1963 – Don White Wins Stock Car ‘200’

Don White proudly holds his trophy after winning the USAC stock car 200-mile at the Milwaukee Mile. 

West Allis, Wis. (July 14, 1963) – Defending champion Don White of Keokuk, Iowa, took the lead on lap 120 and piloted his 1963 Ford to victory in the annual 200-mile late model stock car event at Wisconsin State Fair Park one-mile paved oval.

White, averaging 89.374 miles per hour, finished 23 seconds ahead of Jim McElreath of Arlington, Tex., in the 200-lap race before 32,629 fans. McElreath drove a 1962 Ford.

Norm Nelson of Racine, Wis., was credited with third-place after officials ruled later that A.J. Foyt of Houston, Tex., the original third-place finisher, had been given a shove on the backstretch late in the race.

Foyt, driving one of Nelson’s two 1963 Plymouths, was awarded fourth place ahead of Rodger Ward of Indianapolis, Ind., driving a 1963 Mercury.

Officials ruled that Foyt, leader in the United States Auto Club point standings, had been pushed by Milt Curcio of Racine, Wis., when Foyt’s engine stalled on the backstretch.

Jim Hurtubise of Tonawanda, N.Y., was forced out of the race with an apparently burnt piston on the 128th lap. Hurtubise, who had led in his 1963 Ford from lap 13 to lap 36 and again from lap 53 to lap 74, was running second to White when forced out. It was Hurtubise’s first race in a late model stock car.

Parnelli Jones of Torrance, Calif., winner of this year’s Indianapolis 500, finished 27th out of the 41-car field. He got involved in a pile-up early on and even after repairs were made, he was never a factor.

Paul Goldsmith of St. Clair Shores, Mich., the defending national champion and Len Sutton of Portland, Ore., were no-shows. They had been scheduled to drive 1963 Pontiacs for Ray Nichels of Highland, Ind., but Nichels said two days ago his agreement with Pontiac had been terminated and that he had signed a new agreement with Chrysler. However, the new cars did not arrive in time.


Results –


1. Don White, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Jim McElreath, Arlington, Tex.
3. Norm Nelson, Racine, Wis.
4. A.J. Foyt, Houston, Tex.
5. Rodger Ward, Indianapolis, Ind.
6. Sal Tovella, Addison, Ill.
7. Curtis Turner, Roanoke, Va.
8. Andy Hampton, Louisville, Ky.
9. Arnie Gardner, Batavia, Ill.
10. Elmer Musgrave, Niles, Ill.