Frank Lockhart (racing driver)

Frank Lockhart (April 8, 1903 – April 25, 1928) was an American auto racing driver who achieved considerable success in the mid-1920s. He is primarily remembered for his dominance at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and his land speed record attempts.

Lockhart began his racing career on the West Coast. He quickly gained recognition for his skill and daring, earning a factory driver position with the Miller team in 1926. His innovative approach to car setup and his exceptional driving talent made him a formidable competitor.

His most significant achievement was winning the 1926 Indianapolis 500. He won decisively, leading the race for 95 of the 160 laps and setting a new race record. Lockhart was also the AAA National Champion in 1926.

Following his success at Indianapolis, Lockhart turned his attention to land speed records. He built the "Stutz Black Hawk," a powerful twin-engine car, to challenge existing records. In 1928, he made an attempt on the Daytona Beach Road Course in Florida. The first attempt resulted in a spin and crash but Lockhart walked away unharmed. He rebuilt the Stutz Black Hawk overnight and made another attempt the following day. On April 25, 1928, while attempting to break the land speed record on Daytona Beach, Lockhart's car crashed, resulting in his death at the age of 25. Despite his short career, Frank Lockhart is regarded as one of the most talented and innovative racing drivers of his era.