Johnny Rutherford

John Sherman Rutherford III (born March 12, 1938), also known as "Lone Star JR", is an American former automobile racing driver. During an Indy Car career that spanned more than three decades, he scored 27 wins and 23 pole positions in 314 starts. He became one of six drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 at least three times, winning in 1974, 1976, and 1980. He also won the CART championship in 1980.

Rutherford began racing modified stock cars in 1959 and he also dabbled in stock car racing, making 35 NASCAR Cup Series starts from 1963 to 1988. Rutherford won in his first start, at Daytona International Speedway driving for Smokey Yunick. This made him one of the youngest drivers ever to win a NASCAR points-paying race, as well as only the sixth racer in history to win in their NASCAR debut race, a distinction not again achieved until SuperCars racer Shane van Gisbergen won in his NASCAR debut in 2023.

Racing career In 1959, Rutherford started driving modified stock cars in Dallas. He joined the International Motor Contest Association sprint car circuit in 1961 leading it for most of 1962. Rutherford later joined the United States Auto Club (USAC) starting in the Hoosier Hundred and later winning his first championship. and were a highly visible and inseparable couple throughout Johnny's racing career. His first Indy 500 win in 1974, with Betty looking on from the pits, helped to end the superstition in American racing against allowing women in the pit area.

Rutherford was the honorary chairman of the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in 2006.

Rutherford was a talented artist during his school, and after the conclusion of his racing career devoted time to renewing his skill. Rutherford's art was featured on the program cover of the 2021 Indianapolis 500.

Rutherford, who has been invited to The White House on behalf of Indy on multiple occasions, is considered a popular ambassador and spokesman for the sport of Indy car racing.

Awards Inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1996 Inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1995 Inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1996 Inducted in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame in 1987

Motorsports career results

NASCAR (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Grand National Series NASCAR Grand National Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 Pts Ref 1963 Smokey Yunick 13 Chevy BIR GGS THS RSD DAY DAY DAY PIF AWS HBO ATL HCY BRI AUG RCH GPS SBO BGS MAR NWS CLB THS DAR ODS RCH CLT BIR ATL DAY MBS SVH DTS BGS ASH OBS BRR BRI GPS NSV CLB AWS PIF BGS ONA DAR HCY RCH MAR DTS NWS THS CLT SBO HBO RSD NA - 1964 Bud Moore Engineering 01 Mercury CON AUG JSP SVH RSD DAY DAY DAY RCH BRI GPS BGS ATL AWS HBO PIF CLB NWS MAR SVH DAR LGY HCY SBO CLT GPS ASH ATL CON NSV CHT BIR VAL PIF NA - Holman-Moody 0 Ford DAY ODS OBS BRR ISP GLN LIN BRI NSV MBS AWS DTS ONA CLB BGS STR DAR HCY RCH ODS HBO MAR SVH NWS CLT HAR AUG JAC 1965 77 Ford RSD DAY DAY DAY PIF ASW RCH HBO ATL GPS NWS MAR CLB BRI DAR LGY BGS HCY CLT CCF ASH HAR NSV BIR ATL GPS MBS VAL DAY ODS OBS ISP GLN BRI NSV CCF AWS SMR PIF AUG CLB DTS BLV BGS DAR HCY LIN ODS RCH MAR NWS CLT HBO CAR DTS NA - 1966 Curtis Satterfield 33 Chevy AUG RSD DAY DAY DAY CAR BRI ATL HCY CLB GPS BGS NWS MAR DAR LGY MGR MON RCH CLT DTS ASH PIF SMR AWS BLV GPS DAY ODS BRR OXF FON ISP BRI SMR NSV ATL CLB AWS BLV BGS DAR HCY RCH HBO MAR NWS CLT CAR NA -

Winston Cup Series NASCAR Winston Cup Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Pts Ref 1972 Donlavey Racing 90 Ford RSD DAY RCH ONT CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV MCH RSD TWS DAY BRI TRN ATL TAL MCH NSV DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR TWS NA - 1973 B & B Racing 61 Chevy RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV CLT DOV TWS RSD MCH DAY BRI ATL TAL NSV DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR NA - 1974 RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY BRI NSV ATL POC TAL MCH DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR 82nd 4.16 Howard & Egerton Racing 1 Chevy CLT CAR ONT 1975 DiGard Motorsports 08 Chevy RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI NA - Norris Reed 83 Chevy ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH DAR DOV NWS MAR CLT RCH CAR BRI ATL ONT 1976 Johnny Ray 77 Chevy RSD DAY CAR RCH BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT NA - 1977 RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL NWS DAR BRI MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC NA - A. J. Foyt Enterprises 51 Chevy TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT 1981 Benfield Racing 98 Pontiac RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT TWS RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS 33rd 1140 Buick CLT CAR ATL RSD 1988 Bob Clark Motorsports 31 Olds DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV RSD POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR PHO ATL 89th 46

Daytona 500 Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish 1963 Smokey Yunick Chevrolet 4 9 1964 Bud Moore Engineering Mercury 35 26 1966 Curtis Satterfield Chevrolet 42 28 1974 B & B Racing Chevrolet 17 24 1975 DiGard Motorsports Chevrolet 11 27 1977 Johnny Ray Chevrolet 40 41 1981 Benfield Racing Pontiac 35 10

International Race of Champions (key) (Bold – Pole position. * – Most laps led.) International Race of Champions results Year Make Q1 Q2 Q3 1 2 3 4 Pos. Pts Ref 1974–75 Chevy MCH RSD RSD DAY 9th - 1976–77 Chevy MCH RSD RSD DAY 4th - 1977–78 MCH RSD RSD DAY 9th - 1978–79 MCH MCH RSD RSD ATL NA - 1979–80 MCH MCH RSD RSD ATL 6th 24 1984 Chevy MCH CLE TAL MCH 8th 33

American open–wheel racing results (key)

Complete USAC Championship Car results Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Pos Points 1962 Fred Sclavi TRE INDY MIL LAN TRE SPR MIL LAN SYR ISF15 25th 80 Federal Engineering TRE14 Ollie Prather SAC7 PHX11 1963 Dayton-Walther TRE10 INDYDNQ MIL20 10th 640 Ed Kostenuk INDY29 LAN7 TRE16 Racing Associates SPR5 MIL7 DUQ10 ISF4 TRE6 SAC17 PHX11 1964 Racing Associates PHX21 TREWth INDY27 MIL22 LAN12 TRE17 SPR17 MIL5 DUQ7 ISF18 TREWth SAC14 PHX23 21st 270 1965 Racing Associates PHX INDY 12th 993 Beletsky TRE J. Frank Harrison MIL Gilbert Morcroft LAN PPR Leader Cards TRE IRP ATL LAN MIL SPR MIL DSF ISF TRE SAC PHX 1966 Leader Cards PHX18 TRE INDY MIL LAN ATL PIP IRP LAN SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC PHX-0 1967 W & W Enterprises PHX TRE INDY25 MIL12 LAN10 PIP MOS14 MOS14 IRP13 LAN20 MTR15 MTR SPR16 MIL25 DUQ11 ISF16 TREWth SAC5 HAN23 PHX22 RIV8 21st 315 1968 E.R.E. Enterprises HAN20 LVG11 PHX17 TRE INDY18 MIL4 MOS MOS LAN PIP CDR20 NAZ 18th 890 Mitchner Racing IRP24 IRP20 MTR MTR SPR MIL11 DUQ ISF TRE SAC MCH HAN25 PHX RIV6 Gerhardt LAN LAN 1969 Patrick Racing PHXDNS HAN4 INDY29 MIL5 LAN15 PIP CDR11 NAZ TRE22 IRPWth IRP MILWth SPR BRN11 BRN TRE12 SAC KEN19 KEN PHX4 RIV5 11th 1.130 Leader Cards DOV7 Tim Delrose DUQ14 ISFDNQ 1970 Patrick Racing PHX SON TRE INDY18 MIL14 LAN CDR MCH IRP SPR MIL ONT31 DUQ ISF SED TRE SAC PHX 12th 960 1971 Vollstedt RAF7 RAF20 19th 570 Patrick Racing PHX21 TRE17 INDY18 MIL6 POC7 MCH10 MIL ONT26 TREWth PHX22 1972 Patrick Racing PHX13 TREWth INDY27 7th1,620 Gerhardt MIL21 MCH16 POC2 MIL3 ONT10 TRE6 PHX5 1973 Team McLaren TWS4 TRE15 TRE INDY9 MIL5 POC5 MCH2 MIL18 ONT ONT1 ONT31 MCH3 MCH1 TRE4 TWS2 PHXWth 3rd 2.595 1974 Team McLaren ONT1 ONT27 PHX7 TRE6 INDY1 MIL1 POC1 MCH4 MIL5 MCH9 TRE4 TRE7 PHX7 2nd 3,650 1975 Team McLaren ONT2 ONT17 PHX1 TRE2 INDY2 MIL3 POC6 MCH6 MIL13 MCH2 TRE3 PHX11 2nd 2,900 1976 Team McLaren PHX18 TRE1 INDY1 MIL9 POC4 MCH2 TWS3 TRE7 MIL3 ONT2 MCH11 TWS1 PHX16 2nd 4,220 1977 Team McLaren ONT25 PHX1 TWS4 TRE8 INDY33 MIL1 POC5 MOS9 MCH3 TWS1 MIL1 ONT24 MCH2 PHX22 3rd 2.840 1978 Team McLaren PHX16 ONT13 TWS19 TRE10 INDY13 MOS8 MIL2 POC2 MCH1 ATL2 TWS2 MIL8 ONT11 MCH13 TRE11 SIL5 BRH3 PHX1 4th 3,067 1979 Team McLaren ONT TWS INDY18 MIL POC TWS MIL-0 1980 Chaparral Cars ONT1 INDY1 MIL2 POC2 MOH1 1st 2,740 1981-82 Chaparral Cars INDY32 POC ILL DUQ ISF INDY8-0 1982-83 Patrick Racing SPR DUQ NAZ INDYWth-0 1983-84 Gilmore Racing DUQ INDY22 25th 15

PPG Indycar Series (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points Ref 1979 Team McLaren PHX ATL ATL INDY TRE TRE MCH MCH WGL TRE ONT MCH ATL PHX 4th 2163 1980 Chaparral Cars ONT INDY MIL POC MOH MCH WGL MIL ONT MCH MEX PHX 1st 4723 1981 Chaparral Cars PHX MIL ATL ATL MCH RIV MIL MCH WGL MEX PHX 5th 120 1982 Chaparral Cars PHX ATLDNS MIL CLE MCH MIL POC RIV ROA MCH PHX 12th 62 1983 Patrick Racing ATL INDY MIL CLE MCH ROA POC RIV MOH MCH CPL LAG PHX NC 0 1984 Doug Shierson Racing LBH PHX INDY 22nd 20 Gilmore Racing INDY MIL POR MEA CLE MCH ROA POC MOH Team Penske SAN MCH PHX LAG CPL 1985 Alex Morales Motorsports LBH INDY MIL POR MEA CLE MCH ROA POC MOH SAN MCH LAG PHX MIA 11th 51 1986 Alex Morales Motorsports PHX LBH INDY MIL POR MEA CLE TOR MCH POC MOH SAN MCH ROA LAG PHX MIA 11th 78 1987 Alex Morales Motorsports LBH PHX INDY MIL POR MEA CLE TOR MCH POC ROA MOH NAZ LAG MIA 18th 23 1988 King Racing PHX LBH INDY MIL POR CLE TOR MEA 43rd 0 A. J. Foyt Enterprises MCH POC MOH ROA NAZ LAG MIA 1989 Team Menard PHX LBH INDY 27th 3 A. J. Foyt Enterprises INDY MIL DET POR CLE MEA TOR Stoops Racing MCH POC MOH ROA Machinists Union Racing NAZ LAG 1990 Stoops Racing PHX LBH INDY MIL DET POR CLE MEA TOR MCH DEN VAN MOH ROA NAZ LAG NC - 1992 Walker Racing SRF PHX LBH INDY DET POR MIL NHA TOR MCH CLE ROA VAN MOH NAZ LAG NC -

Indianapolis 500 results