Paul Goldsmith, an iconic figure in American stock car racing, has passed away. Indianapolis Motor Speedway Goldsmith's death was confirmed on Friday. He was 98 years old.
Goldsmith was born in West Virginia and initially raced motorcycles but eventually switched to auto racing, enjoying success in both disciplines.
Goldsmith won the Daytona 200 motorcycle race in 1953. As a professional motorcyclist, he won the American Motorcyclist Association championship five times.
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Paul Goldsmith started his NASCAR Cup season by winning a qualifying race at Daytona International Speedway for the Daytona 500. After finishing 18th in the 500, Goldsmith returned to the Firecracker 400 and drove very well, but finished 27th after a broken windshield on his Plymouth owned by Ray Nichels caused him to miss the race. (ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)
Goldsmith moved into auto racing in 1956, racing his first NASCAR race, winning nine wins and eight pole positions in the NASCAR Grand National Series (now known as the NASCAR Cup Series).
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Goldsmith will also be remembered for being the last winner of a NASCAR premier series race held at Daytona Beach and the road course in 1958. His success was heavily due to two legendary car owners: Smokey Yunick and Ray Nichels.
Paul Goldsmith competed in 21 races on the NASCAR Cup circuit driving a factory-backed Plymouth owned by Ray Nichels, earning eight top-10 finishes. (ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)
Goldsmith competed in the Indianapolis 500 six times. His best result in the race was a third place in 1960.
Beyond his exploits on the track, Goldsmith also left a lasting mark on American motorsports by being at the forefront of technology.
The NASCAR Cup Series logo is printed on the frontstretch at Phoenix Raceway on March 6, 2020, in Avondale, Arizona. (Brady Crane/The Republic)
Goldsmith is credited with helping develop water-circulating technology that was a precursor to the cool suit technology relied on by modern drivers.
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Goldsmith officially retired from racing in 1970.
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