The Jimmy Daywalt Tribute Site

Racing Fans Honor Jimmy Daywalt with Hugh Banquet in Center; Rookie of the Year Trophy Presented?

Five hundred and four persons gather in the Honeywell Memorial Center Thursday night to mingle with the many racing celebrities and to collect autographs, but mostly they were there to honor Wabash’s Jimmy Daywalt, Speedway Rookie of the Year and driver of the sixth-place Sumar Special.

Wilbur Shaw, president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, was there along with Drivers Duane Carter and Art Cross. Daywalt’s pit crew stood by to answer questions about the Sumar car that was trucked in from Terre Haute by Owner Chapman Root.

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Ticket sales for the Jimmy Daywalt banquet moved into the last day Wednesday with a crowd of at least 300 assured for the event scheduled for 6:30 p. m. Thursday in the Honeywell Memorial Center.

Highlight of the banquet honoring the Wabash race driver who finished sixth in the 500-mie race at Indianapolis Memorial Day will be the formal presentation of the Stark & Wetzel Rookie-of-the-Year award. Daywalt was voted winner of the trophy by representatives of Indianapolis newspapers and radio stations, wire services, and Speedway officials.

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Jimmy Daywalt was named “Rookie of the Year” Sunday night at the annual award dinner for ‘500’ pilots but the Wabash driver wasn’t there to receive his honor. Wabash’s Number One citizen was in a Winchester hospital while Bill Vukovich, Art Cross, Freddy Agabashian, and other drivers collected their checks for performances in the Memorial Day classic.

Daywalt took part in a race at the Winchester oval Sunday, less than 24 hours after he rode the Sumar Special to sixth place over the burning Indianapolis track. During a 50 lap race at Winchester, Daywalt lost a wheel and smacked the north wall.

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Winchester, – Jimmy Daywalt of Wabash, named rookie of the year for his sixth place finish in the Indianapolis 500-mile Memorial Day race, Monday was recovering from injuries suffered in time trials for a 50-lap feature here.

Daywalt received a mild concussion, a knee injury and lacerations when his car lost a wheel and flipped over. He was taken to Randolph County hospital where his physician said his condition was not serious.

The driver missed the presentation of his 500-mile classic rookie of the year award, announced Sunday night at the victory banquet in Indianapolis. He collected $7,696.97 for his sixth place finish.

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Jimmy Daywalt flashed down the straightaway at the famed Indianapolis Speedway Saturday afternoon and took the checkered flag after competing four laps (10 miles) and his first try at the 1953 time trials.

His sleek Sumar Special soon came to a halt and Daywalt’s time card reached. The card from the pagoda showed an average speed of 135.747 miles-per-hour. Enough to land the Wabash driver in the seventh row when the big grind gets underway next Saturday.

It was the first time Daywalt had been able to crack the magic circle and post a speed that would give him a mount in the race.

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In June of 1952, Chapman S. Root and Donald E. Smith of Terre Haute, Indiana, purchased the Bardahl #18. The Bardahl #18 was a 3000 series Kurtis Kraft owned by Ed Walsh and driven by Sam Hanks that finished 3rd in the 1952 Indy 500. Chapman and Donald brought the car back to Terre Haute and hired John H. Blouch as Chief Mechanic and Jimmy Daywalt as the driver. They painted the car navy blue with a white stripe down the middle and used the number #48. On May 30, 1953, Jimmy started in 21st in the Indianapolis 500 in the #48 Sumar Kurtis-Offy. He finished the race 6th, earning $7,696 and the Rookie of the Year (ROY) honors.

Jimmy Daywalt and his 1953 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year trophy from the 1954 '500' program

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Jimmy Daywalt, with his arm around Wilbur Shaw, after recieving his 1953 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year trophy at the Honeywell Center in Wabash, IN. Photo from the Wabash Plain Dealer

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May 1953, Indianapolis 500

On May 30, 1953, Jimmy started in 21st in the Indianapolis 500 in the #48 Sumar Kurtis-Offy.  He finished the race 6th, earning $7,696 and the Rookie of the Year (ROY) honors.

September 7, 1953, DuQuoin

On September 7, 1953 Jimmy failed to qualify the #48 Sumar Blough-Offy at DuQuoin due to contact during practice.

September 12, 1953, Syracuse

On September 12, 1953 Jimmy was too slow and failed to qualify the #48 Sumar Blough-Offy at Syracuse.

Click the Date and Race above for the box score of that race