CHITWOOD FAMILY : 80 YEARS IN MOTORSPORTS

George “Joie” Chitwood built a race car in 1934 when he was working in a welding shop in Topeka, Kansas. Fresh out of the Navy, where he had learned to weld, the car was for a customer but a project he loved. Several weeks after the car was finished the regular driver did not show up. The owner of the car asked if he wanted to try driving it. As a 22 year old, he won his first race at a dirt track in Winfield, Kansas. After a couple of years living in St Joe, Missouri he honed his skill and a race promoter dubbed him “Joe” Chitwood when he misread the entry list, and the name stuck.

In 1939, after winning several more dirt track Championships in the East and Midwest, Joie was able to pass his rigorous drivers test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He did not participate his first Indy 500 until 1940. He started in 26th and was able to finish a respectable 15th.

In 1941 he was the first driver to wear a seat belt in the 500. In total he drove in 7 Indy 500 races 1940-1950 less 3 years off for WW2. Joie finished in the top 5 three times. During the war years gas and tires were rationed for the war effort and racing was banned. In the late 30’s and early 40’s Joie became friends with the first great American auto stunt driver, Lucky Teter. Unfortunately Lucky was killed on July 4, 1942 while attempting a World record 170 foot ramp to ramp jump….

View All Photos