Portland’s Len Sutton, one of the greatest race car drivers of his generation and the second-place finisher in the 1962 Indianapolis 500, died in his sleep Monday morning at his Portland home. He was 81, and his wife Anita, the love of his life for 59 years, was close by.
While horrific racing accidents claimed the life of Oregon drivers Les Anderson, George Amick and Art Pollard over the years, Sutton survived several close calls, raced in seven Indianapolis 500s, and won United States Auto Club championship races at Trenton, Springfield and Milwaukee. Sutton had 43 career top 10 finishes.
Among his numerous honors, Sutton said he was proud to be a member of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame, joining ageless stock car racing legend Hershel McGriff and Portland sports car racer Monte Shelton, who noted simply of his longtime friend, “he was almost too nice to be in racing. You couldn’t find a mean bone in that guy’s body. And yet, when he raced, he was really good.” Sutton is survived by his wife and his two daughters, Christy and Hollie. Funeral services are pending.
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