Shorty Templeman

Clark Thomas “Shorty” Templeman (August 12, 1919 – August 24, 1962) was an American racing driver whose fearless performances in both championship cars and midget racing made him one of the standout competitors of his era.

Driver Bio

Nationality	American
Birthplace	Pueblo, Colorado, USA
Born	12 August 1919
Died	24 August 1962
First Grand Prix	1955 Indianapolis 500
Last Grand Prix	1960 Indianapolis 500
Years Active	1955–1956, 1958–1960
Current/Last Team	Kurtis Kraft

Championship car

Templeman competed in the AAA and later the USAC Championship Car series between 1954 and 1962, making 42 starts during that period. His schedule included five appearances in the Indianapolis 500, racing in 1955, 1958 and from 1960 through 1962. Across his championship car career, he recorded 16 top-ten finishes. His strongest results came in 1961 when he claimed runner-up finishes at both DuQuoin and Syracuse, while his finest Indianapolis 500 performance was a fourth-place finish in the same season.

Midget car

Although he enjoyed success in championship racing, Templeman became best known for his achievements in midget competition. He captured five Washington state midget championships along with three Oregon state titles, establishing himself as one of the discipline’s most consistent winners.

The 1956 season proved especially memorable. Templeman swept all three editions of the prestigious Night Before the 500 midget feature at Indianapolis’ 16th Street Speedway, before going on to make history in the newly formed USAC National Midget Series. He won the championship in each of its first three seasons, securing consecutive national titles in 1956, 1957 and 1958—an achievement that cemented his place among the sport’s all-time greats.

Templeman’s racing career came to a tragic end in 1962 when he suffered fatal injuries in a midget car crash at the Marion County Fairgrounds track in Marion, Ohio. He died shortly afterwards at the age of 43.

Career awards

Templeman’s achievements continued to be recognised long after his passing. In 1984, he was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, and in the same year he became a member of the inaugural class of the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame, celebrating his remarkable impact on American open-wheel racing.

Grand Prix Stats

Race Entries	5
Race Starts	3
Did Not Start	0
Best Race Start	19th
Best Race Finish	18th
Retirements	2
First-Lap Retirements	0
Not Classified	3
Disqualified	0
Did Not Qualify	2

Qualifying

Qualifying Sessions	5
Reached Q3	–
Q2 Eliminations	–
Q1 Eliminations	–
Did Not Qualify	2

Stats by Season

Year	Constructor	Entries	Starts	Wins	Podiums	Poles	Fastest Laps	Front Rows	DNF	Best Start	Best Result	Pts Finishes	Points	Championship
1955	Trevis	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	DNQ	DNQ	0	0	NC
1956	Kurtis Kraft	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	DNQ	DNQ	0	0	NC
1958	Kurtis Kraft	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	23rd	DNF	0	0	NC
1959	Kurtis Kraft	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	33rd	DNF	0	0	NC
1960	Kurtis Kraft	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	19th	18th	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
Trevis	1955	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	DNQ	DNQ	0	0
Kurtis Kraft	1958–1960	4	3	0	0	0	0	0	2	19th	18th	0	0