Dick Atkins

Richard Charles Atkins (April 23, 1936 – November 13, 1966) was an American racing driver from Oakland, California.

Dick Atkins
Born	Richard Charles Atkins (1936-04-23)April 23, 1936 Oakland, California, U.S.
Died	November 13, 1966(1966-11-13) (aged 30) Gardena, California, U.S.
Champ Car career
13 races run over 2 years
Years active	1965–1966
Best finish	12th – 1966
First race	1965 Golden State 100 (Sacramento)
Last race	1966 Golden State 100 (Sacramento)
First win	1966 Golden State 100 (Sacramento)
Wins Podiums Poles 1 2 0

Atkins came up in sprint cars and won the Turkey Night Grand Prix in 1965 and was rewarded by race promoter J. C. Agajanian with a chance to race in the USAC National Championship in 1966. He failed to qualify for the 1966 Indianapolis 500, but finished fourth at Trenton Speedway in September then won on the dirt oval at Sacramento in October, for his first "big car" win. However, he was killed just a month later in a sprint car crash at Ascot Park in California in a wreck that also killed Don Branson. He finished 11th in 1966 USAC National Championship points.

Awards

• He was inducted in the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame in 2021.

Complete USAC Championship Car results

Year	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	Pos	Points
1965	PHX	TRE	INDY	MIL	LAN	PPR	TRE	IRP	ATL	LAN	MIL	ISF	MIL	DSF	INF	TRE	SAC 12	PHX 12	49th	30
1966	PHX 22	TRE	INDY DNQ	MIL 20	LAN DNQ	ATL 23	PIP	IRP 10	LAN 9	SPR 12	MIL 12	DUQ 2	ISF 6	TRE 4	SAC 1	PHX			11th	815

External links

• Dick Atkins at Champ Car Stats