Born in Palmyra, Wisconsin, Congdon died at the Autumn 50 in Terre Haute, Indiana in a crash in a midget car race, driving for Gene Hamilton. He drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1965-1967 seasons, with 29 career starts, including the 1966 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 8 times, with his best finishes in 4th position in 1966 at Langhorne and at Fuji. He was the father of James Brian and Gary Paul Congdon.