Last Updated on 08/09/2024 by Arun jain
Paul Goldsmith, Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR veteran and icon, has died at age 98. Confirming the news of his death Indianapolis Motor Speedway And NASCAR.
A native of West Virginia, Goldsmith grew up in Detroit, Michigan and began riding motorcycles as a teenager after the end of World War II. He became the American Motorcyclist Association’s expert on Harley-Davidson machines — scoring his biggest two-wheel victory at the Daytona 200 and ending Harley-Davidson’s drought in the event, according to a news release from NASCAR.
He balanced his winning ways while working full-time at the Chrysler factory in Detroit, the speedway said in its own news release.
While racing motorcycles, Goldsmith also tried his hand at stock car racing, winning the 250-mile race at the Detroit Fairgrounds in 1953, according to Speedway. He made his final motorcycle debut in 1956 before focusing on stock car racing.
NASCAR said he scored his first NASCAR victory that year at Langhorne in the 300-mile race on the team of legendary car owner Smokey Unique.
In Peter Golenbock’s 1993 book, “American Zoom,” Younique was quoted as saying, “Paul Goldsmith had more natural talent than any driver I’ve had anything to do with.” “He’s a very calm, likeable guy…good manners. A very fast race driver and very quick reactions. Within three or four races he was as good as he’s ever been.”
Goldsmith holds the distinction of being the last NASCAR Grand National winner at Daytona Beach’s Old Beach Course in 1958. It was the end of an era as the 2.5 mile Daytona International Speedway opened the following year.
In 1959, Goldsmith teamed up with another legendary car owner – Ray Nichels – and dominated the US Auto Club stock car circuit, claiming 26 wins in 85 starts, according to Speedway.
He shifted to NASCAR in 1964 and went on to win nine races and have 59 top-10 finishes in 127 starts, the speedway said. His last NASCAR victory came in 1966 at Bristol (Tennessee) Motor Speedway.
Goldsmith has competed in the Indianapolis 500 on six occasions, NASCAR said. His best performance was in 1960 when he finished third.
Goldsmith, who officially stepped away from competitive racing in 1960, is credited with helping to develop water-circulation technology that served as a precursor to the cool-suit technology relied on by modern race car drivers.
Goldsmith was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2008, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame in 2016.
He was predeceased by his wife Helen and son Greg, Speedway reported. He is survived by his daughter, Linda Goldsmith-Sliffer.
Lucia Suarez is associate managing editor at CBSNews.com. Previously, Lucia was the director of digital content at FOX61 News in Connecticut and has previously written for outlets including FoxNews.com, Fox News Latino and the Rutland Herald.
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