1950 AAA Championship Car season

1950 AAA Championship Car season
1950 AAA Championship Car season
AAA National Championship Trail
Season
Races	13
Start date	May 30
End date	December 10
Awards
National champion	Henry Banks
Indianapolis 500 winner	Johnnie Parsons
	← 1949 1951 →

Last updated October 24, 2025

The 1950 AAA Championship Car season consisted of 13 races, beginning in Speedway, Indiana on May 30 and concluding in Darlington, South Carolina on December 10. There were also two non-championship events. The AAA National Champion was Henry Banks, and the Indianapolis 500 winner was Johnnie Parsons.

Schedule and results

Rnd	Date	Race name	Track	Location	Type	Pole position	Winning driver
NC	May 1	MGM Sweepstakes	Arlington Downs Raceway	Arlington, Texas	Dirt	Jimmy Davies	Duane Carter
1	May 30	International 500 Mile Sweepstakes ^A	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	Speedway, Indiana	Paved	Walt Faulkner	Johnnie Parsons
2	June 11	Rex Mays Classic	Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway	West Allis, Wisconsin	Dirt	Lee Wallard	Tony Bettenhausen
3	June 25	Langhorne 100	Langhorne Speedway	Langhorne, Pennsylvania	Dirt	Troy Ruttman	Jack McGrath
NC	August 12	Indianapolis Sweepstakes	Williams Grove Speedway	Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania	Dirt	Lee Wallard	Troy Ruttman
4	August 19	Springfield 100	Illinois State Fairgrounds	Springfield, Illinois	Dirt	Tony Bettenhausen	Paul Russo
5	September 4	Milwaukee 200	Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway	West Allis, Wisconsin	Dirt	Chuck Stevenson	Walt Faulkner
6	September 4	Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb	Pikes Peak Highway	Pikes Peak, Colorado	Hill	Al Rogers ^B	Al Rogers
7	September 9	Syracuse 100	New York State Fairgrounds	Syracuse, New York	Dirt	Tony Bettenhausen	Jack McGrath
8	September 10	Detroit 100	Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway	Detroit, Michigan	Dirt	Troy Ruttman	Henry Banks
9	October 1	Springfield 100	Illinois State Fairgrounds	Springfield, Illinois	Dirt	Tony Bettenhausen	Tony Bettenhausen
10	October 15	Golden State 100	California State Fairgrounds	Sacramento, California	Dirt	Tony Bettenhausen	Duke Dinsmore
11	November 12	Phoenix 100	Arizona State Fairgrounds	Phoenix, Arizona	Dirt	Bobby Ball	Jimmy Davies
12	November 26	Bay Meadows 150	Bay Meadows Race Track	San Mateo, California	Dirt	Tony Bettenhausen	Tony Bettenhausen
13	December 10	Darlington 200	Darlington Raceway	Darlington, South Carolina	Paved	Bill Schindler	Johnnie Parsons

Paved/Dirt Oval

Road Course/Hill Climb

Non-championship race

^A Indianapolis 500 was AAA-sanctioned and counted towards the 1950 FIA World Championship of Drivers title. Race stopped after 345 miles due to rain.

^B No pole is awarded for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, in this schedule on the pole is the driver who started first. No lap led was awarded for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, however, a lap was awarded to the drivers that completed the climb.

Final points standings

Note1: The points became the car, when not only one driver led the car, the relieved driver became small part of the points. Points for driver method: (the points for the finish place) / (number the lap when completed the car) * (number the lap when completed the driver)

Note2: There were scoring omissions in the AAA records regarding laps completed for eight drivers in the Springfield and Bay Meadows races in 1950. The statistics shown include the most accurate representation of those races that is available.

Pos	Driver	INDY	MIL1	LAN	SPR1	MIL2	PIK	SYR	DET	SPR2	SAC	PHX	BAY	DAR	Pts
1	Henry Banks	25	5	2	DNQ	2		DNQ	1	18	3	12	4	3	1390
2	Walt Faulkner RY	7	7	DNQ	DNQ	1		2	4	12	9	5	6	8	1317
3	Johnnie Parsons	1	11	DNS	DNQ	DNS		DNQ	16	DNQ	11	3	DNQ	1	1313
4	Cecil Green R	4	DNQ	9	DNQ	12		4	3	5	10	6	9	4	1190
5	Tony Bettenhausen	31	1	14	11	18		12	10	1	17	2	1	20	1027.5
6	Duke Dinsmore	33	14	4	7	4		10	5	11	1	18	7	5	1017
7	Paul Russo	9	2	12	1	5		3	18	6	13	16			928
8	Chuck Stevenson		DNS	3	DNQ	20			6	3	4	4	19	6	760
9	Jack McGrath	14	9	1	14	DNS		1	17	14	14	9	5	9	736.5
10	Bill Schindler	26	18	16	12	22		DNS	15	15	2	DNQ	3	2	690
11	Lee Wallard	6	4	DNS	2	15		DNQ	DNQ					10	637
12	Jimmy Davies	17	3	11	10	21		15	2	8	15	1	14		605.5
13	Bill Holland	2													552
14	Fred Agabashian	28	8	6	8	8		6	DNQ	4	5		13		532.5
15	Mauri Rose	3													483
16	Andy Linden R	DNQ		18	5	3		DNS	8	DNQ	DNS				459.5
17	Duke Nalon	DNQ	DNQ	5	DNQ	6		8	13		7	7	DNQ		394
18	Mack Hellings	13	13	7	3	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	14	9	6	11	DNS	DNQ	340
19	Joie Chitwood	5												7	337.5
20	George Connor	8	10	DNQ	9	19		17	9	13					282.5
21	Cliff Griffith R	DNQ	DNQ	DNS	4			5	DNQ	DNQ				12	255
22	Ray Knepper R				DNQ	11		7	DNQ	7	8	13	10	16	255
23	Sam Hanks	30	DNQ										2		240
24	Joe James R	DNQ	DNQ	DNS	DNQ	7		DNQ	7	17	DNQ	DNQ	11	13	212.5
25	Al Rogers						1								200
26	Neal Carter			15	DNQ	17		16	12	2	16			14	170
27	Harry Turner R			DNS	6	9		9	DNQ	DNQ					164.5
28	Herb Bryers						2								160
29	Louis Unser						3								140
30	Bill Mackey R							DNQ	DNQ			8	8	22	125
31	George Hammond						4								120
32	Jerry Hoyt R	21	DNQ	8	DNQ			11		DNQ				11	110
33	Pat Flaherty R	10													103.5
34	Charles Bryant						5								100
35	Dick Rathmann	32	6	13				DNS							80
36	Walt Killinger						6								80
37	Myron Fohr	11	DNQ		DNQ	16		DNQ							69
38	Lloyd Axel						7								60
39	Frank Burany		DNQ			10									60
40	Joel Thorne	DNQ					8								50
41	Troy Ruttman	15	17	10	DNQ	13		14	11		12	17	15	18	46
42	Walt Brown	19	15	DNS	16	DNQ		13	DNQ	10				19	41.5
43	Johnny Mauro	DNQ					9								40
44	Bayliss Levrett	27									DNS	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	36
45	Duane Carter	12	DNQ	DNP	17		DNS	DNS						21	34.5
46	Shelby Hill R						10								30
47	Rodger Ward R											10			30
48	Delmar Desch						11								20
49	Bobby Ball R											15	12	DNQ	15
50	Jimmy Good						12								10
51	Ralph Pratt	DNQ	DNQ	DNS	15	DNQ		DNS		DNQ					9.5
52	Johnny McDowell	18	12												6
-	Johnny Fedricks	DNQ	DNQ		13	DNQ		18		16				25	0
-	Hugh Thomas						13								0
-	George Lynch	DNQ	DNQ		DNQ	DNQ						14	17	23	0
-	Eddie Johnson R			17	DNQ	14		DNQ		DNQ					0
-	Phil Shafer						14								0
-	Bob Finney R						15								0
-	Jimmy Daywalt R													15	0
-	Gene Hartley R	16	DNQ												0
-	Emil Andres	DNQ	16												0
-	Glenn Harrison						16								0
-	Art McKee						17								0
-	Johnnie Tolan R											DNQ	DNQ	17	0
-	Spider Webb	20	DNQ	DNP	18			DNQ	DNQ						0
-	Manuel Ayulo	DNQ						DNQ				DNQ	18	26	0
-	Lou Florence R										18		DNQ		0
-	Pete Woods R						18								0
-	Wayne Sankey						19								0
-	Jim Hammond						20								0
-	Phil Hill R						21								0
-	Walt Ader	22	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ			DNS							0
-	Russ Snowberger						22								0
-	Jackie Holmes	23	DNQ		DNQ										0
-	Ray Shadbolt R						23								0
-	Dick Fraizer R	DNQ												24	0
-	Jim Rathmann	24													0
-	Keith Andrews R						24								0
-	Wayne England R						25								0
-	Buster Hammond R						26								0
-	Art Hillis						27								0
-	Jimmy Jackson	29													0
-	Buster Warke			DNQ				DNS		DNQ					0
-	William Cantrell	DNS													0
-	Johnny Mantz	DNS													0
-	Milt Fankhauser	DNQ			DNQ	DNQ			DNQ						0
-	Carl Scarborough	DNP						DNQ	DNQ	DNQ					0
-	Kenny Eaton	DNQ			DNQ	DNQ									0
-	Don Padia						DNQ					DNQ	DNQ		0
-	Al Benoit										DNQ	DNQ	DNQ		0
-	Bill Taylor										DNQ	DNQ	DNQ		0
-	Chuck Leighton	DNQ	DNQ												0
-	Billy Devore	DNQ								DNQ					0
-	Frank Tillman					DNQ				DNQ					0
-	Bill Vukovich	DNQ									DNQ				0
-	Potsy Goacher	DNP				DNQ									0
-	Marvin Burke	DNQ													0
-	Hal Cole	DNQ													0
-	Ted Duncan	DNQ													0
-	George Fonder	DNQ													0
-	Carl Forberg	DNQ													0
-	Bob Gregg	DNQ													0
-	Norm Houser	DNQ													0
-	Danny Kladis	DNQ													0
-	Mark Light	DNQ													0
-	Cy Marshall	DNQ													0
-	Al Miller	DNQ													0
-	Chet Miller	DNQ													0
-	Jim Rigsby	DNQ													0
-	Bob Sweikert	DNQ													0
-	Charles Van Acker	DNQ													0
-	Mike Salay		DNQ												0
-	Mike Nazaruk			DNQ											0
-	Ottis Stine			DNQ											0
-	Ed Terry			DNQ											0
-	Bobby Barker				DNQ										0
-	Joe Sostilio					DNQ									0
-	Bill Johnson						DNQ								0
-	Milton Mabe						DNQ								0
-	Bob Harnar								DNQ						0
-	Art Hartsfeld									DNQ					0
-	Steve Truchan									DNQ					0
-	Hal Robson											DNQ			0
-	Frank Armi												DNQ		0
-	Cecil Burnaugh												DNQ		0
-	Lenny Lowe												DNQ		0
-	Mike Reilly												DNQ		0
-	Billy Ryan												DNQ		0
-	Hank Rogers													DNQ	0
-	Joe Adas	DNP													0
-	Mike Burch	DNP													0
-	Billy Earl	DNP													0
-	Giuseppe Farina	DNP													0
-	Franco Rol	DNP													0
-	Bud Rose	DNP													0
-	Piero Taruffi	DNP													0
-	Ben Zukor	DNP													0
Pos	Driver	INDY	MIL1	LAN	SPR1	MIL2	PIK	SYR	DET	SPR2	SAC	PHX	BAY	DAR	Pts

Color	Result
Gold	Winner
Silver	2nd place
Bronze	3rd place
Green	4th & 5th place
Light Blue	6th-10th place
Dark Blue	Finished (Outside Top 10)
Purple	Did not finish (Ret)
Red	Did not qualify (DNQ)
Brown	Withdrawn (Wth)
Black	Disqualified (DSQ)
White	Did not start (DNS)
Blank	Did not participate (DNP)
Blank	Not competing

In-line notation
Bold	Pole position
Italics	Ran fastest race lap
*	Led most race laps
RY Rookie of the Year
R Rookie

References

Åberg, Andreas. "AAA National Championship 1950". Driver Database. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
"1950 AAA National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
Harms, Phil. "1950 Championship Driver Summary" (PDF). Motorsport.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 10, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
http://media.indycar.com/pdf/2011/IICS_2011_Historical_Record_Book_INT6.pdf Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine (p. 303-305)

v t e American Championship car racing (Indy car) seasons
AAA	1905 1906–1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955
USAC	1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95
CART	1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
CCWS	2004 2005 2006 2007 ~~2008~~
IRL	1996 1996–97 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
IndyCar	2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
Years marked in italics are not official championship years or upcoming seasons.

v t e AAA Championship Cars (1905–1955)
Seasons	1905 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955
Indianapolis 500s	1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 ~~1942~~ 1943–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955
National Champions	Billy Arnold Henry Banks Tony Bettenhausen Jimmy Bryan Bob Carey Gaston Chevrolet Bill Cummings Pete DePaolo (twice) Sam Hanks Harry Hartz Eddie Hearne Ted Horn (three times) Rex Mays (twice) Louis Meyer (three times) Tommy Milton Jimmy Murphy (twice) Barney Oldfield Johnnie Parsons Kelly Petillo Dario Resta Floyd Roberts Mauri Rose Louis Schneider Wilbur Shaw (twice) Chuck Stevenson Bob Sweikert
AAA Contest Board Years marked in italics are not official championship years.

1950 AAA Championship Car season

Contents

Schedule and results

Final points standings

References

See also