Artha Benson "Deacon" Litz (August 2, 1897 – January 3, 1967) was an American racing driver active primarily during the 1920s and 1930s.
Personal life
Litz was a hotel-keeper by trade, and was said to weigh 224 pounds.
Due to his fame as a racecar driver, Litz appeared in the 1929 silent film Speedway.
Racing career
Litz started racing with his own home-made car on dirt tracks at county fairs soon after World War I. He began his professional career in 1927 and appeared in the 1929 silent film, Speedway, as an auto racer.
Litz was a star when the Duesenberg and Miller racing cars dominated the tracks. He participated in many well-known races throughout his career, including the Indianapolis 500 and the Vanderbilt Cup.
Litz's best finish at the Indianapolis 500 was placing fourth in 1934. Litz was the first person to apply to be in the 1935 Indianapolis 500, putting in his application six months before the race date. He was a 12-time starter at the Indianapolis 500. Litz was inducted into the Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1964.
Litz retired from the sport after his last Indianapolis 500 race in 1941. Litz was noted for being an excellent speaker regarding the sport of speedway racing after his retirement. Litz died in Daytona Beach, Florida, in 1967.
Motorsports career results
Indianapolis 500 results
YearCarStartQualRankFinishLapsLedRetired19282317106.21323141610Flagged1929269114.52610245649Rod19301231105.755830220Crash T3193154111.5317171770Crash T119322419109.54631181520Rod19332614113.13817161970Flagged19341219113.7311442000Running19351613114.4881882000Running19361526115.99713231080Crankshaft19373511116.37233141910Out of oil19395331117.979313370Valve19413229123.4401522890Oil troubleTotals156049
Starts12Poles0Front Row0Wins0Top 51Top 102Retired8
References