Jackie McLaughlin explained

Jackie McLaughlin
Birth Name:John Henry McLaughlin
Birth Date:October 11, 1933
Birth Place:Camden, New Jersey
Current Series:Motorsport
First Year:1950
Championships:1
Last Finish:1964

John “Jackie” McLaughlin (October 11, 1933 – August 23, 1964) was an American racing driver from the Thorofare section of West Deptford Township, New Jersey. Although best remembered for his exploits in a dirt-track Modified, he won several United Racing Club Sprint car races and was their 1954 “Rookie of the Year”.[1]

Racing career

Jackie McLaughlin started his racing career in 1950 at the age of 17 on the dirt at New Jersey's Atco Speedway and Alcyon Speedway in Pitman. By 1955, his brother-in-law, Budd Olsen, convinced him to try the Modifieds, and McLaughlin immediately won at Nazareth Speedway in PA.[1] [2] He went on to compete successfully at the renowned tracks of the Mid-Atlantic, including Georgetown Speedway in DE, Kent-Sussex Raceway in DE, Reading Fairgrounds Speedway in PA, and Vineland Speedway NJ. McLaughlin entered the Daytona 300 in both 1959 and 1960, and claimed the 1962 track championship at the Flemington Speedway in NJ.[3] [4] [5] [6]

Jackie McLaughlin sustained a fatal injuries in a racing accident at Nazareth in August 1964. [7] He was inducted into the Eastern Motorsports Press Association and the Northeast Dirt Modified Halls of Fame.[1] [8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: EMPA Hall of Fame-Jackie McLaughlin . Eastern Motorsport Press Association . March 24, 2024.
  2. News: Donnelly . Jim . A Modified Racing Dynasty. December 9, 2023 . Speed Sport. March 25, 2024.
  3. News: New Jersey driver wins Harrington feature . . 14 . August 27, 1956. . March 25, 2024.
  4. News: McLaughlin dominates Georgetown competition . Denton Journal . 1 . July 27, 1962. . March 25, 2024.
  5. News: Jackie McLaughlin, Budd Olsen Victory stars . The Evening News . April 28, 1964 . 7B . Google Books. March 25, 2024.
  6. News: Jackie McLaughlin bids for third Reading win . . 17 . July 8, 1964. . March 25, 2024.
  7. News: Ringer . Bob . Sports Scope: Not the same! . . August 31, 1964 . 21 . Google Books. March 25, 2024.
  8. News: O'Brien . Dick . Baldwinsville McArdell among inductees to Dirt Hall of Fame . . D7 . March 9, 1995. . March 25, 2024.