Travis Webb (October 8, 1910 – January 27, 1990) was an American racecar driver from Joplin, Missouri. He was the 1948 American Automobile Association (AAA) Midwest Sprint Car champion. He raced in numerous AAA Champ Car races including six Indianapolis 500.
Webb was known to his friends as "Webbie" and nicknamed "Spider". He had a portable bar in the trunk of his car at all times and was known for his free spirit and his humor.
Webb was born in Joplin, Missouri. His father made cabinets. Webb's parents moved the family to Los Angeles in 1923.
Webb began racing on the Muroc Dry Lake (now known as Rogers Dry Lake) in 1928. His car owner gave him the nickname "Spider".
Webb decided to stop racing on the long straightaways and decided to focus on dirt oval racing of Southern California. One of the tracks that he raced was Legion Ascot Speedway where he raced in the "B" class.
In 1936, Webb and Jimmy Wilburn were offered rides in "Big Cars" in the Central States Racing Association (CSRA). Both accepted and moved to Indianapolis. Webb won the final CSRA race of the 1938 season at Winchester Speedway. Webb switched from the CSRA to the American Automobile Association (AAA) Midwest series in 1941 and finished fourth in the season points.
Racing was halted during World War II. In late 1947, he won three straight AAA Midwest races at Dayton Speedway, Salem Speedway, and Winchester. He won another race at Salem and finished second in 1947 AAA Midwest points to Johnny Shackleford. Webb started the 1948 season by winning seven times and finishing second in the first eight races. He missed a few races that season while running a Champ Car but still won the AAA Midwest championship. Webb started the 1949 season with a new sprint car that he co-owned; by June he had moved back to a car owned by Johnny Vance. He had a second-place finish at Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway in Detroit and a third at the Syracuse Mile; he finished third in the final AAA Midwest points.
Webb finished fifth in the 1950 AAA Midwest points. After the racing season was over, he had a thumb injury at his friend's shop and had to sit out the entire 1951 season.
In 1939, he made a one-off American Automobile Association (AAA) Champ Car start at the Milwaukee Mile; he started last in the 17 car field and finished seventh. Webb made two Champ Car starts in 1946; he finished tenth at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and eighth at Milwaukee. Webb was offered a ride from Mutt Anderson into the 1948 Indianapolis 500 but did not qualify. At the last minute, he was offered another ride and qualified the Bromme dirt champ car 30th. His race ended early after an oil line failure; he finished 27th after completing 27 of 200 laps. Webb qualified 26th for the 1949 Indianapolis 500 but finished last (33rd) after he transmission broke before he could complete one lap. He switched to a car owned by Charles Bowes starting with the ninth race of the 1949 season after Mel Hansen was unable to race. Webb started on the pole position for Syracuse race before finishing third. He finished second at Detroit and eighth at Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack (Springfield Mile).
Webb finished the 1950 Indianapolis 500 in 20th place after the race was shorted due to rain on lap 138. He did not qualify for four races and finished 18th in his only other Champ Car race at Springfield. Webb got bumped out of the field for the 1952 Indianapolis 500 but made the field in a last-minute qualifying attempt for Bromme. He finished 22nd after having to retire with an oil leak late in the race. In the 1953 Indianapolis 500, he started 29th and finished 22nd. He did not qualify for five events and finished 15th in the event that he did qualify (Springfield). Bromme called Webb in another last-minute deal for the 1954 Indianapolis 500; he qualified 29th and finishing 30th. Webb failed to qualify for the 1955 Indianapolis 500.
After retiring from racing, Webb moved to Norwalk, California. He purchased earthmoving equipment and worked on the Los Angeles Zoo construction. He died at the age of 79 in McMinnville, Oregon.
The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Spider Webb participated in 4 World Championship races but scored no World Championship points.
Original Wikipedia article last retrieved on 12 December 2023.