Ronald “Mack” Hellings (14 September 1915 – 11 November 1951) was an American racing driver from Fort Dodge, Iowa, who competed during an especially tough and dangerous period in American motor racing.
Driver Bio
| Nationality | American |
| Birthplace | Fort Dodge, Iowa, USA |
| Born | 14 September 1915 |
| Died | 11 November 1951 |
| First Grand Prix | 1950 Indianapolis 500 |
| Last Grand Prix | 1951 Indianapolis 500 |
| Years Active | 1950–1951 |
| Current/Last Team | Deidt |
Known throughout his racing career simply as Mack Hellings, he belonged to the generation of drivers who took to the track long before modern standards of safety transformed the sport. Racing in this period demanded plenty of nerve, with drivers competing in cars that offered little protection when things went wrong.
Hellings was born on 14 September 1915 and came from Fort Dodge, Iowa, a city in the north-central part of the state.
He went on to establish himself as a racecar driver, becoming part of American racing during the first half of the 20th century.
While the surviving summary of his career is relatively brief, Hellings’ place in motorsport history comes from competing in an era when American racing was developing rapidly and attracting an increasingly dedicated group of drivers willing to test themselves in some seriously demanding machinery.
Hellings’ life ended at just 36 years old, and his death did not happen behind the wheel of a racing car.
On 11 November 1951, Hellings was killed in a plane crash in Kern County, California.
His death brought a tragically early end to the life of a driver who had made motor racing his chosen pursuit.
Grand Prix Stats
| Race Entries | 2 |
| Race Starts | 2 |
| Did Not Start | 0 |
| Best Race Start | 23rd |
| Best Race Finish | 13th |
| Retirements | 1 |
| First-Lap Retirements | 0 |
| Not Classified | 0 |
| Disqualified | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 0 |
Qualifying
| Qualifying Sessions | 2 |
| Reached Q3 | Not applicable |
| Q2 Eliminations | Not applicable |
| Q1 Eliminations | Not applicable |
| Did Not Qualify | 0 |
Stats by Season
| Year | Constructor | Entries | Starts | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Fastest Laps | Front Rows | DNF | Best Start | Best Result | Pts Finishes | Points | Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Kurtis Kraft | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26th | 13th | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1951 | Deidt | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 23rd | Ret | 0 | 0 | NC |
Stats by Constructor
| Constructor | Years | Entries | Starts | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Fastest Laps | Front Rows | DNF | Best Start | Best Result | Pts Finishes | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kurtis Kraft | 1950 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26th | 13th | 0 | 0 |
| Deidt | 1951 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 23rd | Ret | 0 | 0 |
