12/14/10 - 6/20/53
Indianapolis, IN
Cup Starts: 4 (1953)
Best Finish: 12th @ Five Flags Speedway,
Pensacola, FL (6/14/53)
Arford decided to expand his team to two cars for 1953, fielding one for himself as well. Frank's debut came on the Daytona Beach course where he qualified an impressive 5th. He would finish the race last, however, when his Oldsmobile blew a gasket on the second lap of the race. Passwater would give Arford a win as a car owner at Charlotte in April. Dick put together a string of strong runs and appeared to be in contention for the 1953 NASCAR title. Frank Arford would start only three more races as a driver.
After recording a career best finish of 12th at Five Flags Speedway, Arford followed the NASCAR circuit to the dangerous Langhorne Speedway in Pennsylvania for the running of the International 200. It was the first race open to both foreign and domestic cars in NASCAR's history. Sadly, Arford was ejected from his Oldsmobile when he crashed through a wall in a qualifying race. He was taken to Mercer Hospital in Trenton, NJ where he died from his injuries. After the incident, Dick Passwater started only one other NASCAR race.
Frank Arford was not only a racer, but also a boxing fan. He was known to referee ameture boxing fights for free. He was a past president of the Indiana Ameture Athletic Association and a member of the Hoosier Boxing Club.
