Jud Larson

[Thomas E]

Jud Larson was bigger than life, He drove the championship cars bigger than life. He had rear-back and let her go stance when holding on to the steering wheel that was bigger than life.

Photos in order . . . Jud Larson

Chet Miller's #25 Chevy
Bowes Seal Fast #9 Offy - I think this is the best photo of Jud on a dirt track.
John Zink Special #25, 1957 IMS. Jud nicknamed the car "The Zinkenhauser"

[Thomas E]

Jud Larson

January 21, 1923 - June. 11, 1966

Texas born Jud Larson had a 27-year career of auto racing, competing in hundreds of races. His early years were spent racing in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Iowa on the half mile dirt tracks that spawned many fierce competitions after the WWII years, and was 1948 AAA southwest midget champion. He passed his Indianapolis 500 rookie test in 1952, but abruptly returned to the dirt tracks. Jud wasn’t past running unsanctioned AAA events, I believe its called “Running Outlaw” or race every chance you get.

Jud’s midget car racing days gave way to the sprint cars in 1955 or 1956, and the racing community would learn and realize who Jud Larson was.

In 1964 he broke into the USAC sprint car racing, proving he was a real contender. In his first year, he won six out of 19 sprint races and finished a strong second in the point standings.

In 1965 he won four of the first six sprint car events and led the point standings for more than half the season, then mechanical ailments overshadowed the remainder of the 1965 season and in the final standings Jud finished ninth.

The '66 season, Jud was again off to a good start and leading the sprint car division until June 11, at Reading Speedway in Reading, Pennsylvania, that it would all change. And change it did, Jud was all grit, he was loaded for bear . . .

. . . During that race, possibly in the early laps, Jud Larson and Red Riegel were side by side, as they man handled their steel dirt throwing and snarling beasts, with the front wheels searching for that perfect imaginary groove, rear wheels angrily breaking loose sporadically and sending dirt clods and dust in rooster tail fashion higher than Old Faithful. Jud and Red both running flat out on the dark side of the cushion going into the first turn tagged wheels, the contact between the two cars started them flipping and the occupants became like rag dolls.

When the roar of the engines stopped and the dirt and dust had finally settled, Jud's car had landed up upside down on the guard rail, Red's car was also upside down on the rail a little further down from Jud’s car. Both drivers, Jud Larson (43) died at the scene, and Red Riegel (34) died in route to the hospital. The horrific, spiraling, gut wrenching, double fatal is largely believed to be the main considered reason roll cages were brought to sprint cars.

Jud Larson was one of auto racings all time hard chargers, that has that amazing gladiator imagery of the strong-armed Larson setting the car sideways, running flat out, in a rim-riding breathtaking bravado. There was no pretense whatsoever about him. Jud Larson was very popular and had personality to match, and was always surrounded by autograph hunters win or lose.


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