Willard Leo "Bill" "Billy" Cantrell (December 6, 1914 – February 6, 1986) was a midget, sprint, and stock car racing driver from Anaheim, California. He was nicknamed the "Silver Fox" for his gray hair and sly tricks.[1]
He started racing jalopies in 1936 in Southern California. He raced midgets with the United Midget Association (UMA) in 1939. He drove for over fifty midgets in 1940 and 1941 trying to find a winning car. He found that car in 1942, and he won 15 races in his second-place points finish in the UMA.[1]
Cantrell won over 120 main events between 1945 and 1964 in United Racing Association, AAA, and USAC races. He won the 1962 Turkey Night Grand Prix. He won the 1947 URA Red Circuit Title in 1947 and series overall championship in 1951 and 1952. He won 18 sprint car races in the California Racing Association.[1] In 1953, he made an unsuccessful attempt to qualify for the Indianapolis 500.
Cantrell made two NASCAR starts. He started the second and final NASCAR event held at Willow Springs Speedway in Lancaster, California in 1956 (the race counted for the 1957 season championship), and at Riverside International Raceway in 1965.[2]
He became the West Coast supervisor for USAC, and he was a starter for the USRC midget club after he retired. He was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.[1]
Complete Formula One World Championship resultsedit
^ abcdBiography at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
^NASCAR driving statistics, Retrieved January 12, 2008
January 01, 1970
willard, cantrell, powerboat, indycar, driver, william, cantrell, willard, bill, billy, cantrell, december, 1914, february, 1986, midget, sprint, stock, racing, driver, from, anaheim, california, nicknamed, silver, gray, hair, tricks, born, 1914, december, 191. For powerboat and IndyCar driver see William Cantrell Willard Leo Bill Billy Cantrell December 6 1914 February 6 1986 was a midget sprint and stock car racing driver from Anaheim California He was nicknamed the Silver Fox for his gray hair and sly tricks 1 Willard CantrellBorn 1914 12 06 December 6 1914DiedFebruary 6 1986 1986 02 06 aged 71 Formula One World Championship careerNationalityAmericanActive years1953TeamsPankratzEntries1 0 starts Championships0Wins0Podiums0Career points0Pole positions0Fastest laps0First entry1953 Indianapolis 500Last entry1953 Indianapolis 500Racing career editHe started racing jalopies in 1936 in Southern California He raced midgets with the United Midget Association UMA in 1939 He drove for over fifty midgets in 1940 and 1941 trying to find a winning car He found that car in 1942 and he won 15 races in his second place points finish in the UMA 1 Cantrell won over 120 main events between 1945 and 1964 in United Racing Association AAA and USAC races He won the 1962 Turkey Night Grand Prix He won the 1947 URA Red Circuit Title in 1947 and series overall championship in 1951 and 1952 He won 18 sprint car races in the California Racing Association 1 In 1953 he made an unsuccessful attempt to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 Cantrell made two NASCAR starts He started the second and final NASCAR event held at Willow Springs Speedway in Lancaster California in 1956 the race counted for the 1957 season championship and at Riverside International Raceway in 1965 2 He became the West Coast supervisor for USAC and he was a starter for the USRC midget club after he retired He was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame 1 Complete Formula One World Championship results edit key Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 WDC Points 1953 Emmett Malloy Pankratz Offenhauser L4 ARG 500DNQ NED BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA NC 0References edit a b c d Biography at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame Archived 2007 09 27 at the Wayback Machine NASCAR driving statistics Retrieved January 12 2008 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Willard Cantrell amp oldid 1117634726, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
