Jimmie Earl McElreath^[1] (February 18, 1928 – May 18, 2017) was an American open-wheelracing driver, known for competing in theUSACChampionship car series.^[2][3] He won the inauguralCalifornia 500 in1970, driving a spare car owned byA. J. Foyt.

Jim began his racing career in 1945 at the age of 17. He raced stock cars inDallas,Texas. Jim would race in the local Texas bullrings for the next fifteen years while working as a bricklayer. It was in 1960 when he and fellow Texan racerJohnny Rutherford decided to race in the Midwest. Both would eventually find super modified rides in theInternational Motor Contest Association (IMCA). Jim did well enough that by late-summer 1961 that he was offered a ride by fame car owner Lindsey Hopkins in the Hoosier Hundred, a race at theIndiana State Fairgrounds on theUnited States Auto Club (USAC) National Championship Trail. He finished third in this race, an impressive start to his Indy Car career.

He raced in the 1961–1983 seasons, with 178 combined career starts, including 15 in theIndianapolis 500 in 1962–1970, 1973–1974, and 1977–1980. He finished 48 times in the top 5, with five victories. He was runner-up in the 1966 championship and third in 1963, 1965, and 1970. In1962 he was namedIndianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, a result of his 6th-place finish.^[4]

Jim won the inaugural California 500 atOntario, California on September 6, 1970, driving A.J. Foyt's team car. He battled withArt Pollard for the last 10 laps afterAl Unser andCale Yarborough retired with mechanical issues.^{[citation needed]}

McElreath was a 2002 inductee to theNational Sprint Car Hall of Fame.^[5]

Jim's son, James Jr., was killed in asprint car crash atWinchester in October 1977. James Jr. had attempted to qualify for the1977 Indy 500 earlier that year. Alongside his father, they were attempting to become the first father and son combination to qualify for the same race. However, James Jr. was too slow to make the field.^[6]

Jim's daughter, Shirley, married racing driverTony Bettenhausen Jr. The couple died when their private plane crashed in Kentucky in February 2000.

• Jim McElreath career summary at DriverDB.com
• Jim McElreath Wins Big In Ontario Motor Speedway Debut
• Flashback Friday: October 16, 1977. James McElreath Jr's Last Lap
• Race car drivers reunite to celebrate Jim McElreath's 85th birthday

• 1928 births
• 2017 deaths
• Indianapolis 500 drivers
• Indianapolis 500 Rookies of the Year
• Champ Car drivers
• National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductees
• Racing drivers from Fort Worth, Texas
• Sportspeople from Arlington, Texas
• USAC Silver Crown Series drivers
• Dale Coyne Racing drivers

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