With most of the motorsports world on hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve decided to highlight some of the sport’s legends on a daily basis. We begin each story within the pages of National Speed Sport News.
To this day, Jim Hurtubise is one of the most beloved racing drivers in the history of the sport.
Born in Tonawanda, N.Y., Hurtubise made a name for himself racing USAC-sanctioned open-wheel cars, which paved the way for him to compete in Indy cars and stock cars, both under the USAC and NASCAR banners.
Hurtubise earned 25-career USAC victories, with four in the Champ Car division, 18 in a sprint car and three in a stock car.
Hurtubise raced in the Indianapolis 500 10 times with a best finish of 13th in 1962. He made 36 starts in what is now the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, including a victory at Atlanta in 1966.
He died of a heart attack in 1989 at age 56.
