Walter Faulkner[1] (February 6, 1918[2] – April 22, 1956)[3] was an American racing driver from Tell, Texas. He moved to Milledgeville, Georgia at the age of two-and-a-half, and to Lake Wales, Florida at the age of eight. He then moved to San Diego, California in 1936. Faulkner competed mainly in the National Championship and in stock car races. In 1950 Faulkner became the first rookie to win pole position at the Indianapolis 500. He died in 1956 after a qualifying crash at a USAC Stock Car event in Vallejo, California.

Walt Faulkner
Faulkner, circa 1951
BornWalter Faulkner
(1918-02-06)February 6, 1918
Tell, Texas, U.S.
DiedApril 22, 1956(1956-04-22) (aged 38)
Vallejo, California, U.S.
Champ Car career
35 races run over 7 years
Years active1949-1955
Best finish2nd – 1950
First race1950 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Last race1955 Springfield 100 (Springfield)
First win1950 Milwaukee 200 (Milwaukee)
Last win1951 Milwaukee 200 (Milwaukee)
Wins Podiums Poles
3 7 1
Formula One World Championship career
Active years19501955
TeamsKurtis Kraft, Kuzma, Pankratz, Lesovsky, Ferrari
Entries6 (5 starts)
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points1
Pole positions1
Fastest laps0
First entry1950 Indianapolis 500
Last entry1955 Indianapolis 500

Earlier in his career, Faulkner raced motorcycles, then switched to midget cars, later driving for the Edelbrock dirt track racing team. He had great success in midget car racing and was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2007. Faulkner was also inducted into the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame in 2006.[4]

World Championship career summary

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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. Walt Faulkner participated in 5 World Championship races. He started on the pole 1 time, and accumulated a total of 1 championship point.

Racing record

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Complete AAA Championship Car results

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Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Pos Points
1949 ARL
INDY
MIL
TRE
SPR
MIL
DUQ
PIK SYR
DET
SPR
LAN
SAC
DMR
DNQ
- 0
1950 INDY
7
MIL
7
LAN
DNQ
SPR
DNQ
MIL
1
PIK SYR
2
DET
4
SPR
12
SAC
9
PHX
5
BAY
6
DAR
8
2nd 1,317
1951 INDY
15
MIL
LAN
DAR
1
SPR
DNQ
MIL
1
DUQ
4
DUQ
2
PIK SYR
2
DET
2
DNC
18
SJS
DNQ
PHX
6
BAY
DNS
3rd 1,513.6
1952 INDY
DNQ
MIL
18
RAL
17
SPR
13
MIL
DNQ
DET
12
DUQ
PIK SYR
DNQ
DNC
11
SJS
8
PHX
10
32nd 87
1953 INDY
17
MIL
DNQ
SPR
9
DET
DNQ
SPR
18
MIL
DNS
DUQ
6
PIK SYR
DNQ
ISF
DNQ
SAC
DNP
PHX
28th 158.4
1954 INDY
DNS
MIL
8
LAN
DAR
13
SPR
MIL
DUQ
PIK SYR
ISF
SAC
PHX
LVG
38th 78.5
1955 INDY
5
MIL
21
LAN
SPR
16
MIL
DNQ
DUQ
PIK SYR
DNS
ISF
DNS
SAC
PHX
10th 447.5

Indy 500 results

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Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired
1950 98 1 134.343 1 7 135 0 Running
1951 2 14 136.872 1 15 123 0 Crankshaft
1953 23 14 137.117 10 17 176 0 Flagged
1954 98 12* 199 ? Flagged
1955 77 7 139.762 16 5** 200 0 Running
Totals 634 0
Starts 4
Poles 1
Front Row 1
Wins 0
Top 5 1
Top 10 2
Retired 1

* Shared drive with Chuck Stevenson
** Shared drive with Bill Homeier. Each driver scored 1 World Championship point

Complete Formula One World Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 WDC Pts
1950 Grant Piston Ring/Agajanian Kurtis Kraft 2000 Offenhauser 4.5 L4 GBR MON 500
7
SUI BEL FRA ITA NC 0
1951 Agajanian Grant Piston Ring Kuzma Indy Roadster Offenhauser 4.5 L4 SUI 500
15
BEL FRA GBR GER ITA ESP NC 0
1952 Grant Piston Ring/Agajanian Ferrari 375S Ferrari 375 4.5 V12 SUI 500
DNQ
BEL FRA GBR GER NED ITA NC 0
1953 Automobile Shippers/Casaroll Kurtis Kraft 500A Offenhauser 4.5 L4 ARG 500
17
NED BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA NC 0
1954 J.C. Agajanian Kuzma Indy Roadster Offenhauser 4.5 L4 ARG 500
12
BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA ESP NC 0
1955 Merz Engineering Kurtis Kraft 500C Offenhauser 4.5 L4 ARG MON 500
5
BEL NED GBR ITA 23rd 1
Source:[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Walt Faulkner". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  2. ^ "California Death Index". Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  3. ^ "Motorsport Memorial - Walt Faulkner". Motorsport Memorial. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  4. ^ "West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame". West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  5. ^ "Walt Faulkner – Involvement". StatsF1. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
Records
Preceded by Youngest Grand Prix polesitter
30 years, 103 days
(1950 Indianapolis 500)
Succeeded by