Eddie Pullen
Encyclopedia
Eddie Pullen was an American
racing driver who worked for and primarily raced the Mercer
marque. He was born in Trenton, New Jersey
.
Pullen began his racing career in 1912 and won his first Championship Car
race on the road course in Tacoma, Washington
. He won the 1914 American Grand Prize
at Santa Monica
, but failed to qualify for the Indianapolis 500
as the Mercer was better suited to road course racing than the open expanses of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He was retroactively awarded 2nd place in the 1914 National Championship. He continued driving a Mercer even after the manufacturer had ceased supporting its racing program. He switched to a Hudson
in 1919 but struggled. In 1921 for his final season of racing he switched to a Duesenberg
and won a 20 lap race on the Beverly Hills board oval
. Later that year he surrendered his 1921 Indianapolis 500
entry to Joe Thomas
but drove in relief for Jimmy Murphy
on raceday but crashed on lap 107.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
racing driver who worked for and primarily raced the Mercer
Mercer (car)
Mercer was an American automobile manufacturer from 1909 until 1925. It was notable for its high-performance cars, especially the Type 35 Raceabout.-Early history:...
marque. He was born in Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
.
Pullen began his racing career in 1912 and won his first Championship Car
American Championship Car Racing
Since 1916 there has been a recognized United States national automobile racing National Championship for drivers of professional-level, single-seat open wheel race cars. The championship has been under the auspices of several different sanctioning bodies since 1909. Since 1911, the Indianapolis...
race on the road course in Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
. He won the 1914 American Grand Prize
1914 American Grand Prize
The 1914 American Grand Prize, held on February 28, 1914 was the third race of the 1914 Grand Prix season. It was held at the Santa Monica Road Course in Santa Monica, California. The Vanderbilt Cup, another Grand Prix race, was held on the same track two days earlier. The Mercer of Eddie Pullen...
at Santa Monica
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
, but failed to qualify for the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
as the Mercer was better suited to road course racing than the open expanses of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He was retroactively awarded 2nd place in the 1914 National Championship. He continued driving a Mercer even after the manufacturer had ceased supporting its racing program. He switched to a Hudson
Hudson Motor Car Company
The Hudson Motor Car Company made Hudson and other brand automobiles in Detroit, Michigan, from 1909 to 1954. In 1954, Hudson merged with Nash-Kelvinator Corporation to form American Motors. The Hudson name was continued through the 1957 model year, after which it was dropped.- Company strategy...
in 1919 but struggled. In 1921 for his final season of racing he switched to a Duesenberg
Duesenberg
Duesenberg was an Auburn, Indiana based American luxury automobile company active in various forms from 1913 to 1937, most famous for its high-quality passenger cars and record-breaking racing cars.-History:...
and won a 20 lap race on the Beverly Hills board oval
Board track racing
Board track, or motordrome, racing was a type of motorsport popular in the United States between the second and third decades of the 20th century. Competition was conducted on oval race courses with surfaces composed of wooden planks...
. Later that year he surrendered his 1921 Indianapolis 500
1921 Indianapolis 500
Results of the 1921 Indianapolis 500 held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 30, 1921....
entry to Joe Thomas
Joe Thomas (driver)
Joe Thomas was an American racecar driver.-Indy 500 results:...
but drove in relief for Jimmy Murphy
James Anthony Murphy
James Anthony Murphy was a race car driver who was the American Racing Champion in 1922 and 1924.-Background:...
on raceday but crashed on lap 107.
External links
- Eddie Pullen at ChampCarStats.com