Gordon Johncock was an American racing driver who won the Indianapolis 500 in 1973 and 1982 and became the USAC Championship Car champion in 1976. Johncock passed away at his home in South Branch, Michigan, on September 28, 2026, at the age of 90.
Gordon Johncock Biography
| Full Name | Gordon Walter Johncock |
| Nickname | Gordon Johncock |
| Profession | Racing Driver |
| Date of Birth | 5 August 1936 |
| Age | 90 years old (at the time of his death in September 2026) |
| Birth Place | Hastings, Michigan, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Education Qualification | Not publicly known |
| Gender | Male |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Date of Death | 28 September 2026 |
| Death Place | South Branch, Michigan, USA |
| Cause of Death | Likely Natural |
Gordon Johncock Age
Gordon Johncock (Gordon Walter Johncock) was born on 5 August 1936 in Hastings, Michigan, United States. He was 90 years old as of September 2026, and his zodiac sign was Leo.
Gordon Johncock Wife | Children
| Marital Status | Married |
| Affairs/Boyfriend | Suzanne “Sue” Johncock |
| Spouse/Wife | Suzanne Johncock |
| Children | Daughter – Peggy, Patsy, and Pamilee “Pam” Johncock Step-brother – Valerie Heffelbower and Traci Burnsed Son – Wally and Gordon Johncock Jr. |
Gordon Johncock Family
| Father’s Name | Walter Andrew Johncock |
| Mother’s Name | Frances L. Johncock |
| Brother’s Name | Jerry Johncock |
| Sister’s Name | None |
Career
| Champ Car Career | 262 races run over 26 years Best finish – 1st (1976) First race – 1964 Tony Bettenhausen Memorial (Springfield) Last Race – 1992 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis) First win – 1965 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (Milwaukee) Last win – 1983 Dixie 200 (Atlanta) Win – 25 Podiums – 76 Poles – 20 |
| NASCAR Cup Series Career | 21 races run over 7 years. First race – 1966 Daytona Qualifier #1 (Daytona) Last race – 1976 National 500 (Charlotte) Win – 0 Top Tens – 4 Poles – 0 |
Gordon Johncock Awards
- 1985 – Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame
- 1997 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame
- 1999 – International Motorsports Hall of Fame
- 2000 – Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- 2002 – Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
- 2025 – United States Auto Club Hall of Fame
Gordon Johncock Height And Weight
| Height (Approx) | In centimeters – 190 cm In meters – 1.90 m In feet & inches – 6’3” |
| Weight (Approx) | In kilograms – 80 kg In pounds – 176 lbs |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Brown |
Gordon Johncock Net Worth
American racing driver Gordon Johncock had an estimated net worth of around $10 million to $15 million at the time of his death in September 2026.
| Net Worth (Approx) | $10 million to $15 million (as of September 2026) |
| Real Estate | Not publicly known |
| Income Sources | Prize money, investment, etc. |
Some Interesting Facts About Gordon Johncock
- Gordon Johncock was born in Hastings, Michigan, to Walter Andrew and Frances L. Johncock.
- He quit school while still in his teens and began competing at small tracks.
- He began racing super modifieds at Michigan tracks like the Old Hastings.
- In 1963, Johncock won the inaugural National Open sprint car race at Williams Grove Speedway.
- Gordon Johncock ran four races in 1964, and then went full-time in 1965.
- Johncock’s first USAC victory was scored at the Milwaukee Mile in August 1965.
- In 1996, he went winless in nine starts out of 16 races, so he left Gerhardt Racing at the end of the year.
- His primary sponsors became Gilmore Broadcasting and Johncock.
- Between 1970 and 1973, Johncock went winless; his team shuttered operations.
- At the Indianapolis 500, a major accident at the start involved Salt Walther.
- He won the USAC national championship in 1976, snatching the title from Johnny Rutherford.
- In 1979, he won the inaugural race contested under CART sanction, the Arizona Republic/Jimmy Bryan 150 at Phoenix.
- Johncock took his second Indianapolis 500 victory in 1982 by a car length over Rick Mears.
- He retired from full-time racing in 1985 but returned for occasional appearances in 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1991.
- Johncock competed in 21 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events in his career.
- He abruptly retired from IndyCar racing during the first week of practice for the 1985 Indianapolis 500.
- Johncock was hired to drive in place of Crawford and qualified for the race.
- His final race was the 1992 Indianapolis 500, where he dropped out of the race with engine failure.
- He participated in a 2004 interview on ESPN Classic’s “Big Ticket” review of the 1982 Indy 500.
- During the lead-up to the 2023 Indianapolis 500, officials from Borg-Warner.
- His longest marriage was to Suzanne Johncock, whom he married in 1990, and the relationship lasted until his death.
- Gordon Johncock died in his home in South Branch, Michigan, on September 28, 2026, at age 90.
FAQ:
How old was Gordon Johncock?
90 years old (at the time of death)
Who was Gordon Johncock’s wife?
Gordon Johncock was married to Suzanne “Seu” Johncock.
What happened to Gordon Johncock?
Gordon Johncock died on 28 September 2026, at age 90.
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