Jones, a native of danville, illinois, started 33rd and placed 21st in. Bubby jones interview perris, ca, april 14 1999 bubby jones, the sprint car hall of famer, had a smile on his face and a chuckle as he related a grand, old racing story on the infield at perris auto speedway on a recent saturday night. Indianapolis norman bubby jones, a twotime champion of the california racing assn in the 1980s, died saturday the age of 78. Illinois, united states on a thursday, june 5, 1941. The episode he talked about took place 25 or more years ago at one of the toughest tracks of them all. He also raced in the usac championship car series, in the 19771978 seasons, with 2 career starts, including the 1977 indianapolis 500. Jan 19, 2020 indianapolis norman bubby jones, a twotime champion of the california racing assn in the 1980s, died saturday the age of 78. Norman bubby jones, who died saturday at the age of 78, was an oldschool racer who should be remembered as one of the great sprint car drivers of all time and an endearing character that always gave you a helping hand as well as his unfiltered opinion.
Bubby was still working as a promoter well into his 70s as well as a mentor to many sprint car drivers. Norman bubby jones, is a former driver in the usac sprint car series, with 22 victories, and a member of the national sprint car hall of fame, inducted in 1998. Having grown up three blocks from the indiana state fairgrounds, i fell in love with the championship dirt cars th. In 1991, having been lured back into the drivers seat the previous season with winning results by old friends larry henry and rod albright. Jones is a second generation sprint car driver, the son of sprint car hall of famer bubby jones. Jan 19, 2020 norman bubby jones, who died sunday at the age of 78, was an oldschool racer who should be remembered as one of the great sprint car drivers of all time and an endearing character that always gave you a helping hand as well as his unfiltered opinion. Most of bubbys money comes from being a race car driver. Hall of fame inductees national sprint car hall of fame. Officials from the united states auto club confirmed jones passing to speed sport.
Jan 20, 2020 norman bubby jones, who died saturday at the age of 78, was an oldschool racer who should be remembered as one of the great sprint car drivers of all time and an endearing character that always gave you a helping hand as well as his unfiltered opinion. The 78yearold american race car driver has done well thus far. A sprint car legend, he continued to attend all kinds of usac meetings. Bubby jones sprint car big 3 auto swap 2222014 youtube. Jones was inducted into the national sprint car hall of fame in 1998. Former race car driver who won 22 races in the usac sprint car series. Usac sprint car races at terre haute, and the only to driver to do so in a single. Norman jones june 4, 1941 january 18, 2020, known as bubby jones, was a driver in the usac sprint car series, with 22 victories, and a member of the national sprint car hall of fame, inducted in 1998. Norman bubby jones, who died sunday at the age of 78, was an oldschool racer who should be remembered as one of the great sprint car. Good job pino timmy is the winner is the old bob and and jones immediately realized that i was probably the dumbest person that ever been around a race car, so he instantly tried to help me, but it was such a good story in 1970 seven where this hillbilly from danville is trying to make the indy 500 sprint car star nobody knew who he was so i. Last november, norco, california sprint car racing superstar tony jones shocked the racing community when he announced his retirement.
Bubby jones full name norman jones nationality american born june 5, 1941 hometown danville, illinois died january 18, 2020 place of death indianapolis racing highlights. Norman bubby jones, who died sunday at the age of 78, was an oldschool racer who should be remembered as one of the great sprint car drivers of all time and an endearing character that always gave you a helping hand as well as his unfiltered opinion. Usac racing live from the usac office, bubby jones. Bubby jones interview traditional sprint car fansite. Bubby jones race car driver life, age, zodiac birthday.
Jul 22, 2011 in over 65 years of traditional sprint car racing, elite racers like dean thompson, rip williams, bubby jones, jimmie oskie, parnelli jones, roger mccluskey and al unser jr have raced under the cra banner. Born june 4, 1941, the illinois native was a star sprint car driver. Bub was one of my all time sprint car driver heroes. Norman jones june 4, 1941 january 18, 2020, known as bubby jones, was a driver in the usac sprint car series, with 22 victories, and a member of the. Norma bubby jones widely called bubby jones was a race car driver, with 22 victories. A tribute to bubby jones, the 5th most winning sprint car driver in the history of the springfield speedway in springfield, illinois. Feb 23, 2014 this entire event is totally operated by volunteers. Other drivers who sat in this famous car were, lloyd beckman, bubby jones, joe saldana, ron shuman and doug wolfgang. Was formerly the track manager of perris auto speedway, california, and was later involved in track operations in indiana. After retiring as a driver, he stayed in the sport as one of the top crew. Jan oppermans 4x sprint car speedway motors museum of. Norman bubby jones, a 27time winner in usac national.
The sprint carstar and 1977 indianapolis 500 shotgun was 78. Bills biggest win of his career came on may 1, 1976 when opperman steered the car to win the nationally televised, tony hulman classic over a stellar field. Bubby was also a barber, and this was his trade alongside racing cars for quite some while. Over the next few days, jones got better acquainted with the car, but the eagles lap times were not promising. Jones initially started racing in motorcycles, but switched to cars to help out his brotherinlaw, as his original driver had been injured. Bubby jones was born in illinois, united states on thursday, june 5, 1941 silent generation. His birth name was norman, but he got the nickname bubby growing up.
Bubby completed the remaining 33 laps of his rookie test that day and watching him peel the traditional rookie stripes from the cars rear wing was a great feeling. Norman bubby jones, a shorttrack dirt racing standout who competed in the 1977 indianapolis 500, died saturday. Former cra sprint car champion has died on saturday night, january 18, 2020 at the age of 78. He is a gemini and was born in the year of the serpent former race car driver who won 22 races in the usac sprint car series. After retiring as a driver, he stayed in the sport as one of the top crew chiefs in usac sprint car racing during the 2000s, including working for tony stewarts team, among others. Jones then moved to southern california and reigned over the california racing association, winning that series sprint titles in 1983 and 1984. Indianapolis, in norman bubby jones, a shorttrack dirt racing. Bubby jones, former usac sprint car driver has passed away january 20, 2020 360 nigeria 0. Earlier in his life jones was the coowner of a barber shop with larry boomboom cannon of oakwood, who also raced in the indianapolis 500.
He was a contemporary of legendary racer dale earnhardt. News, photos, results, and more from dozens of associations. I was fortunate enough to go up and down the road with him and he won hundreds of. Market news family and friends are mourning the death of norman bubby jones, a former driver in the usac sprint car series, who. Twotime cra champ bubby jones passes at 78 sprint car. Remembering norman bubby jones 19412020 vintage motorsport. He was inducted into the national sprint car hall of fame in 1998. Apr 05, 2020 a tribute to bubby jones, the 5th most winning sprint car driver in the history of the springfield speedway in springfield, illinois. Jones, originally from danville, illinois, carved out a diving career with the united states auto club in the later part of the 1970s that eventually led to his only start in the indianapolis 500 in 1977. Bubby jones sprint car racing news, schedules, results, and. Click on the number of races to see individual races for that year. Jan 20, 2020 he won races across the country and was inducted into the national sprint car hall of fame in 1998. Jones concluded the 1976 season with his first career usac national midget victory in the prestigious turkey night grand prix at ascot park in gardena, calif.
Norman bubby jones born june 4, 1941, danville, illinois, is a former driver in the usac sprint car series, with 22 victories, and a member of the national sprint car hall of fame, inducted in 1998. Now joining the ranks of the cra elite is 3time champion mike spencer. Series profile sprint car racing news, schedules, results. Norman bubby jones born june 5, 1941, danville, illinois, is a former driver in the usac sprint car series, with 22 victories, and a member. However, jones made his biggest impact with usac on the national sprint car trail during the late 1970s, winning 22 total feature events, 20 of which came. Buffenbarger january 19, 2020 legendary sprint car driver norman bubby jones passed away saturday at the age of 78. Norman bubby jones, a twotime champion of the california racing assn. He earned 27 victories in usac national competition.