Paul Goldsmith was an auto racing pioneer who was a nine-time NASCAR Cup winner and the oldest living Indianapolis 500 veteran.
- Died: September 6, 2024 (Who else died on September 6?)
- Details of death: Died in Munster, Indiana at the age of 98.
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Paul Goldsmith’s legacy
After Paul Goldsmith finished serving as a Merchant Marine during World War II, he took up riding motorcycles, competing in his first race in 1946. By 1948, he was competing in his first Daytona 200. Goldsmith won the event in 1953.
His racing skills weren’t limited to two wheels, and Goldsmith soon found himself competing in auto events, too. Starting in 1958, he began a run of six consecutive Indianapolis 500 starts, including making a fifth-place finish in 1959 and a third in 1960. Unusually, those six starts were out of just eight total career USAC Championship Car races Goldsmith competed in.
In the NASCAR Cup Series, he had 59 top 10 finishes, won nine times – his first in 1956 and his last in 1966 – and had eight pole positions.
Goldsmith was widely recognized for his accomplishments in racing, and he has been honored by induction into the Michigan Motorsports, Motorcycle, Motorsports, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and USAC halls of fame.
Tributes to Paul Goldsmith
Full obituary: Sports Illustrated
