Editing Johnny Rutherford (section)

== Personal life ==
Although "Lone Star JR" proudly displayed the flag of Texas on his racing helmet, Rutherford was actually born in [[Coffeyville, Kansas]] and moved to [[Texas]] at a young age.

Johnny met Betty Hoyer, a nurse, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1963 when he was taking his rookie test. They married two months later<ref name="Bettyrutherford">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19740609&id=700aAAAAIBAJ&pg=1843,4667903|title=Rutherford's Wife Met Tragedy, Then Him, at Indy|publisher=The Milwaukee Journal|first=Bob|last=Cork|date=1974-06-09|access-date=2014-03-11}}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and were a highly visible and inseparable couple throughout Johnny's racing career. His first Indy 500 win in 1974, with Betty looking on from the pits, helped to end the superstition in American racing against allowing women in the pit area.

Rutherford was the honorary chairman of the [[Amelia Island]] [[Concours d'Elegance]] in 2006.

Rutherford was a talented artist during his school, and after the conclusion of his racing career devoted time to renewing his skill.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Racin' Today » Art Imitates Life In Racing For IndyCar's 'Lone Star JR' |url=http://www.racintoday.com/archives/97186 |access-date=2023-06-26 |language=en-US}}</ref> Rutherford's art was featured on the program cover of the [[2021 Indianapolis 500]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-13 |title=Indy 500 program cover features art by Johnny Rutherford |url=https://us.motorsport.com/indycar/news/indy-500-program-cover-art-by-johnny-rutherford/6507976/ |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=us.motorsport.com |language=en}}</ref>

Rutherford, who has been invited to [[White House|The White House]] on behalf of Indy on multiple occasions, is considered a popular ambassador and spokesman for the sport of Indy car racing.