The don’t build them like AJ Foyt any more. Formed like a tree stump and packing the competitove spirit and heart of a Roman gladiator, Foyt was an incredible race car driver during his era and amassed a number and variety of race wins that will never be matched again. If it had wheels he raced it. Dirt, asphalt, open or closed wheel, circles or road courses, it was all him. 

He’s won the Indy 500 four times. He is the only guy who has ever won the Daytona 500, Indy 500, 24 Hours of Daytona, and 24 Hours of LeMans. Reportedly after the win at LeMans (which he had never driven at before showing up with Ford’s team in 1967) he was asked by a reporter what his secret to victory was, as he had won Indy that year as well. Foyt, according to reports of the day put his right foot up on the podium as the answer to the question.

The guy was simply other-worldly in a race car. He won a record 138 USAC races, two IROC championships, 7 NASCAR races, 41 USAC stock car races, and on and on and on.

This video is killer. It shows Foyt in a variety of machines doing what he did, which was win. The nickname “Super-Tex” was 100% accurate.