A motorcycle racer-turned-stock car racer, Paul Goldsmith, had no idea that his victory in a 1953 race on Detroit Fairgrounds was going to change his career trajectory forever and give NASCAR one of its best drivers. It’s a sad day for not just the NASCAR community, but the entire motorsports community as we bid adieu after his recent passing at the age of 98.

Goldsmith was the longest-living NASCAR and IndyCar starter. Known for his versatility, he was part of the IMS Hall of Fame, Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, Motorcycle Hall of Fame, USAC Hall of Fame, and Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame. Such was his prowess! And the NASCAR community comes together to mourn the legend.

For Paul Goldsmith, racing began after the Second World War

Goldsmith etched his name into racing history in 1958. Piloting a Smokey Yunick-owned Pontiac, he clinched a dominant five-car-length victory in the final race held on the legendary Daytona Beach, Florida, beach road course. A victory on that track wasn’t easy, as it combined the challenges of racing on the Atlantic sand with the parallel paved highway and gradually fell into disuse.

“Paul Goldsmith had more natural talent than any driver I ever had anything to do with,” Smokey Yunick said about the late veteran as he was quoted in Peter Golenbock’s 1993 book, American Zoom. “He’s a very, very quiet, likable guy … good manners. A very, very fast race driver and had extremely quick reflexes. Inside of three or four races, he was as good as there was.”

Coming to the sad demise on Friday, the news was shared by Toby Christie on X as he wrote, “Paul Goldsmith, a nine-time #NASCAR Cup Series race winner, and six-time Indy 500 competitor, passed away on Friday at the age of 98, Indianapolis Motor Speedway has confirmed. Goldsmith was the last NASCAR winner on the Daytona Beach Course.”

Paul Goldsmith was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia. And, his racing career began in his hometown of Detroit after World War II. As a teenager, he transitioned from motorcycles to automobiles, and achieved his first significant victory with the American Motorcyclist Association in 1952 at Wisconsin State Fair Park, now known as the Milwaukee Mile. His success continued on two wheels, with wins in the Daytona 200 motorcycle race on a Harley Davidson in 1953 and the 100-mile race at Langhorne Speedway.

Between 1958 and 1963, Goldsmith was a regular at the Indy 500, with his top finish being third in 1960. A remarkable fifth-place finish marked his 1959 race despite not completing a lap in his debut race (1958), which was tragically marred by a multi-car accident that claimed the life of Pat O’Connor.

At the same time, he also ran part-time in NASCAR. His Cup Series career spanned 1956 to 1969, marked by nine victories and 44 top-five finishes in 127 races across his 13-year Cup career. Despite running a partial schedule, he achieved significant success, particularly when teamed up with the legendary engineer and team owner Ray Nichels, a 2021 inductee into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

Goldsmith probably could have challenged for a Cup championship, but he never ran anything close to a full season. Despite that, Goldsmith had a full life, in motorsports and outside. Until today, all the drivers have heartfelt gratitude for his amazing invention!

The legend’s invaluable contribution to NASCAR

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Did you know that NASCAR cool suits have a pretty interesting backstory?

It all kicked off in July 1964 when Paul Goldsmith introduced a game-changing cooling technology. He was inspired by astronaut suits and came up with the ‘cool suit’ to help drivers deal with the intense heat inside their cars. Since race cars generate a lot of heat from burning fuel and don’t have much airflow due to their low ground clearance, the temperature inside can get really high. Paul Goldsmith’s innovation was all about making drivers more comfortable and keeping them cool while they’re racing.

He wore it to the Nashville race the same year, driving the 99 Dodge. Hear from the legend himself.

If you see a driver heading to the pits with a couple of tubes trailing behind them, they’re probably wearing what’s called a ‘cool suit’. It’s a special shirt or vest with tiny tubes running through it, kind of like veins.

• These tubes circulate cold water that pulls heat away from the driver’s body.
• The water is then cooled again by a refrigeration box.
• Drivers can even tweak the cooling level with a button, which helps them stay comfortable and manage their temperature during those long, grueling races.

Other than that, after retiring in 1969, Paul Goldsmith pursued his passion for aviation, trained pilots for China East Airlines, participated in racing events, and managed his own aviation engine repair business and airport in Griffith, Indiana. He was truly an all-rounder; may his soul rest in peace.

EssentiallySports extends its deepest condolences to the late veteran’s family, friends, and fans.