formula143

Grand Prix History in Scale Models

1964, Don Branson, GMP, IndyCar, Phillips, Sprint Car

1964 Phillips – Offenhauser (Wynn’s Friction Proofing Special) Sprint Car Branson

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.

After being quite close to USAC National Sprint car title (3rd in 1960, 12th in 1961, 4th in 1962, 3rd in 1963), in 1964 Don Branson  finally managed to win the Championship at age of 44. He finished ahead of Jud Larson, Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Johnny Rutherford, and Jim McElreath. Branson piloted Jud Phillips built and owned Offy-powered Wynn’s Frition Proofing Special to wins at Phoenix, Indianapolis Raceway Park, Terre Haute, New Bremen and St. Paul.

SeasonSeriesEvent
1964USAC Sprint Car Championship
Driver No.Entrant
Don Branson3Jud Phillips
ChassisEngineCar Name
PhillipsOffenhauserWynn’s Friction Proofing Special
Scale ManufacturerCollection
1:43GMPLimited Edition 1:43 Wynn’s Special 3 Car Set
Cat. No.QualityRarity
1272
1272 out of 1500 pcs. Limited Edition

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