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Charles Joseph "Chuck" Stevenson (October 15, 1919 – August 21, 1995) was an American racing driver who competed in various disciplines of motorsport. He is best known for winning the AAA National Championship in 1952. Stevenson also had two class victories in the Carrera Panamericana and won a NASCAR Grand National event.

Chuck Stevenson
Stevenson in 1952
BornCharles Joseph Stevenson
(1919-10-15)October 15, 1919
Sidney, Montana, U.S.
DiedAugust 21, 1995(1995-08-21) (aged 75)
Benson, Arizona, U.S.
Championship titles
AAA Championship Car (1952)
Champ Car career
53 races run over 15 years
Best finish1st (1952)
First race1949 Milwaukee 200 (Milwaukee)
Last race1965 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
First win1952 Milwaukee 200 (Milwaukee)
Last win1954 Rex Mays Classic (Milwaukee)
Wins Podiums Poles
4 12 3
NASCAR Cup Series career
2 races run over 2 years
Best finish94th (1956)
First race1955 LeHi 300 (Lehi)
Last race1956 Race 3 (Willow Springs)
First win1956 Race 3 (Willow Springs)
Wins Top tens Poles
1 1 0
Formula One World Championship career
Active years19511954, 1960
TeamsMarchese, Kurtis Kraft, Kuzma, Watson
Entries5
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1951 Indianapolis 500
Last entry1960 Indianapolis 500

Early life

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Charles Joseph Stevenson was born in Sidney, Montana on October 15, 1919, to Joseph Charles, a rancher, and Blanche (née Williams). The family later relocated to Fresno, California.

Championship Car career

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Stevenson drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1949–1954, 1960–1961, and 1963–1965 seasons with 54 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in 1951–1954, 1960–1961, and 1963–1965. He finished in the top ten 37 times, with four victories, two of them coming during the 1952 season when he won the AAA National Championship.

Non-Championship Car career

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Carrera Panamericana

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Stevenson after his class victory in the 1952 Carrera Panamericana

In 1951 Stevenson drove a Nash-Healey course (pace) car that was supplied by the Mexican Nash automobile importer in the grueling 2,000-mile (3,219 km) Carrera Panamericana race.[1][2] This endurance event is described as one of the most dangerous automobile races of any type in the world, and Stevenson had to be ahead of the racers to ensure the way was clear.[1][3] In both 1952 and 1953 Stevenson won the sedan class driving a "well-prepared" Lincoln Capri.[4][5] He is the only two-time winner in the history of the Carrera Panamericana.[6]

Stock car career

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Stevenson participated in no less than 40 AAA and USAC Stock Car events, finishing in the top-five no less than 14 times.

He also competed in two NASCAR events, picking up a win at Willow Springs Raceway in 1956 driving a Ford.[7]

World Drivers' Championship career

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The AAA/USAC-sanctioned Indianapolis 500 was included in the FIA World Drivers' Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indianapolis during those years were credited with World Drivers' Championship points and participation in addition to those which they received towards the AAA/USAC National Championship.

Stevenson participated in five World Drivers' Championship races at Indianapolis. His best finish was a 12th place, and he accumulated zero World Drivers' Championship points.

Later life

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Stevenson died in Benson, Arizona on August 21, 1995.

Awards and honors

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Stevenson has been inducted into the following halls of fame:

Motorsports career results

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AAA/USAC Championship Car results

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Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Pos Points
1949 ARL INDY MIL TRE SPR MIL
14
DUQ PIK SYR DET SPR
4
LAN SAC DMR 34th 120
1950 INDY MIL
DNS
LAN
3
SPR
DNQ
MIL
20
PIK SYR DET
6
SPR
3
SAC
4
PHX
4
BAY
19
DAR
6
8th 760
1951 INDY
20
MIL
DNQ
LAN DAR
9
SPR
5
MIL
6
DUQ
10
DUQ
4
PIK SYR
9
DET DNC
DNP
SJS PHX BAY 14th 538
1952 INDY
18
MIL
6
RAL
6
SPR
5
MIL
1
DET
3
DUQ
1
PIK SYR
7
DNC
2
SJS
7
PHX
6
1st 1,440
1953 INDY
29
MIL
15
SPR
6
DET
DNQ
SPR
3
MIL
1
DUQ
9
PIK SYR
18
ISF
DNQ
SAC
9
PHX 8th 745
1954 INDY
12
MIL
1
LAN DAR
29
SPR
2
MIL
2
DUQ
2
PIK SYR ISF SAC PHX LVG 7th 861.5
1960 TRE INDY
15
MIL
20
LAN
DNQ
SPR
6
MIL
24
DUQ
17
SYR
DNP
ISF
8
TRE SAC PHX 29th 130
1961 TRE INDY
6
MIL LAN MIL SPR DUQ SYR ISF TRE SAC PHX 14th 400
1962 TRE INDY
DNQ
MIL LAN TRE SPR MIL LAN SYR ISF TRE SAC PHX - 0
1963 TRE INDY
21
MIL
DNQ
LAN TRE SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC PHX - 0
1964 PHX
DNQ
TRE INDY
28
MIL
6
LAN TRE SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC PHX 35th 80
1965 PHX TRE INDY
25
MIL
DNQ
LAN
DNQ
PIP TRE IRP ATL LAN MIL SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC PHX - 0
1966 PHX TRE INDY
DNQ
MIL LAN ATL PIP IRP LAN SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC PHX - 0
1967 PHX TRE INDY
DNQ
MIL LAN PIP MOS MOS IRP LAN MTR MTR SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC HAN PHX RIV - 0
1968 HAN LVG PHX TRE INDY
DNQ
MIL MOS MOS LAN PIP CDR NAZ IRP IRP LAN LAN MTR MTR SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC MCH HAN PHX RIV - 0

Indianapolis 500 results

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References

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  1. ^ a b Tipler, Johnny; Ramirez, Jo (2008). La Carrera Panamericana: "The World's Greatest Road Race!". Veloce Publishing. p. 26. ISBN 978-1-84584-170-6. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  2. ^ Murphy, Daryl E. (2008). Carrera Panamericana: History of the Mexican Road Race, 1950–54. iUniverse. p. 25. ISBN 9780595483242. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  3. ^ "Nash Healey Racing" (PDF). Nash Healey Newsletter: 4. December 2011. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  4. ^ White, Gordon Eliot (2001). Kurtis-Kraft: masterworks of speed and style. MBI Publishing. p. 145. ISBN 9780760309100. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  5. ^ Donnelly, Jim (August 2004). "Hot Rod Lincoln". Hemmings Muscle Machines. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  6. ^ Tipler, p. 83.
  7. ^ "Chuck Stevenson results by track". racing-reference.info. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  8. ^ "Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame". www.fresnoahof.org. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  9. ^ "Hall of Fame – West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame". Retrieved 2023-10-07.
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