Rex Houston Mays Jr. (March 10, 1913 â November 6, 1949) was an American racing driver. He was a two-time National Champion, won four poles for the Indianapolis 500, and is generally regarded as one of the greatest drivers of his era.
Mays won regional sprint car championships in the mid-1930s. He made his Indianapolis 500 debut in 1934 and won the pole in 1935, 1936, and again in 1940 and finished second, he returned the next year and finished second again. Mays won the AAA National Championship in 1940 and 1941. However, World War II suspended racing until 1946, denying Mays of what likely would have been the peak of his career. After the war, Mays again won the Indianapolis pole in 1948, but was knocked out by a mechanical problem.
On lap 4 of the Milwaukee State Fairground Park on June 6, 1948, Duke Dinsmore brushed the wall on the southern side of the track, resulting in his car turning over and tossing its driver onto the dirt track. With Dinsmore laying on the track, Mays intentionally turned his car into the brick wall to prevent himself from hitting the injured driver. Mays' car was too damaged to continue the race. Dinsmore was taken the hospital, where he was diagnosed with fracture of his forearm. Mays suffered no injuries after sacrificing his car. Surgeons at Milwaukee County Hospital stated on June 7 that Dinsmore was in recovery and out of danger.
Mays started second place at Del Mar Fairgrounds on November 6, 1949 alongside Jimmy Davies. On lap 13, he had been under challenge from Johnnie Parsons and in the southeast turn, spun towards the infield and eliminated of fencing to protect the grounds. Upon hitting the fencing, Mays' car was launched backed towards the track, ejecting Mays. Laying on the track, Mays' body was struck by three more cars driven by Paul Russo, Hal Cole and George Connor, running him over. Mays was loaded into an ambulance, but was dead at that point. Davies' victory was dealt with in silence as news of his death had reached the fans despite news being withheld by officials. The Deputy Coroner stated that Mays was killed upon impact. His body went to La Jolla then moved to Glendale, where he took up residence.
Mays' funeral was held on November 10 at the Church of the Recessional in Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Hundreds came to the funeral to honor Mays. Pop Myers, the vice president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway attended, along with numerous drivers. Johnny Parsons, who was involved in the fatal accident, also attended the service. 251 sets of flora were sent and they came in different designs, including "Rex", "33" and a checkered flag. Mays' wife passed out twice during the funeral and a doctor was asked after the funeral to check on him. A planned flyover by the 731st Airlift Squadron of the United States Air Force that Mays served in, was abandoned due to the weather.
Mays estate was deemed at just under $12,000 (1949 USD) in December 1949. His will, signed on June 12, 1948, was probated by his widow Dorothea. Mays' racing equipment and vehicles would be sold and all proceeds from the sales would be turned into a trust fund for the couple's two children become 21 years old, at which point the estate would be divided equally between his wife and children.
After Mays' death, the 22nd Agricultural Association, who operated the Del Mar Fairgrounds, indefinitely suspended all auto racing at the facility. On December 14, 1949, the association announced that all auto racing would be banned on a permanent basis after a unanimous vote by the Board of Directors.
Mays has been inducted into the following halls of fame:
With his death, a memorial plaque was placed at the Milwaukee State Fairground Park in the south turn, the spot where he saved Duke Dinsmore's life in 1948. The dedication would be held on June 11, 1950 prior to the race, which would be renamed the Rex Mays Century in his honor. The Rex Mays Classic ran as such from 1950 to 1987 - at which time the Mays name was eliminated in favor of Miller High Life sponsorship. Riverside International Raceway also held an Indy car race named after Mays, the Rex Mays 300, which ran from 1967 to 1969. Dan Gurney won the 1967 and 1968 editions of the race, while Mario Andretti won the 1969 race. Les Richter of American Raceways stated that the 1970 edition was canceled because of a conflict with the Grand National 400 at Texas World Speedway on the chosen date of December 6. They felt that only one race should held on December 6 and that the Rex Mays 300 had been a money loser.