Cliff Griffith

Cliff Griffith (February 6, 1916 - January 23, 1996): An American racing driver from Nineveh, Indiana, who built a distinguished career in American motorsport from sprint cars to championship car racing. Griffith served in the United States Army during World War II, where he earned two Bronze Stars for his military service, demonstrating the same courage and determination he would later show on the racetrack. Before reaching championship car racing, Griffith achieved considerable success in sprint car competition, winning a pair of championships on the Midwest Dirt Track Racing Association circuit in 1946 and 1947. These titles came behind the wheel of Hector Honore's legendary sprint car known as the 'Black Deuce,' one of the most famous sprint cars of its era.

This success in sprint cars provided the foundation for Griffith's move into championship car racing. Griffith competed in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1950-1952, 1956, and 1961 seasons with 19 career starts. He made four starts at the Indianapolis 500 in 1951, 1952, 1956, and 1961, competing at the Brickyard across a decade. His best finish at Indianapolis came in 1952 when he placed ninth, demonstrating his competitiveness at the highest level of American open-wheel racing.

As the Indianapolis 500 counted toward the Formula One World Championship during the early 1950s, Griffith participated in seven Formula One World Championship races. Griffith continued racing into his mid-40s, with his final Indianapolis 500 appearance coming in 1961 when he was 45 years old, showcasing remarkable longevity in one of motorsport's most demanding disciplines. He passed away on January 23, 1996, in Rochester, Indiana, at the age of 79, leaving behind a legacy as both a war hero and a successful racing driver who competed in America's golden age of sprint and championship car racing.