Dick Linder

Richard "Dick" Linder (April 6, 1923 – April 19, 1959) was a professional race car driver from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Linder raced USAC open wheel as well as NASCAR stock cars. Between 1949 and 1956 he entered 28 NASCAR events, winning three with eight additional Top 10 finishes. Linder's three wins came behind the wheel of his Oldsmobile; Dayton, OH 8/20/1950, Hamburg, NY 8/27/1950, and Vernon, NY 10/1/1950. His final NASCAR race was the 1956 Beach Course event at Daytona. He raced there several times including an 18th-place finish in 1951. Linder recorded over 110 victories at various Pennsylvania race tracks. He and his brother Gus Linder are members of The Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Hall of Fame.

Dick Linder
Linder's 1951 Studebaker
BornRichard L. Linder
(1923-04-06)April 6, 1923
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedApril 19, 1959(1959-04-19) (aged 36)
Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
Cause of deathInjuries from racing accident
NASCAR Cup Series career
28 races run over 5 years
Best finish8th (1950)
First race1949 Race 4 (Langhorne)
Last race1956 Race 6 (Daytona Beach)
First win1950 Race 11 (Dayton)
Last win1950 Race 16 (Vernon)
Wins Top tens Poles
3 11 5

During a USAC Champ Car event at Trenton Speedway in April 1959, Linder tried to avoid hitting Don Branson, who was spinning in front of him. His racer crashed through the guard rail and rolled over once, landing on its wheels. Linder, who was 36 years old, died of a broken neck.[1][2]

Linder's Vargo Special was the same car in which Van Johnson would be killed a few months,[3] Hugh Randall a few years later.[4]

References
  1. "Dick Linder dies in crash". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 20, 1959.
  2. "Didn't hit death car – Rathmann". The Miami News. Associated Press. April 20, 1959.
  3. "Van Johnson dies in 'jinx' racing car". The Pittsburgh Press. Press State Wire. July 20, 1959.
  4. "Gamble proves costly, Randell [Randall] killed in crash". Reading Eagle. United Press International. July 2, 1962.
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