Bill Cummings (racing driver)

American racing driver (1906–1939)
Bill Cummings
Cummings' winning car from the 1934 Indianapolis 500
BornWilliam Clarence Cummings
(1906-11-11)November 11, 1906
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
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

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

Cummings has been inducted into the following halls of fame:

Motorsports career results

Indianapolis 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired
1930 6 22 106.173 4 5 200 0 Running
1931 3 2 112.563 4 28 70 4 Oil line
1932 10 12 111.204 19 19 151 0 Crankshaft
1933 5 1 118.530 1 25 136 32 Radiator
1934 7 10 116.116 6 1 200 57 Running
1935 1 5 116.901 6 3 200 0 Running
1936 2 13 115.939 14 33 0 0 Clutch
1937 16 1 123.343 3 6 200 0 Running
1938 7 16 122.393 7 24 72 0 Radiator
Totals 1229 93
Starts 9
Poles 2
Front Row 3
Wins 1
Top 5 3
Top 10 4
Retired 5

[6]

References

  1. ^ "Bill Cummings". ChampCarStats.com. Archived from the original on 2023-05-16.
  2. ^ a b "Speedway race winner is dead". The Indianapolis Star. February 9, 1939. Archived from the original on 2023-05-16.
  3. ^ "Race winner hurt as auto goes in creek". The Indianapolis Star. February 7, 1939. Archived from the original on 2023-05-16.
  4. ^ "Bill Cummings". IMS Museum. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  5. ^ "Bill Cummings". www.sprintcarhof.com. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  6. ^ "Bill Cummings Indianapolis 500 stats". IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com. Archived from the original on 2019-07-30.

External links

  • Bill Cummings - ChampCarStats.com
  • Bill Cummings at Find a Grave
  • Bill Cummings - Motorsport Memorial
  • Bill Cummings driver statistics at Racing-Reference
Preceded by Indianapolis 500 Winner
1934
Succeeded by
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