Paul Goldsmith, who transitioned from motorcycle racing to stock car racing, had no way of knowing that his win in a 1953 Detroit Fairgrounds race would be a pivotal moment in his career and help shape him into one of NASCAR’s premier drivers. His recent passing at the age of 98 marks a somber moment not only for NASCAR but for the entire motorsports world.
Goldsmith was the longest-lived starter in both NASCAR and IndyCar history. His exceptional versatility earned him induction into multiple halls of fame: the IMS Hall of Fame, Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, Motorcycle Hall of Fame, USAC Hall of Fame, and Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame. His remarkable career is deeply mourned by the NASCAR community and beyond.
Goldsmith was the last NASCAR winner on the Daytona Beach Course.”
Goldsmith’s racing career began in Detroit after World War II. As a teenager, he shifted from motorcycles to cars, securing his first major win with the American Motorcyclist Association in 1952 at Wisconsin State Fair Park, now known as the Milwaukee Mile. He continued to excel on two wheels with victories in the Daytona 200 in 1953 and a 100-mile race at Langhorne Speedway, and earned a second-place finish in the AMA standings in 1954.
From 1958 to 1963, Goldsmith regularly competed in the Indy 500, achieving his best finish of third place in 1960. Despite not finishing a lap in his 1958 debut due to a fatal multi-car accident, he later achieved a commendable fifth place in 1959.
Goldsmith also raced part-time in NASCAR from 1956 to 1969, securing nine wins and 44 top-five finishes across 127 races in his 13-year Cup Series career. Though he might have contended for a Cup championship, he never completed a full season.
Goldsmith’s contributions extended beyond racing; he introduced the ‘cool suit’ in July 1964, inspired by astronaut suits. His invention was a major step forward in driver comfort and safety.
