William Joseph “Billy” Garrett was an American racing driver whose career combined championship-winning short-track success with a brief but promising run at the highest level of U.S. open-wheel racing. A standout midget racer from Southern California, Garrett reached the USAC Championship ranks and twice qualified for the Indianapolis 500 before serious injuries ended a career that appeared full of potential.
Driver Bio
| Nationality | American |
| Birthplace | Princeton, Illinois, USA |
| Born | 24 April 1933 |
| Died | 15 February 1999 |
| First Grand Prix | 1956 Indianapolis 500 |
| Last Grand Prix | 1958 Indianapolis 500 |
| Years Active | 1956–1958 |
| Current/Last Team | Privateer: Kurtis Kraft |
Born in Princeton and later based in California, Garrett became one of the brightest young talents of the 1950s West Coast racing scene.
Garrett was a second-generation driver.
His father, John Garrett, competed in roadsters and sprint cars in California, giving Billy an early path into motorsport. In that era, racing knowledge was often handed down through families—mechanical skills, trackcraft, and competitive instinct all learned at local speedways rather than formal academies.
Garrett absorbed it quickly.
Southern California rise
He began racing roadsters and midgets in Southern California, one of the toughest and most talent-rich racing environments in America.
There, Garrett established himself as a genuine star.
He captured the URA Midget Championship in 1955 and 1956, winning back-to-back titles in such a competitive scene, which marked him as one of the leading short-track drivers of his generation.
Midget racing in the 1950s was no minor proving ground—it was where future national stars were forged.
USAC Championship Car career
Garrett’s performances earned him opportunities in the United States Automobile Club Championship Car series, then the premier level of American open-wheel racing.
From 1956 through 1958, he made 18 starts in Championship competition.
Though still developing at national level, he showed immediate pace.
Langhorne pole position
One of his finest achievements came in 1956, when he won pole position at Langhorne Speedway.
Langhorne was among the most feared and respected tracks in America—a brutally fast one-mile dirt oval where courage mattered as much as speed. Securing pole there was a major statement from a young driver.
It suggested Garrett had the tools to become a long-term force in championship racing.
Indianapolis 500
Garrett twice qualified for the Indianapolis 500, then one of the most competitive and prestigious events in world motorsport.
1956 Indianapolis 500
- Car No. 41
- Started 29th
- Qualified at 140.559 mph
- Finished 16th
- Completed 194 laps
- Classified after being flagged
1958 Indianapolis 500
- Car No. 43
- Started 15th
- Qualified at 142.778 mph
- Finished 21st
- Completed 80 laps
- Retired with cam gear failure
Indianapolis summary
Across two starts:
- 2 starts
- Best finish: 16th
- 0 wins
- 0 poles
- 0 top tens
Because the Indianapolis 500 counted toward the FIA World Championship from 1950 to 1960, Garrett is also officially credited with two Formula One World Championship starts, scoring 0 points.
Career-ending crash
Tragically, Garrett’s upward momentum was halted later in 1958.
He suffered career-ending injuries in a crash during the Rex Mays 100 at Wisconsin State Fair Speedway.
At a time when motorsport safety was primitive, many promising careers were cut short in an instant. Garrett’s was one of them.
He was only 25 years old.
Later life and honours
Garrett later lived in California and died on February 15, 1999, in Glendale.
His accomplishments were later recognised through induction into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.
Grand Prix Stats
| Race Entries | 2 |
| Race Starts | 2 |
| Did Not Start | 0 |
| Best Race Start | 15th |
| Best Race Finish | 16th |
| Retirements | 1 |
| First-Lap Retirements | 0 |
| Not Classified | 0 |
| Disqualified | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 1 |
Qualifying
| Qualifying Sessions | 2 |
| Reached Q3 | 0 |
| Q2 Eliminations | 0 |
| Q1 Eliminations | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 1 |
Teammates
| 2 drivers | Involvement | First Year | Last Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jim McWithey | 1 | 1957 | |
| George Amick | 1 | 1957 |
Stats by Season
| Year | Constructor | Entries | Starts | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Fastest Laps | Front Rows | DNF | Best Start | Best Result | Pts Finishes | Points | Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Privateer: Kuzma | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25th | 16th | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1958 | Privateer: Kurtis Kraft | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15th | Ret | 0 | 0 | NC |
