Hurley Haywood


Harris Hurley Haywood is an American former race car driver. Haywood has won multiple events, including five overall victories at the 24 Hours of Daytona, three at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and two at the 12 Hours of Sebring and was the fifth driver to complete the informal triple Crown of endurance racing. He is credited with the 1988 Trans-Am title, two IMSA GT Championship titles and 23 wins, three Norelco Cup championships, a SuperCar title and five IndyCar starts.
Haywood won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1977, 1983 and 1994 and is tied as the most successful driver at the 24 Hours of Daytona with five wins. He won the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1973 and 1981. He also drove in the 1980 Indianapolis 500 finishing eighteenth. He represented IMSA four times in the International Race of Champions. In 1970, he was drafted into the army where he served as Specialist 4 with the 164th Aviation Group near Saigon during the Vietnam War. After completing his tour of duty, he won his first IMSA GT title in 1971.
After Peter H. Gregg's death, Haywood was a spokesperson and executive with Brumos Automotive dealerships.
Haywood is the honorary chief driving instructor at the Porsche Track Experience, held at the Barber Motorsports Park outside Birmingham, Alabama. Patrick Dempsey produced a documentary film, Hurley, about Haywood's life.
In honor of his historical achievements, Haywood was invited to perform the ceremonial duties of Grand Marshal at the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Personal life

Haywood served in the 164th Aviation Group during the Vietnam War.
In February 2018, Haywood publicly came out as gay in his autobiography Hurley: From The Beginning.
In June 2019, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, an event widely considered a watershed moment in the modern LGBTQ rights movement, Queerty named Haywood one of the Pride50 "trailblazing individuals who actively ensure society remains moving towards equality, acceptance and dignity for all queer people".

Awards

Haywood was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2005.

Racing results

PPG Indycar Series

YearTeam123456789101112RankPointsRef
1980Lindsey Hopkins RacingONT
INDY
18
MIL
POC
MDO
MCH
WGL
MIL
ONT
MCH
MEX
PHX
52nd20