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Bill Cummings (racing driver)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bill Cummings
Cummings' winning car from the 1934 Indianapolis 500
BornWilliam Clarence Cummings
(1906-11-11)November 11, 1906
DiedFebruary 8, 1939(1939-02-08) (aged 32)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Championship titles
AAA Championship Car (1934)
Major victories
Indianapolis 500 (1934)
Champ Car career
35 races run over 9 years
Best finish1st (1934)
First race1930 Langhorne 100 (Langhorne)
Last race1938 Syracuse 100 (Syracuse)
First win1930 Langhorne 100 (Langhorne)
Last win1934 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Wins Podiums Poles
6 15 10

William Clarence Cummings (November 11, 1906 – February 8, 1939),[1] nicknamed "Wild Bill," was an American racing driver who is known for winning the 1934 Indianapolis 500.[2]

Death

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Cummings was driving a passenger automobile on State Road 29 in Indianapolis, when he crashed through a guard rail, overturned several times and plunged 50 feet (15 m) into Lick Creek. He was pulled from the water by passers-by while still alive,[3] but died at Methodist Hospital two days later.[2]

Awards and honors

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Cummings has been inducted into the following halls of fame:

Motorsports career results

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Indianapolis 500 results

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[6]

References

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  1. "Bill Cummings". ChampCarStats.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Speedway race winner is dead". The Indianapolis Star. February 9, 1939. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023.
  3. "Race winner hurt as auto goes in creek". The Indianapolis Star. February 7, 1939. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023.
  4. "Bill Cummings". IMS Museum. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  5. "Bill Cummings". www.sprintcarhof.com. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  6. "Bill Cummings Indianapolis 500 stats". IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com. Archived from the original on July 30, 2019.
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