534:, thrilling audiences in large and small towns alike with death-defying automobile stunts. Although not claiming to be of Native American descent, Chitwood often portrayed a character known as 'Chief Wahoo.' Audiences found the act believable on account of Chitwood having a darker skin tone. He also performed a ramp-to-ramp jump, using a car that devised by Teter. Later on he and his son, Joie Jr., perfected driving a car on two wheels.
29:
448:
that he would release the belt in the event of a crash, because drivers thought that it was safer to be thrown from a car during an accident. He won six major sprint car races in 1946. Chitwood won nine AAA East Coast features in 1947, including the first race at
558:
Chitwood's sons, Joie Jr. and Tim, both joined the thrill show, and continued to run it after their father's retirement. The
Chitwood show toured the U.S. from 1945 until 1998. On May 13, 1978, Joie Jr. set a world record when he drove a
476:
from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at
Indianapolis during those years were credited with World Drivers' Championship participation, and were eligible to score WDC points alongside those which they may have scored towards the
527:, and taught welding at factories. He began operating what he called "the Joie Chitwood Thrill Show." The show was an exhibition of auto stunt driving, and became so successful Chitwood cut back his racing endeavors significantly.
440:. Chitwood took the belt out of his dirt car because he liked how he was jostled around less, and could keep his foot on the throttle easier. Chitwood promised AAA officials
650:
Chitwood's wife, Marie, worked as a dancer; she quit dancing after their marriage. The couple had two sons - Timmy and Joie Jr. (born 1944) Joie Jr. had a son
485:
499:
Chitwood was dubbed "Joie" during his racing career, after a newspaper reporter misheard and misspelled
Chitwood's name in an article. The writer confused
678:
in 1967. The
Eastern Auto Racing Club Old Timers Club inducted him in 1979, and he received the Walt Ader Memorial Award in 1986. He was inducted in the
491:
Chitwood participated in one World
Drivers' Championship race at Indianapolis. He finished in fifth place, scoring one World Drivers' Championship point.
1678:
1636:
470:
307:
424:(AAA) East Coast Sprint car championship. He switched back to the CSRA and won its title in 1942, winning 14 consecutive CSRA features that season.
420:. In 1937 and 1938, he finished second in the Central States Racing Association (CSRA) season points standings. In 1939 and 1940 he switched to the
1703:
473:
261:
1592:
679:
616:
began his 50+ year career as a stunt driver in 1951, when he performed at the age of 15 for Joie
Chitwood's Auto Daredevils show in Idaho.
519:
died, and
Chitwood took over the show after being asked by Teter's widow to sell the equipment. Chitwood was unable to find a buyer during
628:
film studios to either do stunt driving for films or to act as auto-stunt coordinator. Chitwood was one of the stunt drivers in the
412:, driving the car after the driver failed to appear; he finished second. He started his racing career in 1934 at a dirt track in
271:
1566:
1683:
1646:
1698:
1471:
1055:
683:
551:
1708:
1688:
662:
After
Chitwood retired, his sons took over the business. Joie Chitwood died on January 3, 1988, in Tampa Bay, Florida.
1673:
1550:
524:
436:
seven times, finishing fifth on three occasions. He was the first man ever to wear a safety belt, beginning at the
173:
158:
143:
125:
114:
95:
297:
546:
594:
1379:
675:
132:
686:
in 2010. Among his contributions to the sport was the supervision of the construction of
Pennsylvania's
1642:
625:
530:
Often called "Hell
Drivers," Chitwood had five units that for more than forty years toured across
1229:
1161:
1151:
1127:
1105:
482:
466:
450:
236:
1467:
1693:
1156:
1132:
1146:
1137:
926:
895:
864:
833:
802:
771:
740:
437:
320:
128:
1339:
1668:
1663:
1611:
687:
500:
1606:
1483:
8:
1291:
1513:
1427:
1384:
598:, where Sheriff Justice ends up the star of the show during his pursuit of The Bandit.
583:
on several occasions. Joie Jr. also appeared as a guest challenger on the TV game show
560:
409:
388:
367:. He was orphaned as a 14-year-old and he ended school after eighth grade. He lived in
147:
1546:
1316:
1178:
1044:
651:
585:
478:
462:
421:
417:
355:, and businessman. He is best known as a daredevil in the Joie Chitwood Thrill Show.
83:
80:
507:
the article, added an "i" by mistake to spell "Joie." The nickname stuck for life.
638:
633:
542:
433:
413:
384:
376:
177:
162:
1212:
606:
538:
368:
364:
67:
50:
537:
Chitwood's show was so popular that in January 1967, their performance at the
1657:
613:
531:
352:
195:
1113:
671:
602:
520:
246:
1637:
Sport: Joie Chitwood's Indianapolis Thrill Show (De Lachance Productions)
1119:
629:
516:
504:
445:
380:
225:
1122:
579:
391:
to earn additional income. He started learning a trade by helping at a
589:. Joie Jr. worked in over 60 feature films and national commercials.
372:
28:
1508:
441:
348:
1543:
Let 'Em All Go!: The Story of Auto Racing by the man who was there
392:
577:
in an episode entitled "Thrill Show". Joie Jr. did stunts for
503:(where Chitwood's race car was built) with "George", and when
573:
609:
when his show appeared in his home town of Butte, Montana.
1049:
1340:
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/joie-chitwood-sr
108:
1559:
1545:. Fishers, IN: Books by Dave Argabright. p. 87.
456:
427:
1373:
1371:
1369:
1367:
1607:""The Story" - The History Of Selinsgrove Speedway"
1567:"SPORTS: One final thrill show for Auto Daredevils"
1365:
1363:
1361:
1359:
1357:
1355:
1353:
1351:
1349:
1347:
347:(April 14, 1912 – January 3, 1988) was an American
1507:Eversley, Ryan; Heckman, Sean (January 18, 2018).
592:In 1983 Chitwood's show was featured in the movie
469:-sanctioned Indianapolis 500 was included in the
1655:
1344:
571:Chitwood's show was featured during season 3 of
563:for 5.6 miles (9.0 km) on just two wheels.
510:
1506:
566:
693:
432:Between 1940 and 1950, Chitwood raced in the
375:-era, and was seeking employment during the
698:
1679:National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductees
408:Chitwood built his first race car from an
27:
1540:
1422:
1573:. Peninsula Daily News. 9 September 2010
1428:"Hall of Fame Inductees - Joie Chitwood"
1420:
1418:
1416:
1414:
1412:
1410:
1408:
1406:
1404:
1402:
682:in 1993. Chitwood was inducted into the
670:Chitwood was named the President of the
1704:Sportspeople from Grayson County, Texas
1463:
1461:
1459:
1457:
1455:
1453:
1451:
1449:
1050:FIA World Drivers' Championship results
657:
1656:
1593:"Chitwood family racing roots go deep"
1377:
161:Eastern Inaugural Trophy Sweepstakes (
1399:
619:
605:as being his inspiration to become a
1536:
1534:
1532:
1446:
1286:
1284:
703:
1472:Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
1380:"Caution: Beware of Angels at Work"
684:Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
13:
457:World Drivers' Championship career
453:. He retired from racing in 1950.
428:Championship and sprint car career
14:
1720:
1630:
1529:
1314:
1281:
624:Chitwood was frequently hired by
16:American stunt driver (1912–1988)
1647:University of Missouri–St. Louis
1643:"Joie Chitwood 1951 photographs"
680:National Sprint Car Hall of Fame
645:
612:World-champion auto dive bomber
601:Chitwood's show was credited by
398:
1599:
1585:
422:American Automobile Association
403:
1500:
1476:
1378:Deford, Frank (May 17, 1971).
1333:
1308:
1186:
1177:* Indicates shared drive with
416:. From there, he began racing
1:
1274:
636:1950 film about auto racing,
511:The Joie Chitwood Thrill Show
358:
1684:AAA Championship Car drivers
1268:Joie Chitwood Show - Stunts
1261:Smokey and the Bandit Part 3
595:Smokey and the Bandit Part 3
567:Media appearances and legacy
7:
676:Indianapolis Motor Speedway
494:
474:World Drivers' Championship
345:George Rice "Joie" Chitwood
10:
1725:
1699:People from Denison, Texas
694:Motorsports career results
103:24+ races run over 7 years
1709:Racing drivers from Texas
1689:American stunt performers
1541:Economaki, Chris (2006).
1488:www.autoracingrecords.com
956:
665:
338:
334:
326:
316:
306:
296:
288:
280:
270:
260:
252:
242:
232:
228:World Championship career
224:
220:
216:
184:
169:
154:
139:
121:
107:
102:
94:
90:
79:
74:
57:
35:
26:
21:
1674:Indianapolis 500 drivers
699:Indianapolis 500 results
1484:"AutoRacingRecords.com"
451:Williams Grove Speedway
1517:. Season 3. Episode 90
523:. Chitwood was deemed
383:; he also worked as a
1571:peninsuladailynew.com
1296:www.champcarstats.com
672:100 Mile An Hour Club
486:National Championship
438:1941 Indianapolis 500
379:. His main job was a
363:Chitwood was born in
330:1950 Indianapolis 500
321:1950 Indianapolis 500
1612:Selinsgrove Speedway
1432:www.sprintcarhof.com
1043:* shared drive with
688:Selinsgrove Speedway
658:Retirement and death
552:Wide World of Sports
39:George Rice Chitwood
1509:"Joie Chitwood III"
75:Championship titles
1514:Dinner with Racers
1385:Sports Illustrated
1265:Joie Chitwood Sr.
1252:(final film role)
620:Hollywood Stuntman
561:Chevrolet Chevette
515:In 1942, stuntman
1321:OldRacingCars.com
1272:
1271:
1179:Tony Bettenhausen
1173:
1172:
1045:Tony Bettenhausen
1040:
1039:
1033:
1032:
971:
970:
652:Joie Chitwood III
586:To Tell The Truth
545:was broadcast on
501:St. Joe, Missouri
342:
341:
233:Active years
212:
211:
176:Trenton Race #3 (
1716:
1650:
1624:
1623:
1621:
1619:
1603:
1597:
1596:
1589:
1583:
1582:
1580:
1578:
1563:
1557:
1556:
1538:
1527:
1526:
1524:
1522:
1504:
1498:
1497:
1495:
1494:
1480:
1474:
1465:
1444:
1443:
1441:
1439:
1424:
1397:
1396:
1394:
1392:
1375:
1342:
1337:
1331:
1330:
1328:
1327:
1312:
1306:
1305:
1303:
1302:
1288:
1230:Live and Let Die
1191:
1190:
1143:
1061:
1060:
975:
974:
708:
707:
704:
639:To Please a Lady
634:Barbara Stanwyck
434:Indianapolis 500
414:Winfield, Kansas
377:Great Depression
186:
185:
146:Darlington 200 (
129:Indianapolis 500
110:
64:
47:
45:
31:
19:
18:
1724:
1723:
1719:
1718:
1717:
1715:
1714:
1713:
1654:
1653:
1641:
1633:
1628:
1627:
1617:
1615:
1605:
1604:
1600:
1591:
1590:
1586:
1576:
1574:
1565:
1564:
1560:
1553:
1539:
1530:
1520:
1518:
1505:
1501:
1492:
1490:
1482:
1481:
1477:
1466:
1447:
1437:
1435:
1426:
1425:
1400:
1390:
1388:
1376:
1345:
1338:
1334:
1325:
1323:
1317:"Joie Chitwood"
1313:
1309:
1300:
1298:
1292:"Joie Chitwood"
1290:
1289:
1282:
1277:
1213:Fireball Jungle
1189:
1141:
1140:
1052:
1041:
701:
696:
668:
660:
648:
622:
569:
513:
497:
459:
430:
406:
401:
361:
66:
62:
61:January 3, 1988
49:
43:
41:
40:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1722:
1712:
1711:
1706:
1701:
1696:
1691:
1686:
1681:
1676:
1671:
1666:
1652:
1651:
1639:
1632:
1631:External links
1629:
1626:
1625:
1598:
1584:
1558:
1551:
1528:
1499:
1475:
1445:
1398:
1343:
1332:
1315:Brown, Allen.
1307:
1279:
1278:
1276:
1273:
1270:
1269:
1266:
1263:
1258:
1254:
1253:
1250:
1248:
1243:
1239:
1238:
1236:
1233:
1226:
1222:
1221:
1218:
1216:
1209:
1205:
1204:
1201:
1198:
1195:
1188:
1185:
1184:
1183:
1171:
1170:
1167:
1164:
1159:
1154:
1149:
1144:
1135:
1130:
1125:
1117:
1111:
1108:
1102:
1101:
1098:
1095:
1092:
1089:
1086:
1083:
1080:
1077:
1074:
1071:
1068:
1065:
1051:
1048:
1038:
1037:
1031:
1030:
1027:
1023:
1022:
1019:
1015:
1014:
1011:
1007:
1006:
1003:
999:
998:
995:
991:
990:
987:
983:
982:
979:
972:
969:
968:
966:
963:
960:
954:
953:
950:
947:
944:
941:
938:
935:
932:
929:
923:
922:
919:
916:
913:
910:
907:
904:
901:
898:
892:
891:
888:
885:
882:
879:
876:
873:
870:
867:
861:
860:
857:
854:
851:
848:
845:
842:
839:
836:
830:
829:
826:
823:
820:
817:
814:
811:
808:
805:
799:
798:
795:
792:
789:
786:
783:
780:
777:
774:
768:
767:
764:
761:
758:
755:
752:
749:
746:
743:
737:
736:
733:
730:
727:
724:
721:
718:
715:
712:
702:
700:
697:
695:
692:
667:
664:
659:
656:
647:
644:
621:
618:
568:
565:
539:Islip Speedway
512:
509:
496:
493:
458:
455:
429:
426:
405:
402:
400:
397:
389:burlesque show
369:Topeka, Kansas
365:Denison, Texas
360:
357:
340:
339:
336:
335:
332:
331:
328:
324:
323:
318:
314:
313:
310:
304:
303:
300:
298:Pole positions
294:
293:
290:
286:
285:
282:
278:
277:
274:
268:
267:
264:
258:
257:
254:
250:
249:
244:
240:
239:
234:
230:
229:
222:
221:
218:
217:
214:
213:
210:
209:
206:
203:
199:
198:
193:
190:
182:
181:
171:
167:
166:
156:
152:
151:
141:
137:
136:
123:
119:
118:
111:
105:
104:
100:
99:
92:
91:
88:
87:
77:
76:
72:
71:
68:Tampa, Florida
65:(aged 75)
59:
55:
54:
51:Denison, Texas
48:April 14, 1912
37:
33:
32:
24:
23:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1721:
1710:
1707:
1705:
1702:
1700:
1697:
1695:
1694:Stunt drivers
1692:
1690:
1687:
1685:
1682:
1680:
1677:
1675:
1672:
1670:
1667:
1665:
1662:
1661:
1659:
1648:
1644:
1640:
1638:
1635:
1634:
1614:
1613:
1608:
1602:
1594:
1588:
1572:
1568:
1562:
1554:
1552:0-9719639-3-2
1548:
1544:
1537:
1535:
1533:
1516:
1515:
1510:
1503:
1489:
1485:
1479:
1473:
1469:
1468:Joie Chitwood
1464:
1462:
1460:
1458:
1456:
1454:
1452:
1450:
1433:
1429:
1423:
1421:
1419:
1417:
1415:
1413:
1411:
1409:
1407:
1405:
1403:
1387:
1386:
1381:
1374:
1372:
1370:
1368:
1366:
1364:
1362:
1360:
1358:
1356:
1354:
1352:
1350:
1348:
1341:
1336:
1322:
1318:
1311:
1297:
1293:
1287:
1285:
1280:
1267:
1264:
1262:
1259:
1256:
1255:
1251:
1249:
1247:
1244:
1241:
1240:
1237:
1234:
1232:
1231:
1227:
1224:
1223:
1219:
1217:
1215:
1214:
1210:
1207:
1206:
1202:
1199:
1196:
1193:
1192:
1182:
1180:
1175:
1174:
1168:
1165:
1163:
1160:
1158:
1155:
1153:
1150:
1148:
1145:
1139:
1136:
1134:
1131:
1129:
1126:
1124:
1121:
1118:
1115:
1112:
1109:
1107:
1104:
1103:
1099:
1096:
1093:
1090:
1087:
1084:
1081:
1078:
1075:
1072:
1069:
1066:
1063:
1062:
1059:
1057:
1047:
1046:
1036:
1028:
1025:
1024:
1020:
1017:
1016:
1012:
1009:
1008:
1004:
1001:
1000:
996:
993:
992:
988:
985:
984:
980:
977:
976:
973:
967:
964:
961:
959:
955:
951:
948:
945:
942:
939:
936:
933:
930:
928:
925:
924:
920:
917:
914:
911:
908:
905:
902:
899:
897:
894:
893:
889:
886:
883:
880:
877:
874:
871:
868:
866:
863:
862:
858:
855:
852:
849:
846:
843:
840:
837:
835:
832:
831:
827:
824:
821:
818:
815:
812:
809:
806:
804:
801:
800:
796:
793:
790:
787:
784:
781:
778:
775:
773:
770:
769:
765:
762:
759:
756:
753:
750:
747:
744:
742:
739:
738:
734:
731:
728:
725:
722:
719:
716:
713:
710:
709:
706:
705:
691:
689:
685:
681:
677:
673:
663:
655:
654:(born 1971).
653:
646:Personal life
643:
641:
640:
635:
631:
627:
617:
615:
614:Dusty Russell
610:
608:
604:
599:
597:
596:
590:
588:
587:
582:
581:
576:
575:
564:
562:
556:
554:
553:
549:television's
548:
544:
540:
535:
533:
532:North America
528:
526:
522:
518:
508:
506:
502:
492:
489:
487:
484:
480:
475:
472:
468:
464:
454:
452:
447:
443:
439:
435:
425:
423:
419:
415:
411:
399:Racing career
396:
394:
390:
386:
385:candy butcher
382:
378:
374:
370:
366:
356:
354:
353:racing driver
350:
346:
337:
333:
329:
325:
322:
319:
315:
311:
309:
305:
301:
299:
295:
291:
289:Career points
287:
283:
279:
275:
273:
269:
265:
263:
262:Championships
259:
255:
251:
248:
245:
241:
238:
235:
231:
227:
223:
219:
215:
207:
204:
201:
200:
197:
194:
191:
188:
187:
183:
179:
175:
172:
168:
164:
160:
157:
153:
149:
145:
142:
138:
134:
130:
127:
124:
120:
116:
112:
106:
101:
97:
93:
89:
85:
82:
78:
73:
69:
60:
56:
52:
38:
34:
30:
25:
22:Joie Chitwood
20:
1616:. Retrieved
1610:
1601:
1587:
1575:. Retrieved
1570:
1561:
1542:
1519:. Retrieved
1512:
1502:
1491:. Retrieved
1487:
1478:
1436:. Retrieved
1431:
1389:. Retrieved
1383:
1335:
1324:. Retrieved
1320:
1310:
1299:. Retrieved
1295:
1260:
1245:
1228:
1211:
1176:
1114:Kurtis Kraft
1110:Ervin Wolfe
1053:
1042:
1034:
957:
669:
661:
649:
637:
623:
611:
603:Evel Knievel
600:
593:
591:
584:
578:
572:
570:
557:
550:
536:
529:
521:World War II
514:
498:
490:
460:
431:
407:
404:Early career
362:
344:
343:
308:Fastest laps
247:Kurtis Kraft
133:Indianapolis
86:(1939, 1940)
63:(1988-01-03)
1669:1988 deaths
1664:1912 births
1246:Mr. No Legs
1220:Uncredited
1187:Filmography
1120:Offenhauser
630:Clark Gable
517:Lucky Teter
505:typesetting
446:Wilbur Shaw
381:shoe shiner
371:during the
317:First entry
226:Formula One
109:Best finish
81:AAA Eastern
1658:Categories
1618:August 13,
1493:2024-03-31
1438:August 23,
1391:August 23,
1326:2024-03-18
1301:2024-03-18
1275:References
994:Front Row
890:Fuel leak
580:Miami Vice
359:Early life
327:Last entry
148:Darlington
122:First race
44:1912-04-14
1577:10 August
690:in 1945.
626:Hollywood
607:daredevil
373:Dust Bowl
155:First win
140:Last race
96:Champ Car
1521:July 11,
1070:Chassis
1067:Entrant
1026:Retired
952:Running
937:130.757
921:Running
906:126.863
875:124.619
844:123.157
828:Running
813:119.816
797:Flagged
782:120.329
766:Flagged
751:121.757
735:Retired
543:New York
495:Nickname
442:Rex Mays
418:big cars
349:stuntman
170:Last win
1470:at the
1235:Charlie
1100:Points
1073:Engine
1018:Top 10
978:Starts
726:Finish
393:welding
281:Podiums
253:Entries
192:Podiums
178:Trenton
163:Trenton
84:Big Car
1549:
1434:. 1993
1203:Notes
1197:Title
1166:21st=
1035:
1010:Top 5
986:Poles
958:Totals
859:Gears
717:Start
666:Legacy
395:shop.
387:for a
98:career
70:, U.S.
53:, U.S.
1257:1983
1200:Role
1194:Year
1116:2000
1064:Year
1002:Wins
962:1092
729:Laps
723:Rank
720:Qual
711:Year
574:CHiPs
410:Essex
243:Teams
196:Poles
113:8th (
1620:2020
1579:2023
1547:ISBN
1523:2019
1440:2020
1393:2020
1242:1979
1225:1973
1208:1968
1106:1950
1097:WDC
946:136
927:1950
915:200
896:1949
884:138
865:1948
834:1947
822:200
803:1946
791:177
772:1941
760:190
741:1940
732:Led
714:Car
632:and
483:USAC
467:USAC
461:The
444:and
272:Wins
237:1950
189:Wins
174:1946
159:1946
144:1950
126:1940
115:1946
58:Died
36:Born
1162:ITA
1157:FRA
1152:BEL
1147:SUI
1142:5 *
1138:500
1133:MON
1128:GBR
1056:key
943:5*
940:19
931:17
909:27
903:16
900:77
881:17
878:15
872:10
869:55
853:51
850:22
847:10
841:22
816:28
810:12
807:24
788:14
785:29
779:27
776:25
757:15
754:25
748:26
745:42
674:at
547:ABC
541:in
525:4-F
479:AAA
471:FIA
463:AAA
1660::
1645:.
1609:.
1569:.
1531:^
1511:.
1486:.
1448:^
1430:.
1401:^
1382:.
1346:^
1319:.
1294:.
1283:^
1169:1
1123:L4
1094:7
1091:6
1088:5
1085:4
1082:3
1079:2
1076:1
1058:)
1029:2
1021:3
1013:3
1005:0
997:0
989:0
981:7
965:0
949:0
934:9
918:0
912:5
887:0
856:0
838:8
825:0
819:5
794:0
763:0
642:.
555:.
488:.
351:,
205:12
1649:.
1622:.
1595:.
1581:.
1555:.
1525:.
1496:.
1442:.
1395:.
1329:.
1304:.
1181:.
1054:(
481:/
465:/
312:0
302:0
292:1
284:0
276:0
266:0
256:1
208:3
202:7
180:)
165:)
150:)
135:)
131:(
117:)
46:)
42:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
