JOHNNY RUTHERFORD - USAC HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2013

“Lone Star J.R.,” as the Fort Worth, Texas driver Johnny Rutherford is affectionately known, is a three-time Indianapolis 500 champion (1974, 1976 and 1980) and won USAC’s National Sprint Car title in 1965 and added the USAC Indy Car crown in 1980. A multiple Hall of Fame member, he also won three Indianapolis 500 poles and scored 20 Championship car wins, plus eight in USAC Sprints. In 1986 he added the Michigan 500 to his resume and he’s also a five-time IROC veteran. USAC’s 2000 Roger McCluskey Award winner has had heavy involvement as a driver coach and pace car driver for Indy Car events and in 1963 set a world qualifying record during NASCAR stock car competition at Daytona Beach, Fla. He followed that by winning his initial NASCAR start – a 100-miler at Daytona!