Donald L. Branson[1] (June 2, 1920 – November 12, 1966) was an American racecar driver.

Don Branson
BornDonald Laverne Branson
(1920-06-20)June 20, 1920
Rantoul, Illinois, U.S.
DiedNovember 12, 1966(1966-11-12) (aged 46)
Gardena, California, U.S.
Champ Car career
125 races run over 11 years
Years active1956–1966
Best finish3rd – 1960
First race1956 Springfield 100 (Springfield)
Last race1966 Golden State 100 (Sacramento)
First win1962 Langhorne 100 (Langhorne)
Last win1966 Tony Bettenhausen Memorial (Springfield)
Wins Podiums Poles
6 26 15
Formula One World Championship career
Active years19591960
TeamsPhillips
Entries2
Career points3
First entry1959 Indianapolis 500
Last entry1960 Indianapolis 500

Career

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Born in Rantoul, Illinois, Branson drove in the USAC Championship Car series and also in sprint cars, racing champ cars in the 1956–1966 seasons with 128 starts, including the 1959–1966 Indianapolis 500 races. He finished in the top ten 85 times, with 7 victories.

Branson was also the 1959 and 1964 USAC Sprint Car Series Champion.

He was killed in 1966 in a crash at a sprint car race at Ascot Park in Gardena, California, which also claimed the life of fellow driver Dick Atkins. The fatal wreck occurred with only a few races left in the season for the USAC series.

Awards

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He was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1994 and the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2012.[2]

Complete USAC Championship Car results

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Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Pos Points
1956 INDY
MIL
LAN
DAR
ATL
SPR
11
MIL
26
DUQ
10
SYR
15
ISF
DNQ
SAC
PHX
31st 50
1957 INDY
LAN
9
MIL
21
DET
10
ATL
8
SPR
11
MIL
DNQ
DUQ
9
SYR
DNS
ISF
5
TRE
19
SAC
PHX
19th 280
1958 TRE INDY
MIL
DNQ
LAN
4
ATL
5
SPR
7
MIL
12
DUQ
3
SYR
6
ISF
4
TRE
6
SAC
12
PHX
7
9th 790
1959 DAY
11
TRE
13
INDY
24
MIL
9
LAN
9
SPR
2
MIL
DUQ
2
SYR
2
ISF
17
TRE
5
SAC
5
PHX
15
7th 780
1960 TRE
22
INDY
4
MIL
22
LAN
15
SPR
7
MIL
19
DUQ
8
SYR
12
ISF
4
TRE
4
SAC
3
PHX
4
3rd 1.220
1961 TRE
16
INDY
33
MIL
6
LAN
14
MIL
24
SPR
15
DUQ
6
SYR
17
ISF
8
TRE
4
SAC
7
PHX
3
12th 530
1962 TRE
4
INDY
12
MIL
17
LAN
4
TRE
2
SPR
3
MIL
25
LAN
1
SYR
7
ISF
2
TRE
1
SAC
2
PHX
8
4th 1,700
1963 TRE
17
INDY
5
MIL
17
LAN
DNS
TRE
12
SPR
3
MIL
10
DUQ
5
ISF
2
TRE
5
SAC
6
PHX
7
5th 1,352
1964 PHX
4
TRE
INDY
12
MIL
15
LAN
2
TRE
3
SPR
3
MIL
13
DUQ
3
ISF
3
TRE
2
SAC
3
PHX
3
4th 1,700
1965 PHX
1
TRE
13
INDY
8
MIL
20
LAN
15
PIP TRE
4
IRP
6
ATL
8
LAN
6
MIL
6
SPR
6
MIL
25
DUQ
1
ISF
13
TRE
15
SAC
1
PHX
5
4th 1,875
1966 PHX
16
TRE
10
INDY
23
MIL
15
LAN
4
ATL
6
PIP
IRP
9
LAN
5
SPR
1
MIL
23
DUQ
6
ISF
4
TRE
23
SAC
4
PHX
7th 1.135

Indianapolis 500 results

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Complete Formula One World Championship results

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(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 WDC Points
1959 Bob Estes Phillips Offenhauser L4 MON
500
24
NED
FRA
GBR
GER
POR
ITA
USA
NC 0
1960 Bob Estes Phillips Offenhauser L4 ARG
MON
500
4
NED
BEL
FRA
GBR
POR
ITA
USA
21st 3

References

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  1. ^ "Don Branson". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  2. ^ "Midget Hall Of Fame Ceremony Set For Jan. 11". National Speed Sport News. Archived from the original on December 28, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.