Henry Edwin Banks (June 14, 1913 – December 18, 1994) was an English-American racing driver. He competed in various disciplines of open-wheel motorsport. Banks is best remembered for winning the 1950 AAA National Championship, and for his later career as a USAC race official.

Early life

Henry Banks was born in England, but brought up in Royal Oak, Michigan. He was the son of an early European race-driver.

Driving career

Early career

Banks began competing in 1932, when he was 19 years old, and became successful in midget cars.

Banks was the first driver to pass the qualifying "rookie test" instituted at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway beginning in 1936. He also drove as a relief driver in 1937, 1939, and 1940, with a 21st-place finish in 1938.

Banks won the 1941 American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) championship in New England.

Post-war career and AAA Championship

After a break during the war, when he worked at Ford’s aero-engine division, Banks’ career took off. In 1947 he won 30 midget car races. In 1950, he was the AAA National Champion, winning a three-way battle for the title during the final race of the season. That same year, he came second in AAA National Midget points.

World Drivers' Championship career

The AAA/USAC-sanctioned Indianapolis 500 was included in the FIA World Drivers' Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indianapolis during those years were credited with World Drivers' Championship points and participation in addition to those which they received towards the AAA/USAC National Championship.

Banks participated in three World Drivers' Championship races at Indianapolis. His best finish was a sixth place, and he accumulated zero World Drivers' Championship points.

Post-driving life

After Banks retired from competition, he occasionally tested other automobiles. Later, he became the USAC Director of Competitions. He died in Indianapolis in 1994.

Actor

Banks appeared in two racing-related films during his career. The first was To Please A Lady, starring Clark Gable. The second was Roar of the Crowd, starring Howard Duff.

Awards and honors

Banks has been inducted into the following halls of fame:

Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame (1982)

Auto Racing Hall of Fame (1985)

National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame (1987)

Eastern Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame (1988)

United States Auto Club (USAC) Hall of Fame (2013)

Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (2023)

Banks has been awarded the following honors:

Automotive Hall of Fame Distinguished Service Citation (1978)

Motorsports career results

AAA Championship Car results

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Pos Points 1946 INDY
27 LAN
DNS ATL ISF MIL GOS - 0 1947 INDY
24 MIL LAN ATL BAI MIL GOS MIL PIK SPR ARL - 0 1948 ARL
13 INDY
DNQ MIL LAN MIL SPR MIL DUQ ATL PIK SPR DUQ - 0 1949 ARL INDY
DNQ MIL TRE SPR MIL DUQ PIK SYR DET
DNQ SPR
DNQ LAN SAC DMR - 0 1950 INDY
25 MIL
5 LAN
2 SPR
DNQ MIL
2 PIK SYR
DNQ DET
1 SPR
18 SAC
3 PHX
12 BAY
4 DAR
3 1st 1,390 1951 INDY
6 MIL
11 LAN
10 DAR
7 SPR
4 MIL
5 DUQ
6 DUQ
5 PIK SYR
6 DET
9 DNC
2 SJS
3 PHX
2 BAY
3 2nd 1,856.6 1952 INDY
19 MIL
DNQ RAL
10 SPR
7 MIL
4 DET
6 DUQ
7 PIK SYR
8 DNC
8 SJS
17 PHX
5 10th 700 1953 INDY
DNQ MIL
Wth SPR DET SPR MIL DUQ PIK SYR ISF SAC PHX - 0 1954 INDY
DNQ MIL LAN DAR SPR MIL DUQ PIK SYR ISF SAC PHX LVG - 0

1946 table only includes results of the six races run to "championship car" specifications. Points total includes the 71 races run to "big car" specifications.

Indianapolis 500 results

FIA World Drivers' Championship results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 WDC Pts 1950 Indianapolis Race Cars Maserati 8CL Offenhauser 3.0 L4s GBR MON 500
25 SUI BEL FRA ITA NC 0 1951 Blue Crown Spark Plug / Hopkins Moore Offenhauser 4.5 L4 SUI 500
6 BEL FRA GBR GER ITA ESP NC 0 1952 Blue Crown Spark Plug / Hopkins Lesovsky Offenhauser 4.5 L4 SUI 500
19 BEL FRA GBR GER NED ITA NC 0 1953 Hopkins / Motor Racers Lesovsky Offenhauser 4.5 L4 ARG 500
DNQ NED BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA NC 0 1954 Hopkins / Motor Racers Lesovsky Offenhauser 4.5 L4 ARG 500
DNQ BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA ESP NC 0