Samuel Dwight "Sam" Hanks (July 13, 1914 – June 27, 1994) was an American racing driver who won the 1957 Indianapolis 500. He was a barnstormer, and raced midget and Championship cars.
Driving career
Hanks was born in Columbus, Ohio and lived in Alhambra, California from the age of six. He attended Alhambra High School.
Hanks won his first championship in 1937 on the West Coast in the American Midget Association (AMA). He barnstormed the country, racing on the board tracks at Soldier Field in Chicago. Hanks reportedly won the first two board track races at Soldier Field in 1939. He won the 1940 VFW Motor City Speedway championship in Detroit. During the Second World War, Hanks served in the Army Air Corps.
After World War II, Hanks captured the 1946 United Racing Association (URA) Blue Circuit Championship. He won the 1947 Night before the 500 midget car race. He was the 1949 AAA National Midget champion. He won the 1953 AAA National Championship in the Bardahl Special. He won the 1956 Pacific Coast championship in the USAC Stock cars.
Hanks considered retiring following the 1956 Indianapolis 500, but agreed to return for the 1957 race at the urging of car owner George Salih. He would win in 1957 in his 13th attempt (the most tries of any Indy winner) and announced his retirement from racing in Victory Circle. He did not stop racing immediately following his victory, however, but completed his contract to run a stock car for the remainder of the 1957 season.
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.
Hanks participated in eight World Drivers' Championship races at Indianapolis. He won once, finished in the top three four times, and accumulated 20 World Drivers' Championship points.
Television appearance
Hanks portrayed himself in the episode "The Comedians" of the CBS situation comedy Mr. Adams and Eve, starring Ida Lupino and Howard Duff. The episode aired on November 8, 1957.
Later life
He drove the pace car at the Indianapolis 500 from 1958 to 1963.
Hanks is believed to be the only Indianapolis 500 driver to participate in the race before World War II, serve in the war effort, then return to race again after the war. It has also been conjectured that Hanks may have been a distant relative to Abraham Lincoln.
Having experienced ill health for three years, Hanks died at his home in Pacific Palisades, California on June 27, 1994, aged 79.
Awards and honors
Hanks has been inducted into the following halls of fame:
Hanks has been awarded the following honors:
Motorsports career results
AAA/USAC Championship Car results
31
DNQ
26
30
DNQ
DNQ
DNQ
DNQ
DNP
30
DNQ
2
12
5
3
DNQ
5
10
DNQ
3
DNQ
18
3
14
DNQ
2
12
4
5
2
3
10
2
4
1
22
1
4
5
3
3
20
DNQ
3
8
7
6
1
3
15
5
DNQ
19
DNQ
2
1
Indianapolis 500 results
* Shared drive with Duane Carter
Original Wikipedia article last retrieved on 06 November 2023.