Bill Vukovich II

Bill was born in Riverside, California on March 29, 1944 to the late Esther & Bill Vukovich.

Bill was the 1968 Indianapolis Rookie of the Year and a member of one of the race’s most prominent families.

Bill was the son of the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Bill Vukovich and the father of fellow Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Billy Vukovich III, as the Vukovich’s were the first to have three generations of drivers compete in the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing”.

California native Bill made 12 starts in the “500” between 1968-1980, with six top-10 finishes placing 2nd in the 1973 race driving the No. 2 Sugarpipe Prune Eagle/Offy fielded by Jerry O’Connell.

In 1968, Bill qualified 23rd and steadily climbed to finish seventh as a rookie driving the No. 98 Wagner-Lockheed Shrike/Offy fielded by fellow Californian J.C. Agajanian. That performance earned Bill Rookie of the Year award.

Bill was also a longtime standout INDYCAR SERIES driver, with 158 career starts and 85 top-10 finishes between 1965-1982. Bill won 1st place at Michigan International Speedway on Sept 16, 1973. His best season was 1972, when he finished second in the USAC Champ car standings.

The versatile Vukovich was also a star on short tracks across America. He earned 23 USAC National Midget victories during his career, racing for premier team owners as J.C. Agajanian.

That success led Bill to being enshrined into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1998, joining his father. All three Vukovichs also are enshrined in the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame.

Racing was in Bill’s blood and in his later years he continued serving the racing community by selling racing equipment. Bill also enjoyed golfing in his free time.

Bill is survived by the love of his life Joyce whom he was married to for 60 years. He is preceded in death by his father and mother Bill & Esther Vukovich, his sister Marlene Amabile and his son Billy Vukovich III.

“Auto Racing, bull fighting and mountain climbing are the only real sports. All the others are games”…… Ernest Hemingway

Should you desire, in lieu of flowers please make a donation to Billy Vukovich III Scholarship Fund, 50200 Rd 427, Oakhurst, CA 93644.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Copper River Country Club September 8, 2023 from 11am – 2pm.