Roger McCluskey
Roger McCluskey (August 24, 1930 – August 29, 1993) was an American IndyCar driver. He was from Tucson, Arizona.
Roger McCluskey | |||||||
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![]() McClusky's 1970 Plymouth Superbird or replica | |||||||
Nationality | American | ||||||
Born | August 24, 1930 Tucson, Arizona | ||||||
Died | August 29, 1993 63) | (aged||||||
USAC Championship Car | |||||||
Years active | 1956, 1960–1979 | ||||||
Starts | 229 | ||||||
Wins | 5 | ||||||
Poles | 3 | ||||||
Best finish | 1st in 1973 | ||||||
Previous series | |||||||
1973–74 | International Race of Champions | ||||||
Championship titles | |||||||
1973 | USAC Championship Car | ||||||
Champ Car career | |||||||
1 race run over 1 year | |||||||
Years active | 1979 | ||||||
Team(s) | Hodgdon Racing | ||||||
First race | 1979 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis) | ||||||
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NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
4 races run over 4 years | |||||||
First race | 1969 Motor Trend 500 (Riverside) | ||||||
Last race | 1977 Los Angeles Times 500 (Ontario) | ||||||
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He won championship titles in three divisions of the United States Auto Club: Sprints, Stocks, and Champ Cars. He won the USAC Sprint Car title in 1963 and 1966, the USAC Stock Car title in 1969 and 1970. The Champ Car title in 1973. His first USAC Stock Car start resulted in a runner-up finish in Phoenix, Arizona in January 1968, when he drove as a substitute driver for Norm Nelson.
McCluskey earned four USAC Midget Car wins, 23 USAC Sprint Car wins, 23 USAC Stock Car wins and five USAC Championship Car (national championship) wins (including his last start at Milwaukee in 1979, which is a rarety since most drivers don't win their last race in their career). He was the USAC national champion in 1973. He started every Indianapolis 500 race from 1961 to 1979 except 1964, with a best finish of 3rd in 1973.
He also made four NASCAR Grand National Series starts from 1969 to 1977 with a best finish of second in 1970 at Riverside International Raceway.
He represented the USAC series in the 1974 International Race of Champions.
McCluskey raced for the Holman and Moody team in a Ford GT40 Mk.IIB at the 1967 LeMans 24hrs of Endurance, France. During this event, McCluskey is credited with pulling Mario Andretti to safety-and thus saving his life-after Andretti had seriously crashed his Ford GT40 Mk.IV when a front brake locked.
McCluskey died on August 29, 1993, just five days after his 63rd birthday after a long battle with cancer. In 2004 the local United Sports Arizona Race Park hosted the Roger McCluskey Sprint Car Classic in his honor.
Award
He was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1993.
He was also inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame in 2002.
He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2011.[1]
Racing record
Complete USAC Championship Car results
Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | Pos | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1956 | INDY | MIL | LAN | DAR | ATL | SPR | MIL | DUQ | SYR | ISF | SAC DNQ |
PHX | - | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
1960 | TRE | INDY | MIL DNQ |
LAN 5 |
SPR 13 |
MIL DNQ |
DUQ 15 |
SYR DNQ |
ISF 6 |
TRE 11 |
SAC 4 |
PHX DNQ |
19th | 320 | ||||||||||||||||
1961 | TRE 6 |
INDY 27 |
MIL 17 |
LAN 5 |
MIL DNQ |
SPR | DUQ 15 |
SYR 8 |
ISF 14 |
TRE 7 |
SAC 11 |
PHX 7 |
15th | 370 | ||||||||||||||||
1962 | TRE 8 |
INDY 16 |
MIL 5 |
LAN 14 |
TRE DNQ |
SPR 15 |
MIL 6 |
LAN 5 |
SYR 6 |
ISF 4 |
TRE 21 |
SAC 18 |
PHX 6 |
12th | 690 | |||||||||||||||
1963 | TRE 8 |
INDY 15 |
MIL 18 |
LAN 10 |
TRE 7 |
SPR 4 |
MIL 6 |
DUQ 11 |
ISF 6 |
TRE 18 |
SAC 5 |
PHX 5 |
8th | 750 | ||||||||||||||||
1964 | PHX 2 |
TRE | INDY | MIL | LAN | TRE DNS |
SPR | MIL | DUQ | ISF | TRE 8 |
SAC 7 |
PHX DNS |
22nd | 238 | |||||||||||||||
1965 | PHX 21 |
TRE | INDY 30 |
MIL 6 |
LAN 13 |
PIP | TRE 17 |
IRP 3 |
ATL 9 |
LAN DNQ |
MIL 5 |
SPR | MIL 4 |
DUQ | ISF DNS |
TRE 4 |
SAC 9 |
PHX 26 |
8th | 1.060 | ||||||||||
1966 | PHX | TRE 20 |
INDY 13 |
MIL 2 |
LAN 6 |
ATL 27 |
PIP | IRP 22 |
LAN 1 |
SPR 14 |
MIL 18 |
DUQ 18 |
ISF 14 |
TRE 5 |
SAC DNS |
PHX 11 |
12th | 780 | ||||||||||||
1967 | PHX 2 |
TRE 2 |
INDY 19 |
MIL 3 |
LAN 17 |
PIP | MOS 2 |
MOS 2 |
IRP 19 |
LAN 21 |
MTR 24 |
MTR | SPR 13 |
MIL 3 |
DUQ 3 |
ISF 8 |
TRE 14 |
SAC DNQ |
HAN 21 |
PHX 21 |
RIV 5 |
8th | 1.620 | |||||||
1968 | HAN 6 |
LVG 12 |
PHX 14 |
TRE 16 |
INDY 29 |
MIL 20 |
MOS 3 |
MOS 14 |
LAN 9 |
PIP | CDR 17 |
NAZ | IRP 19 |
IRP 7 |
LAN 22 |
LAN | MTR | MTR | SPR 1 |
MIL 23 |
DUQ 5 |
ISF 12 |
TRE 2 |
SAC 12 |
MCH 25 |
HAN 10 |
PHX 11 |
RIV 12 |
13th | 1.228 |
1969 | PHX 14 |
HAN 17 |
INDY 14 |
MIL 9 |
LAN | PIP | CDR 5 |
NAZ | TRE 21 |
IRP 4 |
IRP 18 |
MIL 14 |
SPR 15 |
DOV 3 |
DUQ 16 |
ISF 15 |
BRN 15 |
BRN | TRE 2 |
SAC DNQ |
KEN | KEN | PHX DNQ |
RIV 22 |
13th | 1.090 | ||||
1970 | PHX DNQ |
SON | TRE DNQ |
INDY 25 |
MIL 2 |
LAN Wth |
CDR | MCH 7 |
IRP 9 |
SPR DNP |
MIL 2 |
ONT 25 |
DUQ | ISF | SED 10 |
TRE 5 |
SAC 5 |
PHX 3 |
6th | 1.380 | ||||||||||
1971 | RAF 5 |
RAF 4 |
PHX 22 |
TRE 22 |
INDY 9 |
MIL 23 |
POC 25 |
MCH 3 |
MIL 18 |
ONT 28 |
TRE 22 |
PHX 2 |
13th | 1.050 | ||||||||||||||||
1972 | PHX 7 |
TRE 2 |
INDY 24 |
MIL 7 |
MCH 8 |
POC 11 |
MIL 19 |
ONT 1 |
TRE 8 |
PHX 6 |
3rd | 1.970 | ||||||||||||||||||
1973 | TWS 7 |
TRE 8 |
TRE 6 |
INDY 3 |
MIL 2 |
POC 2 |
MCH 1 |
MIL 6 |
ONT 2 |
ONT | ONT 4 |
MCH 4 |
MCH | TRE 13 |
TWS 18 |
PHX 4 |
1st | 3.075 | ||||||||||||
1974 | ONT 5 |
ONT | ONT 8 |
PHX 16 |
TRE | INDY 16 |
MIL 18 |
POC 28 |
MCH 16 |
MIL 6 |
MCH 13 |
TRE 10 |
TRE 16 |
PHX 19 |
16th | 555 | ||||||||||||||
1975 | ONT 8 |
ONT | ONT 13 |
PHX DNQ |
TRE 7 |
INDY 5 |
MIL 8 |
POC 4 |
MCH 12 |
MIL 19 |
MCH 5 |
TRE 6 |
PHX 18 |
7th | 1.675 | |||||||||||||||
1976 | PHX | TRE DNQ |
INDY 30 |
MIL DNP |
POC 6 |
MCH 5 |
TWS DNQ |
TRE 22 |
MIL 6 |
ONT 21 |
MCH 10 |
TWS 19 |
PHX 5 |
11th | 955 | |||||||||||||||
1977 | ONT 22 |
PHX 3 |
TWS 17 |
TRE 5 |
INDY 8 |
MIL 19 |
POC 26 |
MOS 11 |
MCH 20 |
TWS DNQ |
MIL 20 |
ONT 22 |
MCH 7 |
PHX 5 |
11th | 940 | ||||||||||||||
1978 | PHX 19 |
ONT 20 |
TWS 20 |
TRE 21 |
INDY 25 |
MOS | MIL | POC | MCH | ATL | TWS | MIL | ONT 24 |
MCH | TRE | SIL | BRH | PHX 13 |
35th | 61 | ||||||||||
1979 | ONT 12 |
TWS | INDY 13 |
MIL 17 |
POC 14 |
TWS 4 |
MIL 1 |
9th | 716 |
Complete USAC Mini-Indy Series results
Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Pos | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1977 | ![]() TRE |
![]() MIL |
![]() MOS DNS |
![]() PIR |
- | - | |||||
1979 | ![]() TEX1 |
![]() IRP |
![]() MIL1 22 |
![]() POC |
![]() TEX2 |
![]() MIL2 |
![]() MIN1 |
![]() MIN2 |
52nd | 3 |
Complete PPG Indy Car World Series results
Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Pos. | Pts |
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1979 | Hodgdon Racing | McLaren | Cosworth | PHX | ATL | ATL | INDY 13 |
TRE | TRE | MCH | MCH | WGL | TRE | ONT | MCH | ATL | PHX | - | 0 |
Indy 500 results
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NASCAR
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Grand National Series
NASCAR Grand National Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | NGNC | Pts | Ref | ||||||||
1969 | Norm Nelson Racing | 12 | Plymouth | MGR | MGY | RSD 22 |
DAY | DAY | DAY | CAR | AUG | BRI | ATL | CLB | HCY | GPS | RCH | NWS | MAR | AWS | DAR | BLV | LGY | CLT | MGR | SMR | MCH | KPT | GPS | NCF | DAY | DOV | TPN | TRN | BLV | BRI | NSV | SMR | ATL | MCH | SBO | BGS | AWS | DAR | HCY | RCH | TAL | CLB | MAR | NWS | CLT | SVH | AUG | CAR | JFC | MGR | TWS | NA | - | [3] | ||||||||
1970 | 1 | RSD 2 |
DAY | DAY | DAY | RCH | CAR | SVH | ATL | BRI | TAL | NWS | CLB | DAR | BLV | LGY | CLT | SMR | MAR | MCH | RSD | HCY | KPT | GPS | DAY | AST | TPN | TRN | BRI | SMR | NSV | ATL | CLB | ONA | MCH | TAL | BGS | SBO | DAR | HCY | RCH | DOV | NCF | NWS | CLT | MAR | MGR | CAR | LGY | NA | - | [4] |
Winston Cup Series
NASCAR Winston Cup Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | NWCC | Pts | Ref | |||||||
1972 | Marcis Auto Racing | 2 | Dodge | RSD | DAY | RCH | ONT | CAR | ATL | BRI | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | MCH | RSD | TWS | DAY | BRI | TRN | ATL | TAL | MCH | NSV | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT 27 |
CAR | TWS | NA | - | [5] | |||||||
1977 | 74 | Chevy | RSD | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | NWS | DAR | BRI | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | RSD | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL | ONT 40 |
NA | - | [6] |
International Race of Champions
(key) (Bold – Pole position. * – Most laps led.)
International Race of Champions results | ||||||||
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Season | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Pos. | Pts | Ref |
1973–74 | Porsche | RSD 8 |
RSD 11 |
RSD 12 |
DAY | 12th | - | [7] |
References
- Roger McCluskey at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
- Roger McCluskey Indy 500 Race Stats
- "Roger McCluskey – 1969 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
- "Roger McCluskey – 1970 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
- "Roger McCluskey – 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
- "Roger McCluskey – 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
- "Roger McCluskey – 1974 IROC Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
Other references
- Patrick Finley; "McCluskey memorial race at local dirt track gaining momentum each year"; December 30, 2006; Arizona Daily Star; Retrieved January 15, 2007
- NASCAR and IROC statistics