Jay Frank (racing driver)

Jack Vincent "Jay" Frank (August 20, 1918 — April 4, 1965) was an American racing driver, best known for his stock car racing career. He was the winner of the inaugural season of American Automobile Association (AAA) sanctioned Stock Car National Championship in 1950.

Jay Frank
BornJack Vincent Frank
(1918-08-20)August 20, 1918
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedApril 4, 1965(1965-04-04) (aged 46)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Championship titles
AAA Stock Car (1950)
AAA/USAC Stock Car career
Years active1950–1951
Championships1
Best finish1st in 1950

Early life

Frank was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 20, 1918.

Frank served in the United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War.[1]

Driving career

Early career

After returning home after the war, Frank relocated to California. In 1946, he began competing in California Roadster Association (CRA) events. Competing against others such as Troy Ruttman and Jim Rathmann, Frank achieved his first feature-race victory during the 1948 CRA season, at Carrell Speedway.[1]

Frank switched between various West Coast racing bodies before returning to Chicago in 1949 to compete in Andy Granatelli's Hurricane Racing Association (HRA). He also competed in International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) sanctioned events during the 1949 racing season.[1]

1950: National Champion

Frank started and finished fifth in the inaugural race of the AAA Stock Car National Championship. Myron Fohr won the event, held at the Milwaukee Mile on July 9, 1950.[2]

The following race of the season also took place at Milwaukee. On August 24, Frank started on the pole. He lost the lead during the initial lap, and developed mechanical issues. Dropping out with hub failure on the 46th lap of the 100-mile event, he finished 22nd, as Norm Nelson went on to win the event.[3]

Frank dominated the third event of the season, on September 4. Starting second alongside Fohr at the Du Quoin Fairgrounds, Frank took the lead on the opening lap, and by the 25th lap had lapped the entire field excluding Fohr, soon had to pit. Frank held the lead for the duration of the 100-lap event.[4]

At the fourth event, a 200-miler held at Lakewood Speedway in Atlanta on September 10, Frank held the lead with 18 laps to go when he blew a tire, sending him into the pits. Billy Carden passed him, going on to win. Frank was able to finish the even in fourth, immediately behind Nelson, who finished third, setting the two drivers in contention for the championship heading into the final event of the season.[5]

On September 17, at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Frank won the race and the championship. He had started on pole after setting a new record time.[6]

Post-driving career

After his retirement from driving, Frank owned and operated a series of car-washes.[1][7]

Death

Frank was killed the night of April 4, 1965, after being hit by a passing truck while attempting to help a motorist whose car had caught fire on the Hollywood Freeway.[7]

References
  1. Triplett, Kevin. "The Checkered Past - The journal of U.S. auto racing history". Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  2. "Fohr Winner of Stock Car Race". The Capital Times. Madison, Wisconsin. July 10, 1950. p. 11.
  3. "Norm Nelson Stock Winner". The Racine Journal-Times. Racine, Wisconsin. August 25, 1950. p. 13.
  4. Jones, Merle (September 5, 1950). "Jay Frank Wins 100-Mile DuQuoin Stock Car Race". Southern Illinoisan. Carbondale, Illinois. p. 7.
  5. "Lakewood Event Goes To Carden". The Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. September 11, 1950. p. 10.
  6. "Frank Wins Stock Car Race Title". The Daily Pantagraph. Bloomington, Illinois. p. 11.
  7. "Man Killed Giving Aid on Freeway". The Los Angeles Times. April 5, 1965. pp. III, 12.
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