4

| style="background:#cfeaff; | SYR
8

| style="background:#dfffdf; | ISF
5

| style="background:#efcfff; | TRE
22

| style="background:#efcfff; | SAC
16

| style="background:#efcfff; | PHX
11

|colspan=5|

!style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 9th

!style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 520

1960

|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | TRE
18

|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | INDY
30

|style="background:#FFDF9F;" | MIL
3

| LAN

|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | SPR
8

|style="background:#FFFFBF;" | MIL
1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | DUQ
DNQ

|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | SYR
DNQ

|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | ISF
7

|style="background:#DFFFDF;" | TRE
5

|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | SAC
10

|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | PHX
DNQ

|colspan=6|

!style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 8th

!style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 780

1961

|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | TRE
DNQ

|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | INDY
19

|style="background:#DFFFDF;" | MIL
4

| LAN

|style="background:#DFDFDF;" | MIL
2

|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | SPR
10

|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | DUQ
9

|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | SYR
9

|style="background:#DFFFDF;" | ISF
4

|style="background:#CFCFFF;" | TRE
11

|style="background:#DFFFDF;" | SAC
4

|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | PHX
8

|colspan=6|

!style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 7th

!style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 860

1962

|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | TRE
7

|style="background:#DFDFDF;" | INDY
2

|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | MIL
15

| LAN

| TRE

| SPR

|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | MIL
20

| LAN

| SYR
DNP

| ISF

|style="background:#DFDFDF;" | TRE
2

|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | SAC
10

|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | PHX
9

|colspan=5|

!style="background:#CFEAFF;" | 7th

!style="background:#CFEAFF;" | 1,250

1963

|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | TRE
{{small|7}}

|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | INDY
DNQ

|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | MIL
6

| LAN

|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | TRE
{{small|21}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;" | SPR
{{small|12}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;" | MIL
{{small|12}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;" | DUQ
{{small|13}}

|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | ISF
{{small|DNQ}}

| TRE

|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | SAC
{{small|DNQ}}

| PHX

|colspan=6|

!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 20th

!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 170

1964

|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | PHX
22

| TRE
{{small| }}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | INDY
{{small|15}}

|style="background:#DFDFDF;" | MIL
{{small|2}}

| LAN
{{small| }}

|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | TRE
10

|style="background:#DFFFDF;" | SPR
{{small|5}}

|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | MIL
{{small|DNQ}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;" | DUQ
{{small|11}}

|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | ISF
{{small|8}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | TRE
15

| SAC

|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | PHX
DNQ

|colspan=5|

!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 17th

!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 338

1965

| PHX
{{small| }}

| TRE
{{small| }}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;" | INDY
12

|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | MIL
{{small|21}}

|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | LAN
{{small|7}}

| PPR
{{small| }}

|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | TRE
{{small|DNQ}}

| IRP
{{small| }}

| ATL
{{small| }}

| LAN
{{small| }}

| MIL
{{small| }}

| ISF
{{small| }}

| MIL
{{small| }}

| DSF
{{small| }}

| INF
{{small| }}

| TRE
{{small| }}

| SAC
{{small| }}

| PHX
{{small| }}

!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 35th

!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 110

Indianapolis 500 results

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Year !Car !Start !Qual !Rank !Finish !Laps !Led !Retired
1958 \|68 \|27 \|142.653 \|27 \|32 \|0 \|0 \|Crash T3
1959 \|8 \|22 \|142.107 \|26 \|32 \|34 \|0 \|Crash T1
1960 \|9 \|5 \|145.443 \|7 \|30 \|47 \|0 \|Piston
1961 \|8 \|8 \|145.897 \|10 \|19 \|110 \|0 \|Clutch
1962 \|7 \|4 \|149.328 \|4 \|2 \|200 \|9 \|Running
1964 \|66 \|8 \|153.813 \|9 \|15 \|140 \|0 \|Magneto
1965 \|16 \|12 \|156.121 \|13 \|12 \|177 \|0 \|Flagged
colspan=6\|Totals \|708 \|9 \|

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

Year

!Car

!Start

!Qual

!Rank

!Finish

!Laps

!Led

!Retired

1958

|68

|27

|142.653

|27

|32

|Crash T3

1959

|22

|142.107

|26

|32

|34

|Crash T1

1960

|145.443

|30

|47

|Piston

1961

|145.897

|10

|19

|110

|Clutch

1962

|149.328

|200

|Running

1964

|66

|153.813

|15

|140

|Magneto

1965

|16

|12

|156.121

|13

|12

|177

|Flagged

colspan=6|Totals

|708

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Starts \|7
Poles \|0
Front Row \|0
Wins \|0
Top 5 \|1
Top 10 \|1
Retired \|5

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

Starts

Poles

Front Row

Wins

Top 5

Top 10

Retired

World Championship career summary

The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Len Sutton participated in 3 World Championship races but scored no World Championship points.

References

[http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1165292716326870.xml&coll=7 Auto racing loses a gentleman]
[http://www.indy500.com/news/story.php?story_id=7893 Popular Indianapolis 500 Driver Sutton Dies At Age 81]

Category:1925 births

Category:2006 deaths

Category:Deaths from cancer in Oregon

Category:Indianapolis 500 drivers

Category:Racing drivers from Portland, Oregon

Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II

Category:USAC Stock Car drivers