9/12/1934 - 13/10/2005
Record updated
Dirt-track racing driver during the 1950's who went on to drive in the Indy 500.
Wayne Weiler was a cotton farmer from Phoenix. He started racing in 1951 on his local dirt tracks and went on to drive in the Indy 500.
His career was cut short by a near fatal accident at Terre Haute, IN later in '61 where he suffered severe head injurie and made a brief comeback on the West Coast in the late 1960s, he never again competed with USAC.
His best finish was a third place at the Arizona State Fairgrounds 1-mile dirt track in Phoenix in 1960. His best Indy finish was 15th in 1961.
He drove for Mari George in his Indianapolis 500 debut in 1960 but was eliminated by an accident after 103 laps with the Ansted-Rotary Special she fielded in partnership with Bill Ansted. In 1961, Weiler completed 147 laps for car owner Lindsey Hopkins and finished 15th.
He remained active as an owner and manager running a midget car that was driven by many of the top drivers including Lealand McSpadden, Larry Clark and Buddy Taylor. Wayne sponsored cars driven through the years by Ricky Johnson and later by R.J. Johnson. H
e died October 13, 2005 from a heart attack in Phoenix.