The April 19, 1959 USAC Race of Champions was a Championship Car race held at the one-mile paved Trenton International Speedway in Trenton, New Jersey. Originally scheduled for 100 laps, rain shortened the event to 87 laps. A crowd of 12,000 attended, with 21 cars starting the race after five drivers, including A.J. Foyt, failed to qualify.
Tony Bettenhausen, driving a Kuzma-Offenhauser, started from the middle of the pack but took the lead on lap 49 and led the remaining laps to win the race with an average speed of 91.16 mph. He earned $4,650 from a $17,660 purse. Rodger Ward finished second, followed by Jimmie Davies in third, Jim Rathmann in fourth, and Chuck Arnold in fifth. The race had one caution period for 20 laps. Tragically, driver Dick Linder was killed in a crash on lap 56. Don Branson had started on pole.
This was one of Bettenhausen’s two victories in the 1959 season and a key result in his strong campaign that saw him finish 2nd in the USAC National Championship.
