# 1953 AAA Championship Car season

The 1953 AAA Championship Car season consisted of 12 races, beginning in Speedway, Indiana on May 30 and concluding in Phoenix, Arizona on November 11. There was also one non-championship event in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. The AAA National Champion was Sam Hanks, and the Indianapolis 500 winner was Bill Vukovich. Chet Miller died while practicing for the Indianapolis 500.

## Schedule and results

| Rnd | Date | Race Name | Track | Location | Type | Pole Position | Winning Driver |
| 1 | May 30 | International 500 Mile Sweepstakes | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Speedway, Indiana | Paved | Bill Vukovich | Bill Vukovich |
| 2 | June 7 | Rex Mays Classic | Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway | West Allis, Wisconsin | Dirt | Manny Ayulo | Jack McGrath |
| 3 | June 21 | Springfield 100 | Illinois State Fairgrounds | Springfield, Illinois | Dirt | Don Freeland | Rodger Ward |
| 4 | July 4 | Detroit 100 | Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway | Detroit, Michigan | Dirt | Duane Carter | Rodger Ward |
| NC | July 26 | Indianapolis Sweepstakes | Williams Grove Speedway | Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania | Dirt | Duane Carter | Jimmy Davies |
| 5 | August 22 | Springfield 100 | Illinois State Fairgrounds | Springfield, Illinois | Dirt | Chuck Stevenson | Sam Hanks |
| 6 | August 30 | Milwaukee 200 | Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway | West Allis, Wisconsin | Dirt | Jack McGrath | Chuck Stevenson |
| 7 | September 7 | Ted Horn Memorial | DuQuoin State Fairgrounds | Du Quoin, Illinois | Dirt | Mike Nazaruk | Sam Hanks |
| 8 | September 7 | Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb | Pikes Peak Highway | Pikes Peak, Colorado | Hill | Bob Finney | Louis Unser |
| 9 | September 12 | Syracuse 100 | New York State Fairgrounds | Syracuse, New York | Dirt | Bob Sweikert | Tony Bettenhausen |
| 10 | September 26 | Hoosier Hundred | Indiana State Fairgrounds | Indianapolis, Indiana | Dirt | Manny Ayulo | Bob Sweikert |
| 11 | October 25 | Golden State 100 | California State Fairgrounds | Sacramento, California | Dirt | Mike Nazaruk | Jimmy Bryan |
| 12 | November 11 | Phoenix 100 | Arizona State Fairgrounds | Phoenix, Arizona | Dirt | Tony Bettenhausen | Tony Bettenhausen |
    ^A The Indianapolis 500 was AAA-sanctioned and counted towards the 1953 World Championship of Drivers.
    ^B 73 laps were completed. Race stopped due to flipped car. Final standings reverted to 51 laps because of red flag and work done on cars. Half points awarded.
    ^C No pole is awarded for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, in this schedule on the pole is the driver who started first. No lap led was awarded for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, however, a lap was awarded to the drivers that completed the climb.

## Final points standings

Note1: The points became the car, when not only one driver led the car, the relieved driver became small part of the points. Points for driver method: (the points for the finish place) / (number the lap when completed the car) * (number the lap when completed the driver)
Note2: Bob Scott was running at the finish of two races after taking over mid-event as a relief driver.
| Pos | Driver | INDY | MIL1 | SPR1 | DET | SPR2 | MIL2 | DQSF | PIK | SYR | ISF | SAC | PHX | Pts |
| 1 | Sam Hanks | 3 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 22 | 1 | | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1659.5 |
| 2 | Jack McGrath | 5 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 13 | 4 | 4 | | 9 | DNQ | 10 | 13 | 1250 |
| 3 | Bill Vukovich | 1 | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | | 1000 |
| 4 | Manuel Ayulo | 13 | 14 | DNQ | 17 | 2 | 2 | 2 | | 10 | 2 | 12 | 4 | 960 |
| 5 | Paul Russo | 25 | 4 | DNQ | 13 | 6 | 3 | 14 | | 13 | 12 | 6 | 17 | 855 |
| 6 | Art Cross | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | 800 |
| 7 | Don Freeland | 27 | 16 | 3 | DNQ | 7 | 5 | 12 | | 3 | 4 | 17 | 6 | 750 |
| 8 | Chuck Stevenson | 29 | 15 | 6 | DNQ | 3 | 1 | 9 | | 18 | DNQ | 9 | | 745 |
| 9 | Jimmy Bryan | 14 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 15 | 10 | 7 | | 17 | 11 | 1 | 15 | 621.4 |
| 10 | Tony Bettenhausen | 9 | | | | | DNS | 18 | | 1 | 6 | | 1 | 596 |
| 11 | Rodger Ward | 16 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 6 | DNQ | | 7 | 8 | 13 | 18 | 540.2 |
| 12 | Jimmy Davies | 10 | 8 | | 15 | 16 | 12 | 5 | | 16 | DNS | 4 | 7 | 494.2 |
| 13 | Johnnie Parsons | 26 | | DNQ | 8 | 4 | 21 | 3 | | 12 | 3 | 15 | 16 | 435.5 |
| 14 | Duane Carter | 24 | 9 | DNQ | 7 | DNQ | 17 | | | DNQ | 10 | Wth | 2 | 428.6 |
| 15 | Bob Sweikert | 20 | 17 | | | DNQ | 13 | 17 | | 8 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 420 |
| 16 | Ernie McCoy R | 8 | 5 | 17 | 5 | | DNQ | | | | DNS | DNS | | 401 |
| 17 | Jimmy Daywalt | 6 | | | | | | DNQ | | DNQ | | | | 400 |
| 18 | Bob Scott | 31 | DNS | | | 9 | | DNQ | | DNS | DNQ | 5 | 5 | 328 |
| 19 | Fred Agabashian | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | 315 |
| 20 | Cal Niday | 30 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 19 | 8 | | DNQ | DNS | Wth | | 310.4 |
| 21 | Jerry Hoyt | 23 | 3 | 14 | | DNQ | 20 | DNQ | | 6 | DNQ | 8 | 9 | 310 |
| 22 | Andy Linden | 33 | 7 | 5 | 10 | DNQ | 8 | 11 | | DNQ | 16 | DNQ | 10 | 263.3 |
| 23 | Jimmy Reece | | DNS | 18 | | 8 | 7 | DNQ | | DNQ | DNQ | 7 | 14 | 245.8 |
| 24 | Mike Nazaruk | 21 | 11 | | 6 | DNQ | 16 | 13 | | 2 | 15 | 14 | | 205 |
| 25 | Louis Unser | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | 200 |
| 26 | Jim Rathmann | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | 169.5 |
| 27 | Keith Andrews | | | | | | | | 2 | | | | | 160 |
| 28 | Walt Faulkner | 17 | DNQ | 9 | DNQ | 18 | DNS | 6 | | DNQ | DNQ | DNP | | 158.4 |
| 29 | Al Rogers | | | | | | | | 3 | | | | | 140 |
| 30 | Eddie Johnson | DNS | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | | | | | | | | 130.5 |
| 31 | Bob Finney | | | | | | | | 4 | | | | | 120 |
| 32 | Pat O'Connor | DNQ | DNQ | | | | | DNQ | | | 7 | | 8 | 110 |
| 33 | Eddie Russo | | | DNQ | 11 | 10 | 11 | 15 | | 11 | DNQ | | | 100.2 |
| 34 | Bill Holland | 15 | | | | DNQ | 18 | | | 5 | | | | 100 |
| 35 | Hugh Thomas | | | | | | | | 5 | | | | | 100 |
| 36 | Duke Nalon | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | 100 |
| 37 | Allen Heath | DNQ | DNQ | 15 | 2 | | | | | | | | | 81.6 |
| 38 | Tommy Hinnershitz | | | 10 | | 12 | 9 | DNQ | | 14 | | | | 81.6 |
| 39 | Walt Killinger | | | | | | | | 6 | | | | | 80 |
| 40 | Potsy Goacher | DNQ | | | | DNQ | DNS | DNQ | | | DNQ | | | 62 |
| 41 | Shelby Hill | | | | | | | | 7 | | | | | 60 |
| 42 | Herb Bryers | | | | | | | | 8 | | | | | 50 |
| 43 | Gene Hartley | 28 | | DNQ | 14 | | DNS | DNQ | | | 17 | | | 44.8 |
| 44 | Ed Elisian R | | | | | | | DNQ | | | 9 | | | 40 |
| 45 | Pete Pusede R | | | | | | | | 9 | | | | | 40 |
| 46 | Chuck Weyant | | | | | | DNQ | 10 | | DNQ | 14 | | | 30 |
| 47 | Pete Woods | | | | | | | | 10 | | | | | 30 |
| 48 | Rex Easton | | DNQ | DNQ | | DNQ | | | | | 13 | DNQ | 11 | 20 |
| 49 | Danny Oakes | DNQ | | DNQ | | 11 | 14 | | | | DNS | | DNQ | 20 |
| 50 | Buzz Barton | DNQ | DNQ | 11 | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | | | | DNS | | | 20 |
| 51 | Charles Lowderman R | | | | | | | | 11 | | | | | 20 |
| 52 | Carl Scarborough | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | 17.5 |
| 53 | Frank Armi | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | DNS | | 14.6 |
| 54 | Bill Homeier R | DNQ | DNS | 12 | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | | | | | | | 14.5 |
| 55 | Paul Kleinschmidt | | | | | | | | 12 | | | | | 10 |
| 56 | Vic Carter | | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | 5.5 |
| 57 | Edgar Elder R | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | 11 | DNQ | 5.4 |
| 58 | Duke Dinsmore | DNS | | DNQ | 12 | | 15 | DNQ | | | | | | 5.1 |
| - | Johnny Thomson R | 32 | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Chuck Marshall R | | DNQ | 13 | | DNQ | | DNQ | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Malcolm Brazier | | | | | | | | 13 | | | | | 0 |
| - | Johnny Fedricks | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | 18 | 14 | DNQ | DNQ | | 15 | DNQ | | | 0 |
| - | Jimmy Good | | | | | | | | 14 | | | | | 0 |
| - | Chuck Hulse R | | | | | | | | 15 | | | | | 0 |
| - | Spider Webb | 19 | | 16 | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | | | DNQ | DNS | DNP | | 0 |
| - | Johnny Roberts R | DNQ | DNQ | | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | 16 | | DNQ | DNQ | | | 0 |
| - | Don Olds R | | | | | | | | | | | 16 | DNQ | 0 |
| - | Norman Robinson | | | | | | | | 16 | | | | | 0 |
| - | Charles Bryant | | | | | | | | 17 | | | | | 0 |
| - | Eddie Sachs R | DNQ | | | | | | | | DNQ | DNQ | 18 | DNQ | 0 |
| - | Leroy Warriner R | DNQ | | | | | | | | | 18 | | | 0 |
| - | Marshall Teague R | 18 | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | George Hammond | | | | | | | | 18 | | | | | 0 |
| - | Joe Garson | | | | | | | | 19 | | | | | 0 |
| - | Don Carlson R | | | | | | | | 20 | | | | | 0 |
| - | Pat Flaherty | 22 | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Johnny Mantz | DNS | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Jackie Holmes | DNS | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | George Tichenor | DNQ | DNQ | | | DNQ | | | | | DNQ | | | 0 |
| - | George Wilson | | | | | DNQ | DNQ | | | DNQ | DNQ | | | 0 |
| - | Johnny Key | | | | | | DNQ | DNQ | | | DNQ | | | 0 |
| - | Johnny Tolan | DNQ | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | DNQ | 0 |
| - | Bill Doster | DNQ | | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Ralph Pratt | | | | | DNQ | DNQ | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Joe Barzda | DNQ | | | | | | | | DNQ | | | | 0 |
| - | Len Duncan | DNQ | | | | | | | | DNQ | | | | 0 |
| - | Ottis Stine | | | DNQ | | | | | | DNQ | | | | 0 |
| - | Gene Force | | | | | DNQ | | | | | DNQ | | | 0 |
| - | Bill Taylor | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | | 0 |
| - | Henry Banks | DNQ | Wth | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Bill Boyd | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Billy Cantrell | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Neal Carter | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | George Connor | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Ray Crawford | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Jorge Daponte | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | John Fitch | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | George Fonder | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Cliff Griffith | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Red Hamilton | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Al Herman | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Johnny Kay | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Jud Larson | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Jim Mayes | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Chet Miller | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Roy Newman | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Hal Robson | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Wayne Selser | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Joe Sostilio | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Harry Stockman | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | J. Chaplin | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Gays Biro | | | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Paul Howe | | | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Johnny Hobel | | | | | | | DNQ | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Don Daly | | | | | | | | DNQ | | | | | 0 |
| - | R. Manual | | | | | | | | DNQ | | | | | 0 |
| - | Bill Milliken | | | | | | | | DNQ | | | | | 0 |
| - | Wayne Sankey | | | | | | | | DNQ | | | | | 0 |
| - | Phil Shafer | | | | | | | | DNQ | | | | | 0 |
| - | Art McKee | | | | | | | | DSQ | | | | | 0 |
| - | Troy Ruttman | Wth | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Ebe Yoder | Wth | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Alberto Ascari | DNP | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Johnny Mauro | DNP | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Pos | Driver | INDY | MIL1 | SPR1 | DET | SPR2 | MIL2 | DQSF | PIK | SYR | ISF | SAC | PHX | Pts |
| Color | Result |
| Gold | Winner |
| Silver | 2nd place |
| Bronze | 3rd place |
| Green | 4th & 5th place |
| Light Blue | 6th-10th place |
| Dark Blue | Finished (Outside Top 10) |
| Purple | Did not finish (Ret) |
| Red | Did not qualify (DNQ) |
| Brown | Withdrawn (Wth) |
| Black | Disqualified (DSQ) |
| White | Did not start (DNS) |
| Blank | Did not participate (DNP) |
| Blank | Not competing |
In-line notation :
| Bold | Pole position |
| Italics | Ran fastest race lap |
| * | Led most race laps |
| RY Rookie of the Year ||
| R Rookie ||