1956 USAC Championship Car season

Sports season

1956 USAC Championship Car season

USAC National Championship Trail
Season
Races| 12
Start date| May 30
End date| November 12
Awards
National champion|  Jimmy Bryan
Indianapolis 500 winner|  Pat Flaherty

<- 1955 (AAA)

1957 ->

The 1956 USAC Championship Car season consisted of 12 races, beginning in Speedway, Indiana, on May 30 and concluding in Phoenix, Arizona, on November 12. There were also three non-championship events. The USAC National Champion was Jimmy Bryan and the Indianapolis 500 winner was Pat Flaherty. This was the first year that the National Championship was sanctioned by the USAC,[1] after the withdrawal of the AAA from all forms of racing after the 1955 season.[2]

## Schedule and results

[edit]

Rnd  | Date  | Race Name  | Track  | Location  | Type  | Pole Position  | Winning Driver

|
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1  | May 30  |  International 500 Mile SweepstakesA | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Speedway, Indiana | Paved  |  Pat Flaherty |  Pat Flaherty
2  | June 10  |  Rex Mays Classic | Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway | West Allis, Wisconsin | Paved  |  Johnny Boyd |  Pat Flaherty
3  | June 24  |  Langhorne 100  | Langhorne Speedway | Langhorne, Pennsylvania | Dirt  |  Billy Garrett |  George Amick
4  | July 4  |  Pee Dee 200  | Darlington Raceway | Darlington, South Carolina | Paved  |  Andy Linden |  Pat O'Connor
NC | July 4  |  Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb | Pikes Peak Highway | Pikes Peak, Colorado | Hill  |  Slim RobertsB |  Bobby Unser
5  | July 14  |  Atlanta 100 | Lakewood Speedway | Atlanta, Georgia | Dirt  |  Bob Veith |  Eddie Sachs
NC | July 22  |  Indianapolis Sweepstakes  | Williams Grove Speedway | Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania | Dirt  |  Ed Elisian |  Jimmy Bryan
NC | August 12  |  Dayton 25  | Dayton Speedway | Dayton, Ohio | Paved  |  Pat O'Connor |  Ed Elisian
6  | August 19  |  Springfield 100  | Illinois State Fairgrounds | Springfield, Illinois | Dirt  |  Rex Easton |  Jimmy Bryan
7  | August 26  |  Milwaukee 250 | Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway | West Allis, Wisconsin | Paved  |  Johnny Boyd |  Jimmy Bryan
8  | September 3  |  Ted Horn Memorial 100  | DuQuoin State Fairgrounds | Du Quoin, Illinois | Dirt  |  Johnny Thomson |  Jimmy Bryan
9  | September 8  |  Syracuse 100  | New York State Fairgrounds | Syracuse, New York | Dirt  |  Earl Motter |  Tony Bettenhausen
10  | September 15  |  Hoosier Hundred  | Indiana State Fairgrounds | Indianapolis, Indiana | Dirt  |  Jud Larson |  Jimmy Bryan
11  | October 21  |  Golden State 100  | California State Fairgrounds | Sacramento, California | Dirt  |  Jud Larson |  Jud Larson
12  | November 12  |  Bobby Ball Memorial | Arizona State Fairgrounds | Phoenix, Arizona | Dirt  |  George Amick |  George Amick

Paved/Dirt Oval

Road Course/Hill Climb

Non-championship race

^A Indianapolis 500 was USAC-sanctioned and counted towards the 1956 FIA World Championship of Drivers title.
^B No pole is awarded for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, in this schedule on the pole is the driver who started first. No lap led was awarded for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, however, a lap was awarded to the drivers that completed the climb.

## Final points standings

[edit]

Further information: List of American Championship car racing point scoring systems

| Pos  | Driver  | INDY
| MIL1
| LAN
| DAR
| ATL
| SPR
| MIL2
| DQSF
| SYR
| ISF
| SAC
| PHX
| Pts

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  |  Jimmy Bryan | 19  | 4  | 6  | 8  |  | 1  | 1  | 1  | 2  | 1  | 3  | 2  | 1860
2  |  Pat Flaherty | 1 | 1  | 14  | 5  | 5  | 18  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1500
3  |  Don Freeland | 3  | 6  | 7  | 10  |  | 2  | 24  | 17  | 11  | 9  | 2  | 13  | 1280
4  |  George Amick | DNP  | DNQ  | 1  | 4  | 13  | DNQ  | 6  | 5  | 5  | 12  | 13  | 1 | 1050
5  |  Jimmy Reece | 9  | 7  | 9  | 12  | 7  |  | 2  | 9  | DNQ  | DNQ  | 6  | 3  | 1040
6  |  Johnny Boyd | 30  | 5 |  | 3  |  | 7  | 5 | 11  | 4  | 11  | 8  | 6  | 980
7  |  Bob Veith | 7  | 10  | 10  | DNS  | 6 | 15  | 8  | 4  | 17  | 7  | 4  | 8  | 903
8  |  Rodger Ward | 8  | DNP  | DNS  | 19  | 16  | 6  | 3  | DNQ  | 10  | 3  | 16  | 19  | 862
9  |  Sam Hanks | 2  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 800
10  |  Johnny Thomson | 32  | 2  | 18  | 9  | 3  | 10  | 14  | 2 | 3  | 16  | DNP  |  | 710
11  |  Pat O'Connor | 18  | 11  | DNQ  | 1  | 17  | 5  | 21  | DNQ  | 13  | 2  | 15  | DNQ  | 680
12  |  Eddie Sachs | DNQ  |  |  | 21  | 1  | 3  | 4  | DNQ  | 12  | DNQ  |  | DNQ  | 650
13  |  Johnnie Parsons | 4  | 17  |  |  |  |  | 11  | DNQ  | DNP  |  | DNQ  |  | 650
14  |  Al Keller | 14  | 9  | 3  | DNS  | 2  | 4  | 12  |  | 16  | 5  |  |  | 585
15  |  Bob Sweikert | 6  | 3  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 540
16  |  Dick Rathmann | 5  | 21  | 15  | 15  |  | DNQ  | 25  |  | DNQ  | DNQ  | 9  | DNQ  | 540
17  |  Jack Turner | 25  | 13  | 11  | 2  | 20  | 17  | 7  | 12  | DNQ  | DNQ  | DNQ  |  | 500
18  |  Ed Elisian | 23  | DNQ  | 4  | 6  | 18  | DNQ  | 22  | 13  | 6  | DNQ  | 7  | 16  | 420
19  |  Gene Hartley | 11  | 8  | 2  | 22  | 11  |  | 16  | DNQ  | DNP  | 6  |  |  | 410
20  |  Elmer George |  | 18  | 8  | 7  | 19  | DNQ  | 20  | 6  | 18  | 14  | 5  | 7  | 410
21  |  Andy Linden | 27  | DNQ  | 12  | 13 | 8  | 8  | 23  | 7  | 9  | 8  | 11  | 4  | 400
22  |  Jud Larson RY |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 | 1 | DNQ  | 320
23  |  Jim Rathmann | 20  | 19  |  | 11  | 4  | DNQ  | 15  | 3  | DNQ  | 15  |  |  | 300
24  |  Tony Bettenhausen | 22  |  |  |  |  | DNS  | DNS  | 8  | 1  | 18  | 14  | 9  | 290
25  |  Johnny Tolan | 21  | DNQ  |  |  |  |  | 10  | DNQ  |  |  | 10  | 5  | 205
26  |  Earl Motter | DNQ  |  |  | 17  | 9  | DNQ  | 9  | 14  | 7 | 13  |  |  | 200
27  |  Cliff Griffith | 10  | DNQ  |  |  |  |  | 13  |  |  |  |  |  | 150
28  |  Mike Magill | DNQ  |  | 5  |  |  | DNQ  |  |  |  | 10  |  |  | 130
29  |  Billy Garrett R | 16  | 14  | 13 | 23  | 10  | 12  | 17  | DNQ  | 8  | DNQ  | DNQ  |  | 90
30  |  Jim McWithey R | DNQ  | DNQ  | 16  |  | 15  | 9  | DNQ  | DNQ  |  | DNQ  | DNQ  | 11  | 60
31  |  Don Branson R |  |  |  |  |  | 11  | 26  | 10  | 15  | DNQ  |  |  | 50
32  |  Fred Agabashian | 12  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 50
33  |  Art Bisch R |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 17  | 10  | 30
34  |  Bill Cheesbourg R | DNQ  |  | DNQ  | 14  |  | 16  | DNQ  | DNQ  | DNQ  | DNQ  | 12  | 14  | 10
35  |  Keith Andrews | 26  | 12  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10
36  |  Dempsey Wilson R | DNQ  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | DNQ  | 12  | 10
37  |  Bob Carpenter R |  |  |  |  | 12  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10
\-  |  Rex Easton |  | 15  |  |  |  | 13 |  | DNQ  |  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Bob Christie R | 13  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Jimmy Daywalt | 24  |  |  |  |  | DNQ  |  | 15  | 14  | DNQ  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Eddie Russo | DNS  |  | 17  | 18  | 14  |  |  |  | DNQ  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Roy Graham R |  |  |  |  |  | 14  |  |  | DNQ  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Eddie Johnson | 15  | DNQ  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Mel McGaughy |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | DNQ  | 15  | 0
\-  |  Shorty Templeman | DNQ  | 16  |  |  |  |  | 19  | DNQ  |  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Ken Gottschalk R |  | DNQ  | DNQ  | 16  |  | DNQ  |  |  | DNP  | DNQ  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Charles Musselman |  |  | DNQ  |  |  |  |  | 16  | DNQ  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Tommy Hinnershitz |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | DNQ  | 17  |  | 17  | 0
\-  |  Duke Dinsmore | 17  |  |  | DNQ  |  |  | 18  |  | DNP  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Van Johnson R |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | DNQ  | DNQ  | DNP  |  | 18  | 0
\-  |  Jimmy Davies | DNQ  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 18  |  | DNQ  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Len Sutton | DNQ  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 18  |  | 0
\-  |  Troy Ruttman | 31  | 20  |  | DNS  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Gene Force |  |  |  | 20  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Danny Kladis |  | 22  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Al Herman | 28  | DNQ  | DNQ  |  |  |  |  |  | DNS  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Ray Crawford | 29  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | DNQ  | DNQ  | DNQ  | 0
\-  |  Paul Russo | 33  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0
–  |  Chuck Weyant | DNQ  |  |  |  |  | DNQ  | DNQ  |  |  | DNQ  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Johnny Kay | DNQ  | DNQ  |  |  |  |  |  | DNQ  |  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Leroy Warriner | DNQ  |  |  |  |  |  | DNQ  |  |  | DNQ  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Marvin Pifer | DNQ  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | DNQ  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Bud Randall |  |  |  |  |  | DNQ  |  |  |  |  |  | DNQ  | 0
\-  |  Jay Abney | DNQ  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Johnny Baldwin | DNQ  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Tony Bonadies | DNQ  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Buddy Cagle | DNQ  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Len Duncan | DNQ  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Edgar Elder | DNQ  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Giuseppe Farina | DNQ  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Ernie McCoy | DNQ  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Roy Newman  | DNQ  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Cal Niday | DNQ  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Dickie Reese | DNQ  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Gig Stephens | DNQ  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Marshall Teague | DNQ  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Dick Fraizer |  |  | DNQ  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Paul Howe |  |  |  |  |  | DNQ  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Chuck Rodee |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | DNQ  |  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Speed McFee |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | DNQ  |  |  |  | 0
\-  |  Roger McCluskey |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | DNQ  |  | 0
Pos  | Driver  | INDY
| MIL1
| LAN
| DAR
| ATL
| SPR
| MIL2
| DQSF
| SYR
| ISF
| SAC
| PHX
| Pts
|  | Color  | Result

|

Gold  | Winner
Silver  | 2nd place
Bronze  | 3rd place
Green  | 4th & 5th place
Light Blue  | 6th-10th place
Dark Blue  | Finished
(Outside Top 10)
Purple  | Did not finish
(Ret)
Red  | Did not qualify
(DNQ)
Brown  | Withdrawn
(Wth)
Black  | Disqualified
(DSQ)
White  | Did not start
(DNS)
Blank  | Did not
participate
(DNP)
Not competing
| In-line notation

Bold | Pole position
Italics | Ran fastest race lap
*  | Led most race laps
RY Rookie of the Year
R Rookie

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "USAC takes over AAA's place". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Associated Press. March 8, 1956.
2. ^ "AAA cuts ties with U.S. auto racing". The Michigan Daily. Ann Arbor, Michigan. Associated Press. August 4, 1955.

## General references

[edit]

* Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1956". Driver Database. Archived from the original on September 8, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
* "1956 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Archived from the original on October 10, 2008. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
* Harms, Phil. "1956 Championship Driver Summary" (PDF). Motorsport.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 10, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
* http://media.indycar.com/pdf/2011/IICS_2011_Historical_Record_Book_INT6.pdf Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine (p. 282-283)

## See also

[edit]

* 1956 Indianapolis 500

* v
* t
* e

American Championship car racing (Indy car) seasons

AAA|

* 1905
* 1906–1908
* 1909
* 1910
* 1911
* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942–1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955

USAC|

* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981–82
* 1982–83
* 1983–84
* 1984–85
* 1985–86
* 1986–87
* 1987–88
* 1988–89
* 1989–90
* 1990–91
* 1991–92
* 1992–93
* 1993–94
* 1994–95

CART|

* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003

CCWS|

* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* ~~2008~~

IRL|

* 1996
* 1996–97
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002

IndyCar|

* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Years marked in italics are not official championship years or upcoming seasons.

* v
* t
* e

USAC Championship Cars (1956-1970)

Seasons|

* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970

Indianapolis 500s|

* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970

National Champions|

* Mario Andretti (three times)
* Tony Bettenhausen
* Jimmy Bryan (twice)
* A. J. Foyt (five times)
* Al Unser
* Bobby Unser
* Rodger Ward (twice)

Tracks|

* Arizona State Fair
* Atlanta
* Brainerd
* California State Fair
* Continental Divide
* Darlington
* Daytona
* Dover
* DuQuoin State Fair
* Hanford
* Illinois State Fair
* Indianapolis
* Indianapolis Raceway Park
* Indiana State Fair
* Lakewood
* Langhorne
* Michigan
* Michigan State Fair
* Milwaukee
* Missouri State Fair
* Mont-Tremblant
* Mosport
* Nazareth
* New York State Fair
* Ontario
* Phoenix
* Pikes Peak
* Riverside
* Stardust
* Sears Point
* Seattle
* Trenton

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