A. J. Foyt

Name: Anthony Joseph “A. J.” Foyt Jr.

Introduction: A. J. Foyt is an American former racing driver and team owner, widely considered one of the greatest and most versatile drivers in the history of motorsports. Nicknamed “Super Tex,” he is unique for winning major events across multiple disciplines, including open-wheel, stock car, and sports car racing.

Date of birth: January 16, 1935

Height: Information not consistently available, but generally regarded as of average height for a race car driver.

Place of birth: Houston, Texas, U.S.

Family:

Parents’ names: Anthony Joseph “Tony” Foyt (father, auto mechanic and midget race car owner/racer) and Emma Evelyn (née Monk) Foyt (mother).
Siblings: Information not widely publicized.
Spouse: Lucy Zarr (m. 1955; died 2023). They were married for over 68 years.
Children:
- Tony Foyt (also known as A.J. Foyt III, son)
- Terry Foyt (son)
- Jerry Foyt (son)
- Larry Foyt (adopted son, also his grandson, who is now the president of A. J. Foyt Enterprises).
Relatives: His adopted son/grandson Larry Foyt. His grandson A. J. Foyt IV is also a racing driver. He was also the godfather of the late driver John Andretti.

Profession: Former professional racing driver, team owner.

Nationality: American

Religion: Information not consistently available. He attended St. Thomas Catholic High School briefly.

College or university attended: He dropped out of high school to pursue his professional racing career.

Biography and What Famous For:

A. J. Foyt grew up immersed in the world of racing; his father owned a garage that specialized in race cars and raced midget cars as a hobby. Foyt started driving midget cars at age 17 and quickly made a name for himself on Midwestern racing circuits.

He is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished drivers in motorsports history due to his extraordinary versatility and success across various racing disciplines.

A. J. Foyt is most famous for:

Being the First Four-Time Winner of the Indianapolis 500: This is his most iconic achievement. He won the prestigious “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in 1961, 1964, 1967, and 1977, a record that stood alone for many years and is now shared by only a few others.
The “Triple Crown of Motorsport” (Sports Car/Stock Car Version): He is the only driver in history to have won the Indianapolis 500, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Daytona 500, and the 24 Hours of Daytona. This achievement showcases his unparalleled versatility.
- 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans: Won with co-driver Dan Gurney, becoming part of the first all-American team to win the grueling endurance race.
- 1972 Daytona 500: Won NASCAR’s most prestigious race.
- 1983 and 1985 24 Hours of Daytona: Won the endurance sports car race.
Most Career Wins in Indy Car Racing: He holds the record with 67 victories.
Most American National Championship Titles in History: He won seven USAC National Championship titles (1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1975, 1979).
USAC Career Wins Record: Holds the record with 159 victories across various USAC divisions (Championship Cars, Sprint Cars, Midget Cars, Stock Cars, Silver Crown).
Team Owner: Since the mid-1960s, he has owned A. J. Foyt Enterprises, which has fielded winning teams in IndyCar (formerly CART/IRL) and NASCAR, including an Indianapolis 500 win as an owner in 1999 with Kenny Bräck.

Foyt was known for his tough, aggressive driving style and his fierce competitive spirit. He survived several major, near-fatal crashes throughout his career, adding to his legendary status. He officially retired from full-time racing in 1993 but made a final NASCAR appearance at the inaugural Brickyard 400 in 1994.

Have participated (Selected Career Highlights):

Major Victories (Driver):

Indianapolis 500: 1961, 1964, 1967, 1977
24 Hours of Le Mans: 1967 (with Dan Gurney)
Daytona 500: 1972
24 Hours of Daytona: 1983, 1985
12 Hours of Sebring: 1985
Pocono 500 (multiple wins)
California 500 (1975)

Championship Titles (Driver):

USAC National Championship (Indy Car): 7 (1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1975, 1979)
USAC Stock Car: 3 (1968, 1978, 1979)
USAC Silver Crown: 1 (1972)
USAC Eastern Sprint Car: 1 (1960)
IROC Champion: 2 (1976, 1977)

Team Ownership:

A. J. Foyt Enterprises (Owner since 1965)
- Indianapolis 500 wins as owner: 1967, 1977 (with A.J. Foyt driving), 1999 (with Kenny Bräck)
- IRL IndyCar Series championships as owner: 1996 (Scott Sharp), 1998 (Kenny Bräck)

Halls of Fame: