Race Car Driver. Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, 1953.
His parents were John W. Daywalt, Sr. and Carrie Reed Daywalt, brother John Jr. was a Wabash pharmacist. He attended South Side School, Linlawn, and Wabash High School, but quit to join the Army Air Force during World War II. He served as a turret gunner on a B-24 in England and flew nearly 50 missions.
Daywalt returned to Wabash after the war and began racing cars behind the "old Rock Wool plant". He joined the Central States Racing Association and began racing throughout the midwest, including Logansport, Terre Haute, and Fort Wayne. He qualified for the Indianapolis 500 for the first time in 1953, after failing to make the field on three other occasions. He started in 31st place and finished 6th. He was named 1953 "Rookie of the Year" at age 29.
Daywalt raced at Indianapolis 8 times, completing the full 200 laps three times, eliminated by wrecks three times and by mechanical failure twice.
Best finish was 6th in 1953
Best starting spot was 2nd in 1954
Finished 9th in the radical Sumar Streamliner in 1955, which resembled a Le Mans style race car
Last 500 race was 1962, starting 33rd and finished 31st
Qualification attempt in1963 failed
Ran 8th and 9th fastest laps at Indy as of July 1, 1954
His parents were John W. Daywalt, Sr. and Carrie Reed Daywalt, brother John Jr. was a Wabash pharmacist. He attended South Side School, Linlawn, and Wabash High School, but quit to join the Army Air Force during World War II. He served as a turret gunner on a B-24 in England and flew nearly 50 missions.
Daywalt returned to Wabash after the war and began racing cars behind the "old Rock Wool plant". He joined the Central States Racing Association and began racing throughout the midwest, including Logansport, Terre Haute, and Fort Wayne. He qualified for the Indianapolis 500 for the first time in 1953, after failing to make the field on three other occasions. He started in 31st place and finished 6th. He was named 1953 "Rookie of the Year" at age 29.
Daywalt raced at Indianapolis 8 times, completing the full 200 laps three times, eliminated by wrecks three times and by mechanical failure twice.
Best finish was 6th in 1953
Best starting spot was 2nd in 1954
Finished 9th in the radical Sumar Streamliner in 1955, which resembled a Le Mans style race car
Last 500 race was 1962, starting 33rd and finished 31st
Qualification attempt in1963 failed
Ran 8th and 9th fastest laps at Indy as of July 1, 1954
Race Car Driver. Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, 1953.
His parents were John W. Daywalt, Sr. and Carrie Reed Daywalt, brother John Jr. was a Wabash pharmacist. He attended South Side School, Linlawn, and Wabash High School, but quit to join the Army Air Force during World War II. He served as a turret gunner on a B-24 in England and flew nearly 50 missions.
Daywalt returned to Wabash after the war and began racing cars behind the "old Rock Wool plant". He joined the Central States Racing Association and began racing throughout the midwest, including Logansport, Terre Haute, and Fort Wayne. He qualified for the Indianapolis 500 for the first time in 1953, after failing to make the field on three other occasions. He started in 31st place and finished 6th. He was named 1953 "Rookie of the Year" at age 29.
Daywalt raced at Indianapolis 8 times, completing the full 200 laps three times, eliminated by wrecks three times and by mechanical failure twice.
Best finish was 6th in 1953
Best starting spot was 2nd in 1954
Finished 9th in the radical Sumar Streamliner in 1955, which resembled a Le Mans style race car
Last 500 race was 1962, starting 33rd and finished 31st
Qualification attempt in1963 failed
Ran 8th and 9th fastest laps at Indy as of July 1, 1954
His parents were John W. Daywalt, Sr. and Carrie Reed Daywalt, brother John Jr. was a Wabash pharmacist. He attended South Side School, Linlawn, and Wabash High School, but quit to join the Army Air Force during World War II. He served as a turret gunner on a B-24 in England and flew nearly 50 missions.
Daywalt returned to Wabash after the war and began racing cars behind the "old Rock Wool plant". He joined the Central States Racing Association and began racing throughout the midwest, including Logansport, Terre Haute, and Fort Wayne. He qualified for the Indianapolis 500 for the first time in 1953, after failing to make the field on three other occasions. He started in 31st place and finished 6th. He was named 1953 "Rookie of the Year" at age 29.
Daywalt raced at Indianapolis 8 times, completing the full 200 laps three times, eliminated by wrecks three times and by mechanical failure twice.
Best finish was 6th in 1953
Best starting spot was 2nd in 1954
Finished 9th in the radical Sumar Streamliner in 1955, which resembled a Le Mans style race car
Last 500 race was 1962, starting 33rd and finished 31st
Qualification attempt in1963 failed
Ran 8th and 9th fastest laps at Indy as of July 1, 1954
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