Editing Len Sutton

{{Short description|American racing driver (1925–2006)}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox racing driver
| name              = Len Sutton
| image             = 
| caption           = 
| nationality       = 
| birth_name        = Lenard Dale Sutton
| birth_date        = {{birth date|1925|08|09}}
| birth_place       = [[Aims, Oregon]], U.S.
| death_date        = {{death date and age|2006|12|04|1925|08|09}}
| death_place       = [[Portland, Oregon]], U.S.
| titles            = 
| awards            = 
| module1           = {{Infobox Champ Car driver|child=yes
  | years             = 1955–1965
  | Total_Champ_Races = 74
  | Years_In_Champ    = 11
  | Champ_Car_Team    = 
  | Best_Champ_Pos    = 7th – [[1961 USAC Championship Car season|1961]], [[1962 USAC Championship Car season|1962]]
  | First_Champ_Race  = [[1955 AAA Championship Car season|1955]] [[California State Fairgrounds Race Track|Golden State 100]] ([[California State Fairgrounds Race Track|Sacramento]])
  | Last_Champ_Race   = [[1965 USAC Championship Car season|1965]] [[Langhorne Speedway|Langhorne 100]] ([[Langhorne Speedway|Langhorne]])
  | First_Champ_Win   = [[1958 USAC Championship Car season|1958]] [[Trenton 200|Trenton 100]] ([[Trenton Speedway|Trenton]])
  | Last_Champ_Win    = [[1960 USAC Championship Car season|1960]] [[Tony Bettenhausen 200|Milwaukee 200]] ([[Milwaukee Mile|Milwaukee]])
  | Champ_Wins        = 3
  | Champ_Podiums     = 8
  | Champ_Poles       = 1
}}
| module2 = {{Infobox F1 driver
  | child = yes
  | Years         = {{F1|1956}}, {{F1|1958}}–{{F1|1960}}
  | Team(s)       = [[Lesovsky]], [[Kurtis Kraft]], [[A. J. Watson|Watson]], [[Kuzma (constructor)|Kuzma]]
  | Races         = 4 (3 starts)
  | Championships = 0
  | Wins          = 0
  | Podiums       = 0
  | Points        = 0
  | Poles         = 0
  | Fastest laps  = 0
  | First race    = [[1956 Indianapolis 500]]
  | First win     =
  | Last win      =
  | Last race     = [[1960 Indianapolis 500]]
}}}}

'''Len Sutton'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Len Sutton |url=http://www.champcarstats.com/drivers/SuttonLen.htm |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=www.champcarstats.com}}</ref> (August 9, 1925 – December 3, 2006)<ref>[http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/motor/2006-12-05-sutton-obit_x.htm Legendary racer Len Sutton, 81, dies from cancer complications]</ref> was an American racecar driver. He is best known for finishing second at the [[1962 Indianapolis 500]].<ref name=westcoast>[http://www.stockcarreunion.com/inductees/2005inductees.html Biography] at the [[West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame]], Retrieved November 21, 2007</ref>

==Early racing career==
A lifelong resident of [[Portland, Oregon]], Sutton became involved in auto racing after serving in the [[United States Navy|Navy]] during [[World War II]]. He spun out in the first corner on his first lap at a [[dirt track racing|dirt track]].<ref name=westcoast /> Sutton won Oregon Racing Association championships in 1949, 1950, 1954, and 1955. He flipped his car to avoid cattle during the 1954 [[Carrera Panamericana]] road race (now [[Baja 1000]]). He was in a body cast for  4 months.<ref name=westcoast /> He also won [[midget car racing]] championships in Portland before he headed east to become a national touring driver.<ref name=westcoast />

==National circuits==
He raced in the [[American Automobile Association|AAA]] and [[United States Automobile Club|USAC]] [[Championship Car]] series from 1955 to 1965, with 76 career starts, 43 top ten finishes, and 3 victories.

Sutton completed his rookie test for the [[Indianapolis 500]] in 1956. He flipped his car while attempting 140 miles per hour for the [[1957 Indianapolis 500]]. He slide upside down with his helmet scraping the asphalt for nearly 1000 feet (300 m).<ref name=westcoast /> A report in the following day's [[Indianapolis News]] said "Sutton was at first believed dead by observers on the scene."<ref name=westcoast /> His injuries included broken shoulder, serious abrasions on his back, and a fractured skull.<ref name=westcoast /> He returned to Indianapolis [[1958 Indianapolis 500|the following year]] and made his first start in the event. That year he finished 32nd after being eliminated in a multi-car accident during the first lap.  He competed in the 500 six more times and had his best result in [[1962 Indianapolis 500|1962]].  After starting the race 4th, he led 9 laps and finished second behind his teammate [[Rodger Ward]].  The next year, he set an unofficial [[Indianapolis Motor Speedway]] record when he went over {{convert|155|mi/h|km/h}} during a tire test.

Known for his versatility as a driver, Sutton also competed in roadsters, midgets, sprint cars, and stock cars.  He finished 31st in the 1963 [[Daytona 500]]. Sutton decided to retire from driving during a 1965 race at [[Langhorne Speedway]]. Fellow competitor [[Mel Kenyon]] was severely burned in the race.<ref name=westcoast />

==Broadcaster after retirement and death==
After retiring from driving, Sutton went into broadcasting and was a member of the [[Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network]] for many years.

Sutton died at his home in Portland at age 81 after a long battle with [[cancer]].

==Awards==
*He was inducted in the [[West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame]] in 2005
*He was a member of the [[Oregon Sports Hall of Fame]]
*Sutton was named to the [[National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame]] in 2009<ref>{{cite web|title=14 Welcomed As New Midget Hall Class|url=http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/sprints-midgets/14-welcomed-as-new-midget-hall-class/|publisher=[[National Speed Sport News]]|accessdate=December 27, 2013}}</ref>

==Complete AAA/USAC Championship Car results==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
! Year
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! 9
! 10
! 11
! 12
! 13
!14
!15
!16
!17
!18
! Pos
! Points
|-
! rowspan=1| [[1955 AAA Championship Car season|1955]]
| [[1955 Indianapolis 500|INDY]]<br><small> </small>
| [[Milwaukee 225|MIL]]
| [[Langhorne Speedway|LAN]]
| [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack|SPR]]
| [[Milwaukee 225|MIL]]<br><small> </small>
| [[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack|DUQ]]<br><small> </small>
| [[Pikes Peak International Hill Climb|PIK]]<br><small> </small>
| [[Great New York State Fair|SYR]]
| [[Indiana State Fair|ISF]]
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[California State Fairgrounds Race Track|SAC]]<br><small>17</small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[XM Satellite Radio Indy 200|PHX]]<br><small>17</small>
|colspan=7|
!-
!0
|-
! rowspan=1| [[1956 USAC Championship Car season|1956]]
|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| [[1956 Indianapolis 500|INDY]]<br><small>DNQ</small>
| [[Milwaukee 225|MIL]]
| [[Langhorne Speedway|LAN]]
| [[Darlington Raceway|DAR]]
| [[Lakewood Speedway|ATL]]
| [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack|SPR]]
| [[Milwaukee 225|MIL]]
| [[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack|DUQ]]<br><small> </small>
| [[Great New York State Fair|SYR]]
| [[Indiana State Fair|ISF]]<br><small> </small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | [[California State Fairgrounds Race Track|SAC]]<br><small>18</small>
| [[XM Satellite Radio Indy 200|PHX]]
|colspan=6|
!-
!0
|-
! rowspan=1| [[1957 USAC Championship Car season|1957]]
| [[1957 Indianapolis 500|INDY]]<br><small> </small>
| [[Langhorne Speedway|LAN]]
| [[Milwaukee 225|MIL]]
| [[Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway|DET]]
| [[Lakewood Speedway|ATL]]
|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack|SPR]]<br><small>DNQ</small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | [[Milwaukee 225|MIL]]<br><small>19</small>
|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | [[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack|DUQ]]<br><small>7</small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | [[Great New York State Fair|SYR]]<br><small>17</small>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;" | [[Indiana State Fair|ISF]]<br><small>4</small>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;" | [[Trenton Speedway|TRE]]<br><small>4</small>
|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | [[California State Fairgrounds Race Track|SAC]]<br><small>DNQ</small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | [[XM Satellite Radio Indy 200|PHX]]<br><small>17</small>
|colspan=5|
! style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 16th
! style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 300
|-
! rowspan=1| [[1958 USAC Championship Car season|1958]]
|style="background:#FFFFBF;" | [[Trenton Speedway|TRE]]<br><small>1</small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | [[1958 Indianapolis 500|INDY]]<br><small>32</small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;" | [[Milwaukee 225|MIL]]<br><small>11</small>
|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | [[Langhorne Speedway|LAN]]<br><small>9</small>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;" | [[Lakewood Speedway|ATL]]<br><small>4</small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack|SPR]]<br><small>9</small>
|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | [[Milwaukee 225|MIL]]<br><small>9</small>
|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | [[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack|DUQ]]<br><small>6</small>
|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | [[Great New York State Fair|SYR]]<br><small>DNQ</small>
|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | [[Indiana State Fair|ISF]]<br><small>DNQ</small>
|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | [[Trenton Speedway|TRE]]<br><small>8</small>
|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | [[California State Fairgrounds Race Track|SAC]]<br><small>DNQ</small>
|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | [[XM Satellite Radio Indy 200|PHX]]<br><small>9</small>
|colspan=5|
!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 11th
!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 670
|-
! rowspan=1| [[1959 USAC Championship Car season|1959]]
|  style="background:#efcfff; | [[Daytona International Speedway|DAY]]<br><small>20</small>
|  style="background:#efcfff; | [[Trenton Speedway|TRE]]<br><small>16</small>
|  style="background:#efcfff; | [[1959 Indianapolis 500|INDY]]<br><small>32</small>
|  style="background:#cfeaff; | [[Milwaukee 225|MIL]]<br><small>10</small>
|  style="background:#efcfff; | [[Langhorne Speedway|LAN]]<br><small>14</small>
|  style="background:#ffffbf; | [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack|SPR]]<br><small>1</small>
|  style="background:#efcfff; | [[Milwaukee 225|MIL]]<br><small>19</small>
|  style="background:#dfffdf; | [[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack|DUQ]]<br><small>4</small>
|  style="background:#cfeaff; | [[Great New York State Fair|SYR]]<br><small>8</small>
|  style="background:#dfffdf; | [[Indiana State Fair|ISF]]<br><small>5</small>
|  style="background:#efcfff; | [[Trenton Speedway|TRE]]<br><small>22</small>
|  style="background:#efcfff; | [[California State Fairgrounds Race Track|SAC]]<br><small>16</small>
|  style="background:#efcfff; | [[XM Satellite Radio Indy 200|PHX]]<br><small>11</small>
|colspan=5|
!style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 9th
!style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 520
|-
! [[1960 USAC Championship Car season|1960]]
|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | [[Trenton Speedway|TRE]]<br><small>18</small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | [[1960 Indianapolis 500|INDY]]<br><small>30</small>
|style="background:#FFDF9F;" | [[Milwaukee 225|MIL]]<br><small>3</small>
| [[Langhorne Speedway|LAN]]<br><small> </small>
|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack|SPR]]<br><small>8</small>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;" | [[Milwaukee 225|MIL]]<br><small>1</small>
|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | [[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack|DUQ]]<br><small>DNQ</small>
|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | [[New York State Fairgrounds|SYR]]<br><small>DNQ</small>
|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | [[Indiana State Fair|ISF]]<br><small>7</small>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;" | [[Trenton Speedway|TRE]]<br><small>5</small>
|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | [[California State Fairgrounds Race Track|SAC]]<br><small>10</small>
|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | [[XM Satellite Radio Indy 200|PHX]]<br><small>DNQ</small>
|colspan=6|
!style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 8th
!style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 780
|-
! [[1961 USAC Championship Car season|1961]]
|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | [[Trenton Speedway|TRE]]<br><small>DNQ</small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | [[1961 Indianapolis 500|INDY]]<br><small>19</small>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"  | [[Milwaukee 225|MIL]]<br><small>4</small>
| [[Langhorne Speedway|LAN]]<br><small> </small>
|style="background:#DFDFDF;" | [[Milwaukee 225|MIL]]<br><small>2</small>
|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack|SPR]]<br><small>10</small>
|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | [[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack|DUQ]]<br><small>9</small>
|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | [[New York State Fairgrounds|SYR]]<br><small>9</small>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;" | [[Indiana State Fair|ISF]]<br><small>4</small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;" | [[Trenton Speedway|TRE]]<br><small>11</small>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;" | [[California State Fairgrounds Race Track|SAC]]<br><small>4</small>
|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | [[XM Satellite Radio Indy 200|PHX]]<br><small>8</small>
|colspan=6|
!style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 7th
!style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 860
|-
! [[1962 USAC Championship Car season|1962]]
|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | [[Trenton Speedway|TRE]]<br><small>7</small>
|style="background:#DFDFDF;" | [[1962 Indianapolis 500|INDY]]<br><small>2</small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | [[Milwaukee 225|MIL]]<br><small>15</small>
| [[Langhorne Speedway|LAN]]<br><small> </small>
| [[Trenton Speedway|TRE]]<br><small> </small>
| [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack|SPR]]<br><small> </small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | [[Milwaukee 225|MIL]]<br><small>20</small>
| [[Langhorne Speedway|LAN]]<br><small> </small>
| [[New York State Fairgrounds|SYR]]<br><small>DNP</small>
| [[Indiana State Fair|ISF]]<br><small> </small>
|style="background:#DFDFDF;" | [[Trenton Speedway|TRE]]<br><small>2</small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | [[California State Fairgrounds Race Track|SAC]]<br><small>10</small>
|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | [[XM Satellite Radio Indy 200|PHX]]<br><small>9</small>
|colspan=5|
!style="background:#CFEAFF;" | 7th
!style="background:#CFEAFF;" | 1,250
|-
! [[1963 USAC Championship Car season|1963]]
|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | [[Trenton Speedway|TRE]]<br>{{small|7}}
|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | [[1963 Indianapolis 500|INDY]]<br><small>DNQ</small>
|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | [[Milwaukee 225|MIL]]<br><small>6</small>
| [[Langhorne Speedway|LAN]]
|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | [[Trenton Speedway|TRE]]<br>{{small|21}}
|style="background:#CFCFFF;" | [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack|SPR]]<br>{{small|12}}
|style="background:#CFCFFF;" | [[Milwaukee 225|MIL]]<br>{{small|12}}
|style="background:#CFCFFF;" | [[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack|DUQ]]<br>{{small|13}}
|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | [[Indiana State Fair|ISF]]<br>{{small|DNQ}}
| [[Trenton Speedway|TRE]]
|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | [[California State Fairgrounds Race Track|SAC]]<br>{{small|DNQ}}
| [[XM Satellite Radio Indy 200|PHX]]
|colspan=6|
!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 20th
!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 170
|-
! [[1964 USAC Championship Car season|1964]]
|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | [[XM Satellite Radio Indy 200|PHX]]<br><small>22</small>
| [[Trenton Speedway|TRE]]<br>{{small| }}
|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | [[1964 Indianapolis 500|INDY]]<br>{{small|15}}
|style="background:#DFDFDF;" | [[Milwaukee 225|MIL]]<br>{{small|2}}
| [[Langhorne Speedway|LAN]]<br>{{small| }}
|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | [[Trenton Speedway|TRE]]<br><small>10</small>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;" | [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack|SPR]]<br>{{small|5}}
|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | [[Milwaukee 225|MIL]]<br>{{small|DNQ}}
|style="background:#CFCFFF;" | [[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack|DUQ]]<br>{{small|11}}
|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | [[Indiana State Fair|ISF]]<br>{{small|8}}
|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | [[Trenton Speedway|TRE]]<br><small>15</small>
| [[California State Fairgrounds Race Track|SAC]]<br><small> </small>
|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | [[XM Satellite Radio Indy 200|PHX]]<br><small>DNQ</small>
|colspan=5|
!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 17th
!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 338
|-
! [[1965 USAC Championship Car season|1965]]
| [[XM Satellite Radio Indy 200|PHX]]<br>{{small| }} 
| [[Trenton Speedway|TRE]]<br>{{small| }}
|style="background:#CFCFFF;" | [[1965 Indianapolis 500|INDY]]<br><small>12</small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;" | [[Milwaukee 225|MIL]]<br>{{small|21}}
|style="background:#CFEAFF;" | [[Langhorne Speedway|LAN]]<br>{{small|7}}
| [[Pikes Peak International Hill Climb|PPR]]<br>{{small| }}
|style="background:#FFCFCF;" | [[Trenton Speedway|TRE]]<br>{{small|DNQ}}
| [[Indianapolis Raceway Park|IRP]]<br>{{small| }}
| [[Atlanta 500 Classic|ATL]]<br>{{small| }}
| [[Langhorne Speedway|LAN]]<br>{{small| }}
| [[Milwaukee 225|MIL]]<br>{{small| }}
| [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack|ISF]]<br>{{small| }}
| [[Milwaukee 225|MIL]]<br>{{small| }}
| [[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack|DSF]]<br>{{small| }}
| [[Indiana State Fair|INF]]<br>{{small| }}
| [[Trenton Speedway|TRE]]<br>{{small| }}
| [[California State Fairgrounds Race Track|SAC]]<br>{{small| }}
| [[XM Satellite Radio Indy 200|PHX]]<br>{{small| }}
!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 35th
!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 110
|}

==Indianapolis 500 results==
{{col-begin|width=auto}}
{{col-break}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Year
!Car
!Start
!Qual
!Rank
!Finish
!Laps
!Led
!Retired
|-
![[1958 Indianapolis 500|1958]]
|68
|27
|142.653
|27
|32
|0
|0
|Crash T3
|-
![[1959 Indianapolis 500|1959]]
|8
|22
|142.107
|26
|32
|34
|0
|Crash T1
|-
![[1960 Indianapolis 500|1960]]
|9
|5
|145.443
|7
|30
|47
|0
|Piston
|-
![[1961 Indianapolis 500|1961]]
|8
|8
|145.897
|10
|19
|110
|0
|Clutch
|-
![[1962 Indianapolis 500|1962]]
|7
|4
|149.328
|4
|2
|200
|9
|Running
|-
![[1964 Indianapolis 500|1964]]
|66
|8
|153.813
|9
|15
|140
|0
|Magneto
|-
![[1965 Indianapolis 500|1965]]
|16
|12
|156.121
|13
|12
|177
|0
|Flagged
|-
|colspan=6|'''Totals'''
|708
|9
|
|}
{{col-break|gap=1em}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Starts
|7
|-
!Poles
|0
|-
!Front Row
|0
|-
!Wins
|0
|-
!Top 5
|1
|-
!Top 10
|1
|-
!Retired
|5
|}
{{col-end}}

==World Championship career summary==
The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Len Sutton participated in 3 World Championship races but scored no World Championship points.

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{refbegin}}
#[http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1165292716326870.xml&coll=7 Auto racing loses a gentleman]
#[http://www.indy500.com/news/story.php?story_id=7893 Popular Indianapolis 500 Driver Sutton Dies At Age 81]
{{refend}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sutton, Len}}
[[Category:1925 births]]
[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Oregon]]
[[Category:Indianapolis 500 drivers]]
[[Category:Racing drivers from Portland, Oregon]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:USAC Stock Car drivers]]