Howdy Wilcox
Wilcox, circa 1919
Born	Howard Samuel Wilcox (1889-06-24)June 24, 1889 Crawfordsville, Indiana, U.S.
Died	September 4, 1923(1923-09-04) (aged 34) Tipton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Championship titles
Major victories Indianapolis 500 (1919)
Champ Car career
36 races run over 12 years
Best finish	11th (1916)
First race	1910 100-mile Remy Brassard (Indianapolis)
Last race	1923 Altoona 200 (Altoona)
First win	1910 Remy Grand Trophy (Indianapolis)
Last win	1919 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Wins Podiums Poles 3 9 1

Howard Samuel "Howdy" Wilcox (June 24, 1889 – September 4, 1923) was an American racing driver active in the formative years of auto racing. He won the 1919 Indianapolis 500.

Formative years and family

Wilcox was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, on June 24, 1889. He was preceded in death by his wife, who died in 1918. Wilcox's son, Howard Jr., founded the Little 500 bicycle race, which has been held at Indiana University annually since 1951.^[1]

Racing career

In 1911, Wilcox set the world beach racing speed record of 89.23 mph. In 1919, he won the 1919 Indianapolis 500, leading the last 98 laps of the race after starting in the 2nd position.

Death

Wilcox died on September 4, 1923, at Altoona Speedway board track in Tyrone, Pennsylvania, in a car crash. He was buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.^[2]

Motorsports career results

Indianapolis 500 results