In 1915 the AAA (American Automobile Association) organized a full season of major automobile races across the United States, with a schedule that stretched from January 9 to November 25 and included 27 events on a mix of road courses, dirt and board track ovals. Although the AAA Contest Board did not officially award championship points or declare a national champion at the time, the season was widely followed and later historians have applied retrospective points systems to evaluate it.
The season featured many of the era’s top drivers and manufacturers, with competitions at celebrated events such as the American Grand Prize in San Francisco — won by Dario Resta driving a Peugeot — and the Vanderbilt Cup shortly thereafter, also dominated by Resta. The pinnacle of the year was the Indianapolis 500, held on May 31, where Ralph DePalma took victory in a Mercedes, averaging nearly 90 mph over the 500‑mile distance.
Across the season, standout performances came from drivers such as Earl Cooper, Dario Resta, Gil Andersen, and Eddie O’Donnell, with Cooper later recognized by contemporary observers — specifically the automotive journal Motor Age — as the de facto national champion based on merit and consistent results. When retroactive points were applied in 1927, Cooper topped the standings, followed by Resta and Andersen, although these results are considered unofficial by modern historians.
The 1915 season also marked the growing use of wooden board tracks at high‑speed venues, reflecting a shift in American racing toward specialized speedways. While points and official titles were absent, the year remains a key chapter in early AAA racing, showcasing fierce competition, technological innovation, and the magnetic appeal of long‑distance racing to both drivers and fans.
October 9, 1915
