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 | |||||||
| Born | Charles Joseph Stevenson October 15, 1919 Sidney, Montana, U.S. | ||||||
| Died | August 21, 1995 (aged 75) Benson, Arizona, U.S. | ||||||
| Championship titles | |||||||
| AAA Championship Car (1952) | |||||||
| Champ Car career | |||||||
| 53 races run over 15 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 1st (1952) | ||||||
| First race | 1949 Milwaukee 200 (Milwaukee) | ||||||
| Last race | 1965 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis) | ||||||
| First win | 1952 Milwaukee 200 (Milwaukee) | ||||||
| Last win | 1954 Rex Mays Classic (Milwaukee) | ||||||
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| NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
| 2 races run over 2 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 94th (1956) | ||||||
| First race | 1955 LeHi 300 (Lehi) | ||||||
| Last race | 1956 Race 3 (Willow Springs) | ||||||
| First win | 1956 Race 3 (Willow Springs) | ||||||
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| Formula One World Championship career | |||||||
| Active years | 1951 – 1954, 1960 | ||||||
| Teams | Marchese, Kurtis Kraft, Kuzma, Watson | ||||||
| Entries | 5 | ||||||
| Championships | 0 | ||||||
| Wins | 0 | ||||||
| Podiums | 0 | ||||||
| Career points | 0 | ||||||
| Pole positions | 0 | ||||||
| Fastest laps | 0 | ||||||
| First entry | 1951 Indianapolis 500 | ||||||
| Last entry | 1960 Indianapolis 500 | ||||||
Early life
editCharles 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
editStevenson 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
editCarrera Panamericana
edit
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
editStevenson 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
editThe 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
editStevenson died in Benson, Arizona on August 21, 1995.
Awards and honors
editStevenson has been inducted into the following halls of fame:
Motorsports career results
editAAA/USAC Championship Car results
editIndianapolis 500 results
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References
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ Murphy, Daryl E. (2008). Carrera Panamericana: History of the Mexican Road Race, 1950–54. iUniverse. p. 25. ISBN 9780595483242. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- ^ "Nash Healey Racing" (PDF). Nash Healey Newsletter: 4. December 2011. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- ^ White, Gordon Eliot (2001). Kurtis-Kraft: masterworks of speed and style. MBI Publishing. p. 145. ISBN 9780760309100. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- ^ Donnelly, Jim (August 2004). "Hot Rod Lincoln". Hemmings Muscle Machines. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- ^ Tipler, p. 83.
- ^ "Chuck Stevenson results by track". racing-reference.info. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- ^ "Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame". www.fresnoahof.org. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
- ^ "Hall of Fame – West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame". Retrieved 2023-10-07.
External links
edit- Chuck Stevenson - ChampCarStats.com
- Chuck Stevenson driver statistics at Racing-Reference