1953 AAA Championship Car season

1953 AAA Championship Car season
1953 AAA Championship Car season
AAA National Championship Trail
Season
Races	12
Start date	May 30
End date	November 11
Awards
National champion	Sam Hanks
Indianapolis 500 winner	Bill Vukovich
	← 1952 1954 →

Last updated October 24, 2025

The 1953 AAA Championship Car season consisted of 12 races, beginning in Speedway, Indiana on May 30 and concluding in Phoenix, Arizona on November 11. There was also one non-championship event in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. The AAA National Champion was Sam Hanks, and the Indianapolis 500 winner was Bill Vukovich. Chet Miller died while practicing for the Indianapolis 500.

Schedule and results

Rnd	Date	Race name	Track	Location	Type	Pole position	Winning driver
1	May 30	International 500 Mile Sweepstakes ^A	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	Speedway, Indiana	Paved	Bill Vukovich	Bill Vukovich
2	June 7	Rex Mays Classic	Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway	West Allis, Wisconsin	Dirt	Manny Ayulo	Jack McGrath
3	June 21	Springfield 100	Illinois State Fairgrounds	Springfield, Illinois	Dirt	Don Freeland	Rodger Ward
4	July 4	Detroit 100^B	Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway	Detroit, Michigan	Dirt	Duane Carter	Rodger Ward
NC	July 26	Indianapolis Sweepstakes	Williams Grove Speedway	Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania	Dirt	Duane Carter	Jimmy Davies
5	August 22	Springfield 100	Illinois State Fairgrounds	Springfield, Illinois	Dirt	Chuck Stevenson	Sam Hanks
6	August 30	Milwaukee 200	Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway	West Allis, Wisconsin	Dirt	Jack McGrath	Chuck Stevenson
7	September 7	Ted Horn Memorial	DuQuoin State Fairgrounds	Du Quoin, Illinois	Dirt	Mike Nazaruk	Sam Hanks
8	September 7	Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb	Pikes Peak Highway	Pikes Peak, Colorado	Hill	Bob Finney ^C	Louis Unser
9	September 12	Syracuse 100	New York State Fairgrounds	Syracuse, New York	Dirt	Bob Sweikert	Tony Bettenhausen
10	September 26	Hoosier Hundred	Indiana State Fairgrounds	Indianapolis, Indiana	Dirt	Manny Ayulo	Bob Sweikert
11	October 25	Golden State 100	California State Fairgrounds	Sacramento, California	Dirt	Mike Nazaruk	Jimmy Bryan
12	November 11	Phoenix 100	Arizona State Fairgrounds	Phoenix, Arizona	Dirt	Tony Bettenhausen	Tony Bettenhausen

Paved/Dirt Oval

Road Course/Hill Climb

Non-championship race

^A The Indianapolis 500 was AAA-sanctioned and counted towards the 1953 World Championship of Drivers.

^B 73 laps were completed. Race stopped due to flipped car. Final standings reverted to 51 laps because of red flag and work done on cars. Half points awarded.

^C 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: Bob Scott was running at the finish of two races after taking over mid-event as a relief driver.

Pos	Driver	INDY	MIL1	SPR1	DET	SPR2	MIL2	DQSF	PIK	SYR	ISF	SAC	PHX	Pts
1	Sam Hanks	3	10	2	4	1	22	1		4	5	3	3	1659.5
2	Jack McGrath	5	1	4	16	13	4	4		9	DNQ	10	13	1250
3	Bill Vukovich	1										DNQ		1000
4	Manuel Ayulo	13	14	DNQ	17	2	2	2		10	2	12	4	960
5	Paul Russo	25	4	DNQ	13	6	3	14		13	12	6	17	855
6	Art Cross	2												800
7	Don Freeland	27	16	3	DNQ	7	5	12		3	4	17	6	750
8	Chuck Stevenson	29	15	6	DNQ	3	1	9		18	DNQ	9		745
9	Jimmy Bryan	14	2	8	3	15	10	7		17	11	1	15	621.4
10	Tony Bettenhausen	9					DNS	18		1	6		1	596
11	Rodger Ward	16	18	1	1	17	6	DNQ		7	8	13	18	540.2
12	Jimmy Davies	10	8		15	16	12	5		16	DNS	4	7	494.2
13	Johnnie Parsons	26		DNQ	8	4	21	3		12	3	15	16	435.5
14	Duane Carter	24	9	DNQ	7	DNQ	17			DNQ	10	Wth	2	428.6
15	Bob Sweikert	20	17			DNQ	13	17		8	1	2	12	420
16	Ernie McCoy R	8	5	17	5		DNQ				DNS	DNS		401
17	Jimmy Daywalt	6						DNQ		DNQ				400
18	Bob Scott	31	DNS			9		DNQ		DNS	DNQ	5	5	328
19	Fred Agabashian	4												315
20	Cal Niday	30	6	7	9	5	19	8		DNQ	DNS	Wth		310.4
21	Jerry Hoyt	23	3	14		DNQ	20	DNQ		6	DNQ	8	9	310
22	Andy Linden	33	7	5	10	DNQ	8	11		DNQ	16	DNQ	10	263.3
23	Jimmy Reece		DNS	18		8	7	DNQ		DNQ	DNQ	7	14	245.8
24	Mike Nazaruk	21	11		6	DNQ	16	13		2	15	14		205
25	Louis Unser								1					200
26	Jim Rathmann	7												169.5
27	Keith Andrews								2					160
28	Walt Faulkner	17	DNQ	9	DNQ	18	DNS	6		DNQ	DNQ	DNP		158.4
29	Al Rogers								3					140
30	Eddie Johnson	DNS	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ								130.5
31	Bob Finney								4					120
32	Pat O'Connor	DNQ	DNQ					DNQ			7		8	110
33	Eddie Russo			DNQ	11	10	11	15		11	DNQ			100.2
34	Bill Holland	15				DNQ	18			5				100
35	Hugh Thomas								5					100
36	Duke Nalon	11												100
37	Allen Heath	DNQ	DNQ	15	2									81.6
38	Tommy Hinnershitz			10		12	9	DNQ		14				81.6
39	Walt Killinger								6					80
40	Potsy Goacher	DNQ				DNQ	DNS	DNQ			DNQ			62
41	Shelby Hill								7					60
42	Herb Bryers								8					50
43	Gene Hartley	28		DNQ	14		DNS	DNQ			17			44.8
44	Ed Elisian R							DNQ			9			40
45	Pete Pusede R								9					40
46	Chuck Weyant						DNQ	10		DNQ	14			30
47	Pete Woods								10					30
48	Rex Easton		DNQ	DNQ		DNQ					13	DNQ	11	20
49	Danny Oakes	DNQ		DNQ		11	14				DNS		DNQ	20
50	Buzz Barton	DNQ	DNQ	11	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ				DNS			20
51	Charles Lowderman R								11					20
52	Carl Scarborough	12												17.5
53	Frank Armi	DNQ										DNS		14.6
54	Bill Homeier R	DNQ	DNS	12	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ							14.5
55	Paul Kleinschmidt								12					10
56	Vic Carter		12											5.5
57	Edgar Elder R	DNQ										11	DNQ	5.4
58	Duke Dinsmore	DNS		DNQ	12		15	DNQ						5.1
-	Johnny Thomson R	32	13											0
-	Chuck Marshall R		DNQ	13		DNQ		DNQ						0
-	Malcolm Brazier								13					0
-	Johnny Fedricks	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	18	14	DNQ	DNQ		15	DNQ			0
-	Jimmy Good								14					0
-	Chuck Hulse R								15					0
-	Spider Webb	19		16	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ			DNQ	DNS	DNP		0
-	Johnny Roberts R	DNQ	DNQ		DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	16		DNQ	DNQ			0
-	Don Olds R											16	DNQ	0
-	Norman Robinson								16					0
-	Charles Bryant								17					0
-	Eddie Sachs R	DNQ								DNQ	DNQ	18	DNQ	0
-	Leroy Warriner R	DNQ									18			0
-	Marshall Teague R	18												0
-	George Hammond								18					0
-	Joe Garson								19					0
-	Don Carlson R								20					0
-	Pat Flaherty	22												0
-	Johnny Mantz	DNS												0
-	Jackie Holmes	DNS												0
-	George Tichenor	DNQ	DNQ			DNQ					DNQ			0
-	George Wilson					DNQ	DNQ			DNQ	DNQ			0
-	Johnny Key						DNQ	DNQ			DNQ			0
-	Johnnie Tolan	DNQ		DNQ									DNQ	0
-	Bill Doster	DNQ			DNQ									0
-	Ralph Pratt					DNQ	DNQ							0
-	Joe Barzda	DNQ								DNQ				0
-	Len Duncan	DNQ								DNQ				0
-	Ottis Stine			DNQ						DNQ				0
-	Gene Force					DNQ					DNQ			0
-	Bill Taylor	DNQ										DNQ		0
-	Henry Banks	DNQ	Wth											0
-	Bill Boyd	DNQ												0
-	Billy Cantrell	DNQ												0
-	Neal Carter	DNQ												0
-	George Connor	DNQ												0
-	Ray Crawford	DNQ												0
-	Jorge Daponte	DNQ												0
-	John Fitch	DNQ												0
-	George Fonder	DNQ												0
-	Cliff Griffith	DNQ												0
-	Red Hamilton	DNQ												0
-	Al Herman	DNQ												0
-	Johnny Kay	DNQ												0
-	Jud Larson	DNQ												0
-	Jim Mayes	DNQ												0
-	Chet Miller	DNQ												0
-	Roy Newman	DNQ												0
-	Hal Robson	DNQ												0
-	Wayne Selser	DNQ												0
-	Joe Sostilio	DNQ												0
-	Harry Stockman	DNQ												0
-	J. Chaplin		DNQ											0
-	Gays Biro				DNQ									0
-	Paul Howe				DNQ									0
-	Johnny Hobel							DNQ						0
-	Don Daly								DNQ					0
-	R. Manual								DNQ					0
-	Bill Milliken								DNQ					0
-	Wayne Sankey								DNQ					0
-	Phil Shafer								DNQ					0
-	Art McKee								DSQ					0
-	Troy Ruttman	Wth												0
-	Ebe Yoder	Wth												0
-	Alberto Ascari	DNP												0
-	Johnny Mauro	DNP												0
Pos	Driver	INDY	MIL1	SPR1	DET	SPR2	MIL2	DQSF	PIK	SYR	ISF	SAC	PHX	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 1953". Driver Database. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
"1953 AAA National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
Harms, Phil. "1953 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. 291-294)

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.

1953 AAA Championship Car season

Contents

Schedule and results

Final points standings

References

See also