Chubby LeRoux
| Chubby LeRoux | |
|---|---|
| Born | Wilfred J. LeRoux October 10, 1933 |
| Died | May 29, 2020 (aged 86) |
| Debut season | 1955 |
| Modified racing career | |
| Car number | 6-50, 6-12 |
| Championships | 6 |
| Finished last season | 1977 |
Wilfred "Chubby" LeRoux (October 10, 1933 – May 29, 2020) was a pioneering American driver of modified stock cars. Equally adept on both dirt and asphalt surfaces, he competed regularly in the northeastern United States and the southeastern Canada, capturing six track titles.
Racing career
LeRoux began racing in 1955 at various tracks in the Champlain Valley region.[1] In northeastern New York, he became a track regular at Canton Speedway and later Fort Covington International Speedway in his number 6-12 white and red coupe.[2][3] LeRoux added the NASCAR sanctioned Saranac Lake Speedway when it opened in 1959.[4][5]
An eye injury prompted LeRoux to limit his driving and to form a partnership with fellow driver Gaston Desmarais in 1965 and 1966, and the merger included a number change to the legendary 6-50.[2] LeRoux returned to driving in 1967, and then the closing of Saranac Lake sent LeRoux looking for new racing venues in 1968.[6] LeRoux found the clay surfaced Watertown Speedway, New York, and claimed the track championship that first year.[7]
LeRoux claimed five more track championships at New York venues over the next seven years, adding one at Brewerton Speedway, a second at Watertown, and three in a row at the asphalt surfaced Evans Mills Speedway.[8][9][10]
References
- ↑ "Wilfred LeRoux". Watertown Daily Times. NY. May 31, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2025 – via NNY360 Archives.
- 1 2 Harker, Dick (1968). "Driver Spotlite: 'Chubby LeRoux'". Gater Racing Photo News. Liverpool NY.
- ↑ "New names on winners' race list". The Massena Observer. NY. July 6, 1977. p. 6. Retrieved April 11, 2025 – via NYS Historic Newspapers.
- ↑ Riley, Howard (September 8, 1959). "Hoyt wins feature race at speedway". Adirondack Daily Enterprise. Saranac Lake NY. p. 6. Retrieved April 11, 2025 – via NYS Historic Newspapers.
- ↑ "LeRoux wins kart feature". Adirondack Daily Enterprise. Saranac Lake NY. September 28, 1961. p. 13. Retrieved April 11, 2025 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ↑ Goetz, Bob (July 19, 1968). "Green flag is up". Adirondack Daily Enterprise. Saranac Lake NY. Retrieved March 26, 2025 – via NYS Historic Newspapers.
- ↑ Stoodley, Dave (2003). The Legends of Watertown Speedway. Speedway Press. p. 111. ISBN 9780967743844.
- ↑ Stoodley (2003), pp. 125.
- ↑ "Auto racing this weekend". Watertown Daily Times. NY. September 3, 1976. Retrieved April 11, 2025 – via NNY360 Archives.
- ↑ "Tracks, Series & Organizations - Brewerton Speedway". Auto Racing Research Associates. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
