5-TIME USAC MIDGET WINNER LONNIE CARUTHERS PASSES
By: Richie Murray - USAC Media
Speedway, Indiana (May 9, 2020)………Lonnie Caruthers, a five-time USAC National Midget feature winner who appeared in the top-10 of the series standings five years straight between 1977 and 1981, passed away on Friday, May 8, 2020. He was 71 years old.
Caruthers made his debut with the USAC National Midgets in 1976, making a single start that year. The 1977 campaign saw him compete on the full series trail for the first time, finishing 8th in the final standings and collecting Rookie of the Year honors. Caruthers saw improvement the following year in 1978, taking 6th in the final points.
With a single runner-up finish in each of the past two years, Caruthers finally broke through for his first series win in August of 1979 at “Little” Springfield Speedway in Illinois. Less than a month later, he was back in victory lane at Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville, Ind. His two victories secured his 6th place standing in the final points, equaling the previous year’s result.
The next year, 1980, proved to be his breakout season with three USAC National Midget feature victories, all of which came in the Hoosier state for the Corona del Mar, California native. He was victorious in May at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, again at the Indianapolis Speedrome in June, with his final career points-paying win coming that August at Whitewater Valley Speedway in Liberty, Ind., elevating him to a career-high 4th in the standings.
In 1982, Caruthers scored what may have been his most memorable victory, and celebration, in the 500-lap non-points USAC Midget Special Event at the Indianapolis Speedrome. Caruthers completed the entire grueling 500-lap distance around the 1/5-mile bullring without the aid of a single pit stop for fuel.
To show his excitement, and his level of energy following the checkered flag, Caruthers displayed a unique celebration, performing a handstand on top of his roll cage in victory lane, stating “I could have driven another 500 laps” after completing the event in 2 hours, 6 minutes and 35 seconds while driving for his father L.T. (Red) Caruthers with whom he drove for in each of his USAC Midget wins.
Lonnie was the cousin of 1970 USAC National Midget and 1975 USAC Silver Crown champion driver Jimmy Caruthers as well as 1971 USAC National Midget driving titlist Danny Caruthers and 1988 Hoosier Dome Invitational USAC Midget winner Roy Caruthers.