Bob Sweikert

Robert Charles Sweikert (May 20, 1926 - June 17, 1956) was an American racing driver who achieved remarkable success in his brief but illustrious career. Born in Los Angeles, California, his surname was later changed from the German spelling to avoid anti-German sentiment before World War II. In 1942, the family moved to Hayward, California, where young Bob's passion for mechanics and speed began to flourish.

From age 16, Sweikert worked after school as a mechanic at the local Ford dealership in Hayward. A naturally gifted mechanic, he frequently won street races throughout the East Bay. While attending Hayward High School, Sweikert harbored dreams of becoming a crooner like Frank Sinatra and even took voice lessons toward that end. However, fate had different plans for the talented young man.

In late 1944, Sweikert enrolled in the US Army Air Force but suffered a severe knee injury while training at Lowry Field in Colorado. He was honorably discharged in September 1945, an event that would ironically redirect his focus entirely toward motorsports.

Sweikert made his Indianapolis 500 debut in May 1952, starting from the 32nd position and completing 77 laps. His talent quickly became evident as he set unprecedented records. On September 12, 1953, he became the first driver ever to break 100 mph on a one-mile oval track at the Eastern Speed Dome in Syracuse, New York. A year later, on September 11, 1954, he became the first driver to average 90 mph in a 100-mile race.

The pinnacle of Sweikert's career came on May 30, 1955, when he won the Indianapolis 500 from the 14th starting position in the Zink Kurtis roadster #6. Qualifying 14th at Indy, Sweikert charged to the front and dominated the race, leading 86 laps to win by almost a full lap over Tony Bettenhausen. Remarkably, Sweikert led the crew in readying the car and even rebuilt the Offenhauser engine himself when mechanic A.J. Watson had to return to California. The engine never missed a beat during his 500 victory.

In September 1955, Sweikert achieved a feat that remains unmatched in motorsports history: he became the only driver ever to win the Indianapolis 500, the AAA big car National Championship, and the Midwest sprint car championship in the same season—a remarkable triple crown of American racing.

In May 1956, at his final return to the Indianapolis 500, Sweikert started in the 10th position and finished 6th. Just weeks later, tragedy struck. On June 17, 1956, at Salem Speedway during a sprint car race, Sweikert's right rear wheel clipped a steel beam protruding from the wall. The sprint car flew over the edge of the track, plummeted down an embankment, and landed a hundred feet below, briefly bursting into flames. Sweikert was pronounced dead upon arrival at Washington County Hospital. He was just 30 years old, his promising career cut tragically short at its peak.