Samuel Felton “Sam” Posey is an American former racing driver, broadcaster, and writer whose career has spanned multiple eras of motorsport—both behind the wheel and in the commentary booth. From competing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Indianapolis 500 to becoming one of the most recognisable voices in racing coverage, Posey has left a lasting imprint on the sport.
Driver Bio
| Nationality | American |
| Birthplace | New York City, New York, USA |
| Born | 26 May 1944 |
| First Grand Prix | 1971 United States Grand Prix |
| Last Grand Prix | 1972 United States Grand Prix |
| Years Active | 1971–1972 |
| Current/Last Team | Privateer: Surtees |
Early life and introduction to racing
Posey’s story begins with both privilege and tragedy. His father, a U.S. Navy officer, was killed during the Battle of Okinawa, leaving Posey to grow up on his grandfather’s estate in Connecticut, near Lime Rock Park—a location that would shape his future.
He developed a passion for driving at an early age, practising in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL on family land. Guidance came from neighbour and racing legend John Fitch, who helped him take his first steps into motorsport.
Racing career
Trans-Am and early success
Posey began as an amateur sports car racer before moving into professional competition. In 1968, he joined Roger Penske’s team in the Trans-Am Series, driving the famous Sunoco Camaro. While teammate Mark Donohue dominated the championship, Posey delivered strong supporting performances, including multiple podium finishes and a second place at Watkins Glen.
In 1969, he secured a major victory at Lime Rock in a factory Ford Mustang, further cementing his reputation.
Versatility across disciplines
Posey’s career was defined by versatility. In 1970, he raced a factory-backed Dodge Challenger in the Trans-Am Series, competing against top names like Parnelli Jones, Dan Gurney, and Jim Hall in what is often considered one of the most competitive seasons in American road racing history.
He also competed in the USAC Championship Car series between 1969 and 1974, including the 1972 Indianapolis 500. Across 13 starts, he achieved eight top-ten finishes, with a best result of third at the Kent road course in 1969.
However, controversy followed at the 1973 Indianapolis 500, when his entry was disqualified after officials discovered his team had attempted to disguise a previously qualified car to make another run at qualifying.
Endurance racing highlights
Posey was a regular at Le Mans, competing ten times between 1966 and 1978. He finished in the top ten on five occasions, with his best result being third place in 1971 driving a Ferrari 512M.
He also claimed victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1975, sharing driving duties with teammates in one of the most prestigious endurance races in North America.
Formula One appearances
Posey made two appearances in Formula One, competing in the 1971 and 1972 United States Grands Prix with Surtees. He retired from his first race and finished 12th in his second, meaning he did not score World Championship points.
NASCAR cameo
In addition to his road racing career, Posey made a single start in what is now the NASCAR Cup Series, competing in the season-opening race at Riverside in 1970.
Broadcasting career
After stepping away from full-time racing, Posey found a second career behind the microphone. He joined ABC Sports in 1974 as an analyst for the Indianapolis 500 and soon became a key voice in American motorsport coverage.
Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, he formed part of a well-known commentary team alongside Paul Page and Bobby Unser, covering IndyCar racing. His on-air exchanges with Unser—sometimes spirited—became a memorable feature of broadcasts.
One famous moment came during the 1986 Indianapolis 500, when Posey attempted to interview race leader Kevin Cogan mid-race over team radio—only to be politely told, “I’m a little busy now.” Posey’s good-humoured response became part of broadcast lore.
Beyond racing, Posey demonstrated wide-ranging versatility, covering events such as the Tour de France and even Olympic luge for ABC.
He later joined Speedvision (SPEED), where he contributed to Formula One and sports car coverage, and became known for reflective segments like “Posey’s Perspective.” He also narrated Formula One coverage for NBC Sports Network from 2013 to 2017.
Other pursuits
Outside motorsport, Posey is an accomplished writer, artist, and architect. He authored books including Playing With Trains and his autobiography The Mudge Pond Express. He studied painting at the Rhode Island School of Design, earning a B.F.A. in 1966.
Since 1995, Posey has lived with Parkinson’s disease, which has limited his public activity in later years.
Honours and legacy
In recognition of his contributions to motorsport, Posey was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2016.
In 2013, Lime Rock Park honoured him by renaming its front straight the “Sam Posey Straight”—a fitting tribute at the circuit where his passion for racing first took shape.
Grand Prix Stats
| Race Entries | 2 |
| Race Starts | 2 |
| Did Not Start | 0 |
| Best Race Start | 17th |
| Best Race Finish | 12th |
| Retirements | 1 |
| First-Lap Retirements | 0 |
| Not Classified | 0 |
| Disqualified | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 0 |
Qualifying
| Qualifying Sessions | 2 |
| Reached Q3 | Not available |
| Q2 Eliminations | Not available |
| Q1 Eliminations | Not available |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Surtees | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17 | – | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1972 | Privateer: Surtees | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 12 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surtees | 1971 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17 | – | 0 | 0 |
| Privateer: Surtees | 1972 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
Teammates & Qualifying Head-to-Head
| Teammate | Years | Races | Qualifying H2H |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gijs van Lennep | 1971 | 1 | Not specified |
| Mike Hailwood | 1971 | 1 | Not specified |
