USAC LEGEND PARNELLI JONES PASSES AWAY
By: Richie Murray - USAC Media
Speedway, Indiana (June 4, 2024)………Parnelli Jones, one of the names most synonymous in American auto racing who ultimately became a champion as both as a driver and car owner during his illustrious USAC career, passed away on June 4, 2024, after battling Parkinson’s Disease. He was 90 years old.
Originally hailing from Texarkana, Arkansas, Rufus Parnell Jones was born on August 12, 1933. As a youth, young “Parnelli,” as he came to be known, and his family made the move to Torrance, Calif. where he was raised. Before long, he was behind the wheel of a racecar and began proving himself to be among the most versatile drivers on the planet, starting in jalopies before capturing a multitude of victories in sprint cars, midgets, road races as well as in NASCAR and Indy Cars.
With car owner Harlan Fike, Jones became the first driver to capture three consecutive USAC Sprint Car titles in 1960 (Midwest), 1961 and 1962 (National). Furthermore, in 1961, he was named co-Rookie of the Year at the Indianapolis 500 alongside Bobby Marshman.
In 1962, Parnelli became the first driver to break the 150-mph barrier at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during time trials, then in 1963, captured the pole for the second consecutive year at Indy and found himself at the pinnacle of the sport as an Indianapolis 500 victor for car owner J.C. Agajanian.
He mastered the fendered cars as the USAC National Stock Car titlist for car owner Bill Stroppe in 1964. Together, Parnelli and Stroppe even conquered the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb’s stock car division in back-to-back fashion during the 1963-64 seasons.
Twice, Parnelli scored Turkey Night Grand Prix wins at Ascot Park in 1964 and 1966, but by the 1970s, he was a full-fledged team owner alongside Vel Miletich. As Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing, the duo’s team promptly recorded consecutive Indianapolis 500 victories in 1970-71 with driver Al Unser.
During the ensuing years, Vel’s Parnelli collected consecutive USAC National Championships with Joe Leonard in 1971-72 and continued its success in 1973-74 with back-to-back USAC Dirt Car (Silver Crown) titles featuring drivers Al Unser and Mario Andretti, respectively.
In all, as a driver under the USAC banner, Parnelli won six Indy Car races, 25 sprint car features and 25 midget main events as well as 17 with the stock cars on a variety of different circuits, both dirt and paved, from ovals to road courses.
In retirement, he concentrated on the business life and his sons’ racing careers. He found success as a Firestone distributor and as the owner/operator of several tire stores and wheel manufacturing companies. His two boys, P.J. Jones and Page Jones, became racers in their own right, capturing a number of USAC national victories as well.
Parnelli is among the most decorated drivers in motorsports history and is a member of many halls of fame. In 2012, he was a part of the first class of USAC Hall of Fame inductees alongside his car owner, J.C. Agajanian, plus Mario Andretti, Gary Bettenhausen, Tom Binford, Jimmy Bryan, Duane Carter, A.J. Foyt, Tony Hulman, Mel Kenyon, Roger McCluskey and Rich Vogler.
