On yesterdays date in 1966 we lost Don Branson and Dick Atkins in a USAC sprint car race crash at Ascot Park, Gardena, California. Branson, 46, was driving the final race of his career. He slammed into the first turn wall and collected 30 year old Dick Atkins. Branson died on the spot and Atkins died the next day. It was thought Branson suffered a heart attack or stroke, as he made no attempt to slow or turn. It was the end of a tragic year for USAC, which saw seven drivers die in various forms of USAC competition.
I was talking to Johnny Rutherford this week about Don. They were good friends. A few years after Don died, Johnny painted this portrait for Don's wife. Unfortunately, she died before it was completed. Last month, Johnny donated this and some of his other original artwork to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.
Originally Posted by bart:
I was talking to Johnny Rutherford this week about Don. They were good friends. A few years after Don died, Johnny painted this portrait for Don's wife. Unfortunately, she died before it was completed. Last month, Johnny donated this and some of his other original artwork to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.
Years ago, I read some other accounts of this day...possibly the Bettenhausen book (it was like an encyclopedia of those times) and/or I'd suspect a John Sawyer Open Wheel mag scribe.
