He wasn’t the first and he wasn’t the last 3-time winner, but this Kansan’s name – with a geographically incorrect nickname – is found on the BorgWarner Trophy three times.
Weather permitting, there’ll be an automobile race in Indianapolis today. Perhaps you’ve heard of it? It’s come to be known as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” and it will feature 33 drivers in land rockets zooming around a track at speeds close to 230 miles per hour.
Eighty-seven-year-old Johnny Rutherford will not be one of those 33 drivers. He was, however, a participant 25 times beginning in 1963. Along the way, the native of Coffeyville, KS, who oddly enough had the Texas flag emblazoned on his racing helmet and went by “Lone Star JR” (due, no doubt, to a family move to Texas when he was a child), started from the pole position three times and won the race three times: In 1974, 1976, and 1980. His last Indy 500 run came in 1988 at age 50. He attempted to qualify again in 1989, 1990, and 1992, but was unsuccessful each time.
We stumbled upon this puzzle maker recently. It’s a close cousin to the New York Times’ Strands puzzle that’s featured in that publication’s daily games page. Here’s one on-brand with the proceedings this Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Let us know what you think: https://customstrandsnyt.com/play/Vroom/#google_vignette
Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.