Chubby LeRoux
| Chubby LeRoux | |
|---|---|
| Born | Wilfred J. LeRoux Octobe 10, 1933 Star Lake, New York, US |
| Died | May 29, 2020 (aged 86) |
| Debut season | 1955 |
| Modified racing career | |
| Car number | 6-50, 6-12 |
| Championships | 6 |
| Finished last season | 1977 |
Wilfred "Chubby" LeRoux (October 10, 1933 – May 29, 2020) was a pioneering American driver of modified stock cars. Equally adept on both dirt and asphalt surfaces, he competed regularly in the northeastern United States and the southeastern Canada, capturing 6 track titles.
Racing career
Chubby LeRoux began racing in 1955 at various tracks in the Champlain Valley region.[1] In northeastern New York, he became a track regular at Canton Speedway and later Fort Covington International Speedway in his number 6-12 white and red coupe.[2][3] LeRoux added the NASCAR sanctioned Saranac Lake Speedway when it opened in 1959.[4][5]
An eye injury prompted LeRoux to limit his driving and to form a partnership with fellow driver Gaston Desmarais in 1965 and 1966, and the merger included a number change to the legendary 6-50.[2] LeRoux returned to driving in 1967, and then the closing of Saranac Lake sent LeRoux looking for new racing venues in 1968.[6] LeRoux found the clay surfaced Watertown Speedway, New York, and claimed the track championship that first year.[7]
LeRoux claimed 5 more track championships at New York venues over the next seven years, adding one at Brewerton Speedway, a second at Watertown, and three in a row at the asphalt surfaced Evans Mills Speedway.[8][9][10]
References
- ^ "Wilfred LeRoux". Watertown Daily Times. NY. May 31, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2025 – via NNY360 Archives.
- ^ a b Harker, Dick (1968). "Driver Spotlite: 'Chubby LeRoux'". Gater Racing Photo News. Liverpool NY.
- ^ "New names on winners' race list". The Massena Observer. NY. July 6, 1977. p. 6. Retrieved April 11, 2025 – via NYS Historic Newspapers.
- ^ Riley, Howard (September 8, 1959). "Hoyt wins feature race at speedway". Adirondack Daily Enterprise. Saranac Lake NY. p. 6. Retrieved April 11, 2025 – via NYS Historic Newspapers.
- ^ "LeRoux wins kart feature". Adirondack Daily Enterprise. Saranac Lake NY. September 28, 1961. p. 13. Retrieved April 11, 2025 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ Goetz, Bob (July 19, 1968). "Green flag is up". Adirondack Daily Enterprise. Saranac Lake NY. Retrieved March 26, 2025 – via NYS Historic Newspapers.
- ^ Stoodley, Dave (2003). The Legends of Watertown Speedway. Speedway Press. p. 111. ISBN 9780967743844.
- ^ Stoodley (2003), pp. 125.
- ^ "Auto racing this weekend". Watertown Daily Times. NY. September 3, 1976. Retrieved April 11, 2025 – via NNY360 Archives.
- ^ "Tracks, Series & Organizations - Brewerton Speedway". Auto Racing Research Associates. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
