1954 AAA Championship Car season

Sports season

1954 AAA Championship Car season
AAA National Championship Trail
Season
Races	13
Start date	May 30
End date	November 14
Awards
National champion	Jimmy Bryan
Indianapolis 500 winner	Bill Vukovich
← 1953 1955 →

The 1954 AAA Championship Car season consisted of 13 races, beginning in Speedway, Indiana on May 30 and concluding in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 14. There was also one non-championship event in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. The AAA National Champion was Jimmy Bryan, and the Indianapolis 500 winner was Bill Vukovich. Bob Scott was killed in the Independence Day Sweepstakes race at Darlington.

Schedule and results

Rnd	Date	Race Name	Track	Location	Type	Pole Position	Winning Driver
1	May 30	International 500 Mile Sweepstakes	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	Speedway, Indiana	Paved	Jack McGrath	Bill Vukovich
2	June 6	Rex Mays Classic	Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway	West Allis, Wisconsin	Paved	Bill Vukovich	Chuck Stevenson
3	June 20	Langhorne 100	Langhorne Speedway	Langhorne, Pennsylvania	Dirt	Joe Sostilio	Jimmy Bryan
4	July 5	Independence Day Sweepstakes	Darlington Raceway	Darlington, South Carolina	Paved	Chuck Stevenson	Manny Ayulo
NC	July 25	Indianapolis Sweepstakes	Williams Grove Speedway	Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania	Dirt	Jimmy Davies	Jimmy Davies
5	August 21	Springfield 100	Illinois State Fairgrounds	Springfield, Illinois	Dirt	Jiggs Peters	Jimmy Davies
6	August 29	Milwaukee 200	Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway	West Allis, Wisconsin	Paved	Sam Hanks	Manny Ayulo
7	September 6	Ted Horn Memorial	DuQuoin State Fairgrounds	Du Quoin, Illinois	Dirt	Don Freeland	Sam Hanks
8	September 6	Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb	Pikes Peak Highway	Pikes Peak, Colorado	Hill	Larry Crockett	Keith Andrews
9	September 11	Syracuse 100	New York State Fairgrounds	Syracuse, New York	Dirt	Don Freeland	Bob Sweikert
10	September 18	Hoosier Hundred	Indiana State Fairgrounds	Indianapolis, Indiana	Dirt	Manny Ayulo	Jimmy Bryan
11	October 17	Golden State 100	California State Fairgrounds	Sacramento, California	Dirt	Jack McGrath	Jimmy Bryan
12	November 7–8	Bobby Ball Memorial	Arizona State Fairgrounds	Phoenix, Arizona	Dirt	Shorty Templeman	Jimmy Bryan
13	November 14	Silver State Century	Las Vegas Park Speedway	Las Vegas, Nevada	Dirt	Jimmy Bryan	Jimmy Bryan

Paved/Dirt Oval Road Course/Hill Climb Non-championship race

^A Indianapolis 500 was USAC-sanctioned and counted towards the 1954 World Championship of Drivers title.

^B No pole is awarded for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, in this schedule on the pole is the driver who started first. No lap led was awarded for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, however, a lap was awarded to the drivers that completed the climb.

^C Final 65 laps completed on November 8 due to heavy dust and the rough condition of the track

Final points standings

Note: The points became the car, when not only one driver led the car, the relieved driver became small part of the points. Points for driver method: (the points for the finish place) / (number the lap when completed the car) * (number the lap when completed the driver)

Further information: List of American Championship car racing point scoring systems

Pos	Driver	INDY	MIL1	LAN	DAR	SPR	MIL2	DQSF	PIK	SYR	ISF	SAC	PHX	LVG	Pts
1	Jimmy Bryan	2	DNS	1	3	12	3	3		4	1	1	1	1	2630
2	Manuel Ayulo	13	2		1	DNQ	1	DNQ		DNQ	15	12	2	2	1290
3	Jack McGrath	3	4	DNQ	21	8	DNQ	9		10	4	2	DNQ		1220
4	Bill Vukovich	1	22												1000
5	Jimmy Reece	17	3	2	2	DNQ	20	5		6	5	5	17	Wth	1000
6	Bob Sweikert	14	11	4	22	4	22	8		1	2	3	3	14	950
7	Chuck Stevenson	12	1		29	2	2	2							861.5
8	Sam Hanks	20	DNQ	3	8	7	6	1			3	15	5	DNQ	858.5
9	Mike Nazaruk	5	15	13	25	9	4	10		17	DNQ				810
10	Don Freeland	7	9	9	18	3	9	17		2	DNQ	DNS	DNQ	DNQ	760
11	Larry Crockett R	9	20	8	11	6	8		4	13	DNQ		15	10	620
12	Jimmy Davies	DNS	17		28	1	23	4		11	DNQ	4	DNQ	3	614.5
13	Johnny Tolan	DNQ	12		4	10	25	DNQ		3	8	9	18	12	520
14	Fred Agabashian	6					10								460
15	Troy Ruttman	4	7		15										447
16	Andy Linden	25	21	14	26	DNS		6		7	DNQ	7	4	5	428
17	Art Cross	11			6	DNQ	5								419.5
18	Cal Niday	10	DNQ			16	DNQ		7	16	11	6	6	16	390
19	Jerry Hoyt	26	DNS		5	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ			10	16	11	DNQ	312.5
20	Duane Carter	15	19		9	DNQ	13	18			DNQ		DNQ	DNQ	293
21	Keith Andrews								1			10			230
22	Ed Elisian	18	14	12	DNS	13	11	DNQ		5	6				230
23	Rodger Ward	22	10	16	DNQ	15	26	11		18	9	13	DNQ	4	210
24	Gene Hartley	23	6			DNQ	7	12			DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	210
25	Pat O'Connor	21	5	DNQ	10	DNQ	19	DNQ		DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	9	200
26	Paul Russo	8													187.5
27	Jiggs Peters R					5	17	16		DNQ	18	8	10	DNQ	180
28	Hugh Thomas								2						160
29	Eddie Sachs	DNQ	DNQ	5	16	DNQ	DNQ				DNQ	DNQ	7		160
30	Joe Sostilio R	DNQ	13	7	7	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ		DNQ		DNQ			159.6
31	Bob Finney								3						140
32	Tommy Hinnershitz			DNS	19	DNQ				15	7		13	6	140
33	Johnnie Parsons	32	16		30	DNQ		7		8	16	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	122.5
34	Johnny Boyd R		DNQ	6	14	DNS	16	DNQ		12	DNQ	11	12	13	120
35	Chuck Weyant	DNQ	DNQ			11	14	DNQ			17		9	8	110
36	Paul Kleinschmidt								5						100
37	Herb Bryers								6						80
38	Walt Faulkner	DNS	8		13										78.5
39	Rex Easton					17	24	DNQ			12			7	70
40	Shorty Templeman											DNQ	8	DNQ	50
41	Al Rogers								8						50
42	Len Duncan	31			DNS										47
43	Johnny Thomson	24	DNS		DNQ					9					40
44	Chuck Hulse								9						40
45	Bob Scott	DNS	18	10	20										30
46	Joe Garson								10						30
47	Ernie McCoy	16		DNS	DNS										20.4
48	Eddie Russo	DNQ	DNQ	11	17		DNQ	DNQ		DNQ					20
49	Ted Foltz R								11						20
50	Roy Prosser													11	20
51	Pat Flaherty	DNS					12	DNQ			DNQ				20
52	Gene Force				12										20
53	Shelby Hill								12						10
-	Bob Carroll R					DNS		14			13	14	DNQ	15	0
-	Danny Kladis	DNS					18	13			DNQ				0
-	Pete Woods								13						0
-	Ray Crawford R		DNQ		DNQ	18		15			14	DNQ	14		0
-	Danny Oakes	DNQ				14	DNQ	DNQ			DNQ	DNQ		18	0
-	Al Keller R									14	DNQ				0
-	Pete Pusede								14						0
-	Bill Homeier	33					15	DNQ		DNQ	DNQ	17	DNQ	DNQ	0
-	Wally Campbell R	DNQ		15	24										0
-	T. E. Russell								15						0
-	Tony Bettenhausen	29	DNQ										16	17	0
-	Malcolm Brazier								16						0
-	Frank Armi	19	DNQ	17											0
-	Johnny Mauro								17						0
-	Edgar Elder											18		DNQ	0
-	Louis Unser								18						0
-	Jimmy Daywalt	27			23		21								0
-	Jim Rathmann	28			27										0
-	Spider Webb	30													0
-	Marshall Teague	DNS	DNQ		Wth										0
-	Cliff Griffith	DNQ		DNS											0
-	George Fonder	DNS													0
-	Jimmy Jackson	DNS													0
-	Eddie Johnson	DNS													0
-	Jimmy Good								DNS						0
-	Slim Roberts								DNS						0
-	Duke Nalon	DNQ				DNQ	DNQ	DNQ					DNQ	DNQ	0
-	George Wilson					DNQ		DNQ		DNQ	DNQ		DNQ	DNQ	0
-	Leroy Warriner	Wth									DNQ		DNQ	DNQ	0
-	Curly Boyd						DNQ	DNQ			DNQ				0
-	Paul Howe					DNQ		DNQ							0
-	Al Herman	DNQ								DNQ					0
-	Colby Scroggin												DNQ	DNQ	0
-	Frank Mundy	DNQ	DNP												0
-	Jack Bates		DNP			DNQ									0
-	Henry Banks	DNQ													0
-	Bob Christie	DNQ													0
-	George Connor	DNQ													0
-	Billy Devore	DNQ													0
-	Duke Dinsmore	DNQ													0
-	Potsy Goacher	DNQ													0
-	Bill Holland	DNQ													0
-	George Tichenor	DNQ													0
-	Lee Wallard	DNQ													0
-	Bill Boyd		DNQ												0
-	Johnny Fedricks		DNQ												0
-	George Lynch							DNQ							0
-	Lloyd Axel								DNQ						0
-	Roy Bowe								DNQ						0
-	Berton Groves								DNQ						0
-	George Hammond								DNQ						0
-	Charles Lowderman								DNQ						0
-	Wayne Sankey								DNQ						0
-	Jimmy Thompson								DNQ						0
-	Elmer George										DNQ				0
-	Don Olds											DNQ			0
Pos	Driver	INDY	MIL1	LAN	DAR	SPR	MIL2	DQSF	PIK	SYR	ISF	SAC	PHX	LVG	Pts

Color	Result
Gold	Winner
Silver	2nd place
Bronze	3rd place
Green	4th & 5th place
Light Blue	6th-10th place
Dark Blue	Finished (Outside Top 10)
Purple	Did not finish (Ret)
Red	Did not qualify (DNQ)
Brown	Withdrawn (Wth)
Black	Disqualified (DSQ)
White	Did not start (DNS)
Blank	Did not participate (DNP)
Blank	Not competing

In-line notation
Bold	Pole position
Italics	Ran fastest race lap
*	Led most race laps
RY Rookie of the Year
R Rookie

References

"Driver injured in race crash". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. November 9, 1954.

General references

Åberg, Andreas. "AAA National Championship 1954". Driver Database. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
"1954 AAA National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
Harms, Phil. "1954 Championship Driver Summary" (PDF). Motorsport.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 10, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
http://media.indycar.com/pdf/2011/IICS_2011_Historical_Record_Book_INT6.pdf Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine (p. 287-290)

v t e American Championship car racing (Indy car) seasons
AAA	1905 1906–1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955
USAC	1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95
CART	1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
CCWS	2004 2005 2006 2007 ~~2008~~
IRL	1996 1996–97 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
IndyCar	2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Years marked in italics are not official championship years or upcoming seasons.

v t e AAA Championship Cars (1905–1955)
Seasons	1905 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955
Indianapolis 500s	1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 ~~1942~~ 1943–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955
National Champions	Billy Arnold Henry Banks Tony Bettenhausen Jimmy Bryan Bob Carey Gaston Chevrolet Bill Cummings Pete DePaolo (twice) Sam Hanks Harry Hartz Eddie Hearne Ted Horn (three times) Rex Mays (twice) Louis Meyer (three times) Tommy Milton Jimmy Murphy (twice) Barney Oldfield Johnnie Parsons Kelly Petillo Dario Resta Floyd Roberts Mauri Rose Louis Schneider Wilbur Shaw (twice) Chuck Stevenson Bob Sweikert
AAA Contest Board Years marked in italics are not official championship years.

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