Bill Cheesbourg


William Bernard Cheesbourg was an American racecar driver who participated in six Indianapolis 500 races.

Biography

He was born on June 12, 1927 in Tucson, Arizona.
Cheesbourg started racing jalopies in Tucson and successfully moved into midgets racing all over Arizona after World War II. He drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1956-1962 and 1964-1966 seasons with 31 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in 1957-1959, 1961, 1964, and 1965. He finished in the top ten 8 times, with his best finish in 7th position in 1959 at Daytona and in 1966 at Fuji.
Cheesbourg returned to the local dirt short track racing scene after his Indy Car career was finished. He is known for the help he offered to many other racers. He won several Arizona Late Model Stock Car championships racing at Corona Speedway in Tucson, Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix and many other tracks. He was known equally for his ability to use his front bumper and his natural talents.
Even after he stopped traditional stock car racing, he continued helping others and eventually helped construct and drive a local high school's entry in an electric car race held at Phoenix International Raceway. He even competed for a while in local figure eight racing just for the fun of it.
He died of cancer on November 6, 1995 in Tucson, Arizona.

Indianapolis 500 results

Complete Formula One World Championship results

YearEntrantChassisEngine1234567891011WDCPoints
1956Cecil McDonaldLesovskyOffenhauser L4ARGMON500
DNQ		BELFRAGBRGERITANC0
1957Schildmeier Seal / DonaldsonKurtis Kraft 500GOffenhauser L4ARGMON500
26		FRAGBRGERPESITANC0
1958Novi RacingKurtis Kraft 500GNovi V8ARGMONNED500
10		BELFRAGBRGERPORITAMORNC0
1959Greenman - CasaleKuzma Indy RoadsterOffenhauser L4MON500
21		NEDFRAGBRGERPORITAUSANC0