







Don Branson was born in 1920 and started racing midgets just after the World War in 1946. He works for 13 years as truck driver, and when raced, in the off-season pumped gas and drove taxi-cabs. In 1952 Branson moved to International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) big cars. In 1952 – 1954 he won 5 IMCA races and finished 8th in 1952 and 10th in 1954 overall IMCA points, as well as 5th in the National Speedways circuit points both in 1952 and 1954. In 1956 Branson switched to USAC starting in all 3 national series – Midget Championship, sprint cars and USAC big cars National Championship. He scored 15 wins in the National Midget Championship in 1957 – 66. Branson won the 1959 USAC Midwest Sprint Car series, was runner-up in both 1960 Midwest and East regional standings in 1960, and took the 1964 USAC Sprint Car Championship. In USAC sprint cars Branson won 15 events in the regional Midwest and East series in 1957 – 1960, and 13 events in 1962 – 1966 in united National Championship. He debuted in USAC big cars National Championship in 1957, competed in 128 USAC Championship events, winning six. His best position in the Championship was 3rd in 1960. He was killed in 1966 in a crash at a sprint car race at Ascot Park in Gardena, California, along with fellow driver Dick Atkins. 1966 was to be his last year of competition, and the fatal crash occurred with only a few races left in the season for the USAC series.
In 1961 – 1964 Branson raced in the USAC Midget National Championship for Rob Wilke, Kurtis Kraft dealer in the Midwest. The team was sponsored by Wynn’s Friction Proofing company, the manufacturer of car lubricants. In the 1964 season Branson won two midget races – at Champain-Urbana Fairgrounds and 100-miler at Du Quoin State Fairgrounds.
Season | Series | Event |
1964 | USAC Midget Championship | |
Driver | No. | Entrant |
Don Branson | 41 | Ralph Wilke |
Chassis | Engine | Car Name |
Kurtis Kraft | Offenhauser | Wynn’s Friction Proofing |
Scale | Manufacturer | Collection |
1:43 | GMP | Limited Edition 1:43 Wynn’s Special 3 Car Set |
Cat. No. | Quality | Rarity |
1272 | ![]() | ![]() |