| Chuck Stevenson | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Name: | Charles Joseph Stevenson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Date: | 15 October 1919 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Place: | Sidney, Montana, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Death Place: | Benson, Arizona, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Titles: | AAA Championship Car (1952) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Charles Joseph "Chuck" Stevenson (October 15, 1919 – August 21, 1995) was an American racing driver who competed in various disciplines of motorsport. He is best known for winning the AAA National Championship in 1952. Stevenson also had two class victories in the Carrera Panamericana and won a NASCAR Grand National event.
Charles Joseph Stevenson was born in Sidney, Montana on October 15, 1919, to Joseph Charles, a rancher, and Blanche (née Williams). The family later relocated to Fresno, California.
Stevenson drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1949–1954, 1960–1961, and 1963–1965 seasons with 54 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in 1951–1954, 1960–1961, and 1963–1965. He finished in the top ten 37 times, with four victories, two of them coming during the 1952 season when he won the AAA National Championship.
In 1951 Stevenson drove a Nash-Healey course (pace) car that was supplied by the Mexican Nash automobile importer in the grueling 2000miles Carrera Panamericana race.[1] [2] This endurance event is described as one of the most dangerous automobile races of any type in the world, and Stevenson had to be ahead of the racers to ensure the way was clear.[1] [3] In both 1952 and 1953 Stevenson won the sedan class driving a "well-prepared" Lincoln Capri.[4] [5] He is the only two-time winner in the history of the Carrera Panamericana.[6]
Stevenson participated in no less than 40 AAA and USAC Stock Car events, finishing in the top-five no less than 14 times.
He also competed in two NASCAR events, picking up a win at Willow Springs Raceway in 1956 driving a Ford.[7]
The AAA/USAC-sanctioned Indianapolis 500 was included in the FIA World Drivers' Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indianapolis during those years were credited with World Drivers' Championship points and participation in addition to those which they received towards the AAA/USAC National Championship.
Stevenson participated in five World Drivers' Championship races at Indianapolis. His best finish was a 12th place, and he accumulated zero World Drivers' Championship points.
Stevenson died in Benson, Arizona on August 21, 1995.
Stevenson has been inducted into the following halls of fame:
| Year | Car | Start | Qual | Rank | Finish | Laps | Led | Retired | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 8 | 19 | 133.764 | 14 | 20 | 93 | 0 | Engine | |
| 1952 | 16 | 11 | 136.142 | 9 | 18 | 187 | 0 | Flagged | |
| 1953 | 97 | 16 | 136.560 | 14 | 29 | 42 | 0 | Fuel Leak | |
| 1954 | 98 | 5 | 138.776 | 13 | 12 | 199 | 0 | Flagged | |
| 1960 | 65 | 9 | 144.665 | 12 | 15 | 196 | 0 | Flagged | |
| 1961 | 18 | 28 | 145.191 | 16 | 6 | 200 | 0 | Running | |
| 1963 | 45 | 22 | 148.386 | 23 | 21 | 110 | 0 | Valve | |
| 1964 | 95 | 29 | 150.830 | 29 | 28 | 2 | 0 | Crash FS | |
| 1965 | 88 | 26 | 154.275 | 30 | 25 | 50 | 0 | Piston | |
| Totals | 1079 | 0 | |||||||
| Starts | 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Poles | 0 | |
| Front Row | 0 | |
| Wins | 0 | |
| Top 5 | 0 | |
| Top 10 | 1 | |
| Retired | 5 |