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.

Officials of Stark & Wetzel were on hand to present Daywalt with the company’s coveted Rookie of the Year trophy along with representatives of the A. P. Parts company. Frank Funk, owner of the Winchester speedway attended.

Race fans had a chance to examine the sleek Sumar Special in front of the Center before the program got underway. Upon entering the building, they were asked to sign in one of tow register books that will be given to Daywalt in remembrance of the occasion. The Rev. James Y. Brown offered the invocation at the start of the dinner.

Following the meal, Dick (Morton Downey) Neher, opened the program in true “500” fashion by singing “Back Home Again in Indiana.” Introduction of distinguished guest by Toastmaster Dick Miller followed.

Good News Pilots

Mr. Shaw was then introduced by Miller. Shaw paid tribute to the top-notch crowd of new drivers appearing at the Speedway this year. Shaw said that this made Daywalt’s accomplishment even more outstanding.

Hoosier Art Cross, winner of the Stark & Wetzel award last year, briefly described the driver’s test that all new “500” pilots must pass before attempting to qualify a car for the Memorial Day grind.

Both drivers were interviewed by Sid Collins, Indianapolis sportscaster.

Mayor James Smallwood presented Daywalt with the key to the city. Dick Neher awarded Jimmy with the Chamber of Commerce Orchard of the Month and J. Dudley Lavengood presented a plaque from the Race Fans of Wabash.

Daywalt received a jacket from the owners of the Mercial Power special in which he smacked the wall at Winchester last week,

Herb Lewis of Stark & Wetzel presented Jimmy with the large Rookie-of-the-Year award.

Daywalt told his audience that words could not express his feelings of gratitude. He said that last week when he was in Winchester hospital following the accident, he asked his doctor if it would be possible to attend the Speedway banquet set for that night.

“I was disappointed when the doctor said no,” Jimmy related. “About midnight a nurse slipped into my rom and told me they had heard on the radio I had been named Rookie-of-the-Year,” he said. “I’m glad now I didn’t get to go to that banquet,” said Daywalt. He said nothing could beat receiving the trophy at home.

He gave his pit crew great credit for the race he drove and said next year they plan a new car for Jimmy. One that will be built before next spring.

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.

The trophy was to have been presented to Daywalt at the annual award dinner the evening after the race but Jimmy smacked the wall while driving that day at Winchester. Injuries kept the 27-year-old Sumar Special pilot from attending the Indianapolis program and receiving the trophy at that time.

Plans for the local banquet began rolling soon after Daywalt flashed across the finish line at Indianapolis. Dick Miller and Hugh Reahad agreed to under write the banquet. The results are still to be heard, but Wednesday morning it was apparent that it would be the biggest collection of sports personalities seen here in many a moon.

Here’s what’s been lined up thus far:

The banquet will open in true “500” fashion at 6:30 with starting bombs. Dick Neher will sing “Bach Home Again In Indiana.” The assistant starter of this year’s “500,” Herb Lewis of Stark & Wetzel will be on hand to get things underway.

Maybe Wilbur Shaw won’t ride around the banquet room in a shiney new convertible to pace the field but he will be there. The three-time winner of the “500” and now president of the Indianapolis Speedway informed Miller Tuesday that he would be glad to attend.

Officials of Stark & Wetzel will present the company’s $6,000 trophy to Daywalt along with a check for $1,000. Daywalt’s name will be inscribed on the 40-inch high trophy and he will be given a replica of the award to keep.

Pal Burch, treasurer of the company, Fred Conrad, assistant advertising director, and Thomas Baker, Wabash district sales representative, will be present along with Lewis who is assistant sales manager.

Art Cross, winner of the Stark & Wetzel trophy in 1952 will be at the banquet as well as Duane Carter who finished fourth in this year’s race. Other drivers are being contacted for appearance Thursday.

Sid Collins, popular Indianapolis sportscaster, will be on hand to interview the drivers. Collins will leave his nightly radio show for the Wabash banquet.

The Sumar Special, the car Jimmy rode to sixth, will be on display in the Center. The pit crew and chief mechanic will accompany the car from Terre Haute and will answer any questions race fans might have about the car.

The Exchange club which holds its meetings on each Thursday has voted to cancel this week’s dinner so that its members may attend the banquet.

Bill Vukovich, winner of this year’s “500,” has notified the banquet sponsors that he will attend if at all possible. He has accepted two tickets. Vukovich has plans to go to California but will attend if he is not on the way to the coast.

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.

His injuries apparently included a cut on the forehead and a sprained knee. He was held at Winchester hospital, but his condition was not considered serious.

Daywalt’s purse amounted to $7,696.7 according to a Speedway bulletin. The Speedway price came to $6,696.97. General Petroleum corporation price was listed at $500 and the Perfect Circle company award was worth $50. The Champion Spark Plug award was $400 and $50 came from the W. J. Rubber Corp.

Daywalt was due in Wabash Tuesday, but the Winchester crash may change the 27-year old driver’s plans. It was learned the car Daywalt was slated to drive Sunday at Winchester was a new Maricle Power Oil special.

Daywalt was in the Speedway hospital for an hour and a half following Saturday’s grind. He was treated for heat exhausten (sic) by a local physician who was at the race.

At the time Daywalt was unable to hear, but his condition continued to improve throughout the afternoon. He was one of six drivers who finished the race without relief.

Daywalt finished the run with an average speed of 124.379. He made two pit stops during the grind. His first halt was after 65 laps for a complete change of rubber and gas. He was in the pits for 2 minutes and 14 seconds.

His second stop came at the 128th lap when he changed rear tires and took on more gas. This stop lasted 1 minute and 48 seconds.

His performance Saturday gave him “membership” in the famed 100 Mile an Hour club at the Speedway. Anyone how goes the distance at a speed of 100 mph or more becomes a member. He is already a member of the 135 mph club.

A banquet honoring Daywalt is in the making here. Daywalt was not without support at the Speedway as four boxes of Wabash fans were located directly across from his pit.

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.

Local fans of Jimmy Daywalt are planning a testimonial banquet in his honor as soon as hi is able to leave the hospital, it was announced here Monday.

Spearheading the movement are Dick Miller of Dick’s Men’s Wear store, and Hugh Reahard, proprietor of the Snack shop.

Daywalt placed sixth in the big time race at Indianapolis Memorial Day and his fans here are desirous of recognizing the achievement with a suitable program. Miller expressed the hope that the dinner could be held next week in the Honeywell Memorial Center.

Further details will be made public as the planning progresses. The sponsors also desire that Daywalt bring his racing car here for display during the program, and efforts will be made to obtain a copy of the official colored movies of the 1953 races as a feature of the event.

Meanwhile, relatives here Monday received word from the Randolph County hospital, Winchester, that Jimmy was making good recovery from injuries received in time trials here Sunday. His severe headache has subsided and doctors plan to put his knee in a cast.

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.

Daywalt turned the first of the four time trial laps at 135.757, his average speed. His second lap was faster – 135.767 – but his third lap dropped to 135.522. His final lap around the oval was clocked at 135.925. All four trips were very constant.

Daywalt said that this was due perhaps to the coaching he has received from Mauri Rose. Rose told Daywalt to relax on the turns. This, along with the other tips, has proved helpful to Daywalt, it was learned.

When Jimmy lines up at Indianapolis Saturday he’ll be on the outside of the seventh row. Beside him will be McCoy and Scarborough. Directly in front will be Spider Webb of Speedway fame.

Daywalt called his mother here as soon as he completed his qualifying run. A member of his family reported he was very happy.

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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Photo from the 1954 '500' Program

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