Paul Goldsmith, a prolific driver in American auto racing with success at the highest levels of both open wheel, stock car racing, and motorcycles, died Friday in Munster, Indiana. He was 98.
A native of West Virginia who served in the Merchant Marine during World War II, Goldsmith took a job at a Chrysler plant in Detroit after the war before his racing career began quite by accident. While attending a motorcycle race as a spectator in 1946, Goldsmith was invited to participate in the race after a lower number of riders showed up than had been expected. Goldsmith proceeded to finish third, launching his career in AMA competition racing Harley-Davidsons.
Goldsmith won the Daytona 200 on Daytona Beach in 1954 and also began racing stock cars, eventually joining forces with famed mechanic Smokey Yunick to compete in what is now the NASCAR Cup Series. Goldsmith won nine times at NASCAR's highest level, with his greatest accomplishment coming in 1958 when he became the final driver to win on the Daytona Beach course prior to the opening of the Daytona International Speedway the next year. Goldsmith went on to race in seven Daytona 500s, winning his qualifier in 1966 and earning a best finish of third in both 1961 and 1964.
Goldsmith also won two champions in USAC Stock Cars in 1961 and 1962, but he would gain some of his greatest notoriety at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as the chief test driver for Firestone. Goldsmith made six starts in the Indianapolis 500 with two top fives and a best finish of third in 1960, and he also was one of the first drivers to compete on the speedway after it was completely paved with asphalt during a 24-hour race in 1961. At the time of his death, Goldsmith was the oldest living driver to have competed in the Indianapolis 500.
He was also a skilled pilot, becoming one of the first drivers to fly himself to and from races, and retired from racing after 1969 to focus on an aviation career. He also owned a series of ranches and restaurants.