Monday 4th December 2006

National Midget Racing Hall of Fame racer Len Sutton (81) passed away after losing his battle with cancer. Sutton started his racing career at Portland Speedway in 1946 shortly after getting out of the Navy and was soon a winner in track roadsters, midgets and stock cars on tracks throughout Northwest US. He won four midget races at the Hollywood Bowl in Salem, countless more track roadster races at the track and numerous championships until he left the Northwest in 1956 to race in the big time. Among the championships he won were the 1950, ’54 and ’55 Oregon Midget Racing Association titles and 1954 and 55 Northwest midget championships. Sutton first made the Indy 500 field in 1958 and would race five times, including a runner-up finish to teammate Roger Ward in the 1962 Indy 500.He had three wins in AAA and USAC champ car races in 76 career starts. Sutton retired from driving and became a member of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network for many years.