Paul Goldsmith (born 9 April 1925) is an American former professional auto racer and former minor‑league baseball pitcher. He is most notable for winning the 1958 NASCAR Grand National Championship and for competing in the Indianapolis 500 during the 1950s.
Early life and baseball career
Goldsmith was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After serving in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, he pursued a career in professional baseball. From 1946 to 1950 he pitched in the minor leagues for organizations affiliated with the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, appearing for teams such as the Minneapolis Millers, Scranton Red Sox and Oklahoma City Indians. He compiled a career win–loss record of 40–30 and posted a earned run average (ERA) of 3.96. Goldsmith retired from baseball in 1950.
Transition to auto racing
Following his baseball career, Goldsmith turned to automobile racing, initially competing in local events in the Midwest. He made his debut in the United States Auto Club (USAC) Champ Car series in 1953 and quickly established himself as a competent driver on both oval and road courses.
Indy Car career
Goldsmith qualified for the Indianapolis 500 in 1954 and 1955, finishing 18th in 1954 and 23rd in 1955. He also competed in the USAC National Championship series, achieving several top‑ten finishes and a best race result of second place at the Milwaukee Mile in 1955.
NASCAR career
Goldsmith entered the NASCAR Grand National (now the NASCAR Cup Series) in 1955. Driving for owner Petty Enterprises and later for his own team, he specialized in superspeedway events. Over his NASCAR tenure (1955–1965) he recorded 25 top‑five finishes, 83 top‑ten finishes, and secured 13 race victories. His most successful season was 1958, when he accumulated 7 wins and claimed the Grand National Championship—NASCAR’s premier title—by finishing first in points ahead of Lee Petty and Buck Baker.
Later life and legacy
After retiring from full‑time competition, Goldsmith remained involved in motorsports as a consultant and occasional driver in historic racing events. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2011. As of the latest available records, Goldsmith resides in Oklahoma and has occasionally appeared at automotive museums and racing commemorations.
References
- NASCAR Historical Records, NASCAR.com.
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway Statistics, IMS.com.
- Minor League Baseball Statistics, Baseball-Reference.com.
This article reflects information compiled from publicly available and verifiable sources.