Johnny Rutherford

1993 Motorsports Hall of Fame of America Inductee

1995 National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Inductee

1996 International Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee

• Years In Cup = 12
• Total Cup Races = 35

John (Johnny) Sherman Rutherford, III (born March 12, 1938 in Coffeyville, Kansas) is a retired U.S. automobile racer.

The Texas-raised "Lonestar J.R." is one of eight drivers to win the prestigious Indianapolis 500 mile race at least three times: in 1974, 1976, and 1980. The others are Louis Meyer, Wilbur Shaw, Mauri Rose (credited with only two by official speedway records), A. J. Foyt, Al Unser, Bobby Unser, and Rick Mears. Rutherford also won three poles at the 500, in the years 1973, 1976, and 1980. He retired from racing before the start of the 1994 Indianapolis 500 and now serves as a driver expert on the Indy 500 radio network every May.

Rutherford also dabbled in stock car racing, making 35 NASCAR Winston Cup starts from 1963 to 1988. Rutherford won in his first start, at Daytona International Speedway driving for Smokey Yunick. The win was for the second 125-mile qualifying race (see Gatorade Duel), which was, at the time, a points-paying NASCAR race. In 1981, Rutherford drove twelve races, the most he ever raced in a single NASCAR season. In addition, Rutherford competed in 5 editions of the International Race of Champions -- 1975, 1977, 1978, 1980, and 1984.

Johnny Rutherford was the Honorary Chairman of the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in 2006.

Awards

• He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1996.
• He was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1995.
• He was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1993.

Indy 500 results

Year	Chassis	Engine	Start	Finish
1963	Watson	Offy	26th	29th
1964	Watson	Offy	15th	27th
1965	Halibrand	Ford	11th	31st
1967	Eagle	Ford	19th	25th
1968	Eagle	Ford	21st	18th
1969	Eagle	Offy	17th	29th
1970	Eagle	Offy	2nd	18th
1971	Eagle	Offy	24th	18th
1972	Brabham	Offy	8th	27th
1973	McLaren	Offy	1st	9th
1974	McLaren	Offy	25th	1st
1975	McLaren	Offy	7th	2nd
1976	McLaren	Offy	1st	1st
1977	McLaren	Cosworth	17th	33rd
1978	McLaren	Cosworth	4th	13th
1979	McLaren	Cosworth	8th	18th
1980	Chaparral	Cosworth	1st	1st
1981	Chaparral	Cosworth	5th	32nd
1982	Chaparral	Cosworth	12th	8th
1983	Wildcat	Cosworth	Practice Crash
1984	March	Cosworth	30th	22nd
1985	March	Cosworth	30th	6th
1986	March	Cosworth	12th	8th
1987	March	Cosworth	8th	11th
1988	Lola	Buick	30th	22nd
1989	Lola	Cosworth	Failed to Qualify
1990	Lola	Cosworth	Failed to Qualify
1992	Lola	Chevrolet	Failed to Qualify

External links

• Rutherford's Career NASCAR and IROC Stats