Bill Cheesbourg

Bill Cheesbourg, Tucson, Arizona poses in his car on May 13, 1961 in Indianapolis, Indiana after qualifying for the 1961 500-mile auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 30. His qualifying speed was 145.873 mph. (AP Photo/Larry Stoddard) 

 Larry Stoddard / Associated Press

He won his first race, a Soap Box Derby, on A Mountain as an 11-year-old. "Cheez" later raced at seven Indy 500s and in 1992 was inducted into the Tucson Raceway Hall of Fame’s first class.

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Contact sports columnist Greg Hansen at 520-573-4362 or ghansen@tucson.com. On Twitter: @ghansen711