Paul Goldsmith, NASCAR and Indy 500 icon, dead at 98

Paul Goldsmith, a well-known name in US stock car racing, passed away. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway

confirmed Goldsmith’s death on Friday. He was ninety-eight.

West Virginia was Goldsmith’s birthplace. After originally racing motorbikes, he later made the jump to auto racing,

but he enjoyed success in both disciplines.

In the 1953 Daytona 200 motorcycle event, Goldsmith came in first. During his professional motorcycle competition

career, he is recognised with five victories from the American Motorcyclist Association.

In 1956, Goldsmith shifted his focus to motor racing and participated in his first NASCAR races. In the NASCAR

Grand National Series—now known as the NASCAR Cup Series—he went on to win nine races and secure eight pole

positions.

In addition, Goldsmith will always be associated with being the last winner of the 1958 Daytona Beach and road

course NASCAR premier series event. Smokey Yunick and Ray Nichels, two great car owners, had a big part in his

achievement.

Six times, Goldsmith participated in the Indianapolis 500. In 1960, he had the greatest finish of any competitor,

coming in third.

In addition to his accomplishments on the racecourse, Goldsmith’s leadership in technology had a long-lasting

impact on American racing.

Goldsmith is acknowledged for having contributed to the development of water-circulating technology, which

functioned as a forerunner to the cool-suit technology that drivers use today.

In 1970, Goldsmith formally stopped competing in racing.