Kurtis Kraft
Kurtis Kraft was an American designer and builder of race cars. The company built midget cars, quartermidgets, sports cars, sprint cars, Bonneville cars, and USAC Championship cars. It was founded by Frank Kurtis when he built his own midget car chassis in the late 1930s.
Kurtis built some very low fiberglass bodied two-seaters sports cars under his own name in Glendale, California between 1949 and 1955. Ford running gear was used. About 36 Kurtis Sport Cars had been made when the licence was sold to Earl "Madman" Muntz who built the Muntz Jet. In 1954 and 1955, road versions of their Indianapolis racers were offered.
Kurtis Kraft created over 550 ready-to-run midget cars, and 600 kits. The Kurtis Kraft chassis midget car featured a smaller version of the Offenhauser motor. The National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame describes the combination as "virtually unbeatable for over twenty years." Kurtis Kraft also created 120 Indianapolis 500 cars, including five winners.
Kurtis sold the midget car portion of the business to Johnny Pawl in the late 1950s, and the quarter midget business to Ralph Potter in 1962.
Frank Kurtis was the first non-driver inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame. Zeke Justice and Ed Justice of the Justice Brothers both worked at Kurtis-Kraft after World War II. Zeke Justice was the first employee at Kurtis-Kraft.
The FIA World Drivers' Championship included the Indianapolis 500 between 1950 and 1960, so many Kurtis Kraft cars are credited with competing in that championship. One Kurtis midget car was also entered in the 1959 Formula One United States Grand Prix driven by Rodger Ward. It was not designed for international-style road racing and with an undersized engine it circulated at the back of the field for 20 laps before retiring with clutch problems.
World Championship results
From 1950 to 1960, the Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship.| Year | Team | Driver | No. of GPs |
| 1950 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Cecil Green | 1 |
| 1950 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Duke Dinsmore | 1 |
| 1950 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Fred Agabashian | 1 |
| 1950 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jack McGrath | 1 |
| 1950 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jerry Hoyt | 1 |
| 1950 | Kurtis Kraft-Cummins | Jimmy Jackson | 1 |
| 1950 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Johnnie Parsons | 1 |
| 1950 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Johnny McDowell | 1 |
| 1950 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Joie Chitwood | 1 |
| 1950 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Mack Hellings | 1 |
| 1950 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Pat Flaherty | 1 |
| 1950 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Sam Hanks | 1 |
| 1950 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Walt Brown | 1 |
| 1950 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Walt Faulkner | 1 |
| 1951 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Bill Schindler | 1 |
| 1951 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Carl Forberg | 1 |
| 1951 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Carl Scarborough | 1 |
| 1951 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Cecil Green | 1 |
| 1951 | Kurtis Kraft-Novi | Chet Miller | 1 |
| 1951 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Cliff Griffith | 1 |
| 1951 | Kurtis Kraft-Novi | Duke Nalon | 1 |
| 1951 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Fred Agabashian | 1 |
| 1951 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Gene Force | 1 |
| 1951 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jack McGrath | 1 |
| 1951 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Johnnie Parsons | 1 |
| 1951 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Lee Wallard | 1 |
| 1951 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Manny Ayulo | 1 |
| 1951 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Mike Nazaruk | 1 |
| 1951 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Sam Hanks | 1 |
| 1951 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Troy Ruttman | 1 |
| 1951 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Walt Brown | 1 |
| 1952 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Andy Linden | 1 |
| 1952 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Art Cross | 1 |
| 1952 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Bill Vukovich | 1 |
| 1952 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Bob Scott | 1 |
| 1952 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Bob Sweikert | 1 |
| 1952 | Kurtis Kraft-Novi | Chet Miller | 1 |
| 1952 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Chuck Stevenson | 1 |
| 1952 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Cliff Griffith | 1 |
| 1952 | Kurtis Kraft-Novi | Duke Nalon | 1 |
| 1952 | Kurtis Kraft-Cummins | Fred Agabashian | 1 |
| 1952 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Gene Hartley | 1 |
| 1952 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | George Connor | 1 |
| 1952 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jack McGrath | 1 |
| 1952 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jim Rathmann | 1 |
| 1952 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jimmy Bryan | 1 |
| 1952 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jimmy Reece | 1 |
| 1952 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Joe James | 1 |
| 1952 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Johnnie Parsons | 1 |
| 1952 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Johnny McDowell | 1 |
| 1952 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Rodger Ward | 1 |
| 1952 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Sam Hanks | 1 |
| 1953 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Art Cross | 1 |
| 1953 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Bill Holland | 1 |
| 1953 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Bill Vukovich | 1 |
| 1953 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Cal Niday | 1 |
| 1953 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Carl Scarborough | 1 |
| 1953 | Kurtis Kraft-Novi | Duke Nalon | 1 |
| 1953 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Fred Agabashian | 1 |
| 1953 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Gene Hartley | 1 |
| 1953 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jack McGrath | 1 |
| 1953 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jerry Hoyt | 1 |
| 1953 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jim Rathmann | 1 |
| 1953 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jimmy Davies | 1 |
| 1953 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jimmy Daywalt | 1 |
| 1953 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Johnnie Parsons | 1 |
| 1953 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Marshall Teague | 1 |
| 1953 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Paul Russo | 1 |
| 1953 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Rodger Ward | 1 |
| 1953 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Sam Hanks | 1 |
| 1953 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Spider Webb | 1 |
| 1953 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Walt Faulkner | 1 |
| 1954 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Art Cross | 1 |
| 1954 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Bill Homeier | 1 |
| 1954 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Bill Vukovich | 1 |
| 1954 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Bob Sweikert | 1 |
| 1954 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Duane Carter | 1 |
| 1954 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Ernie McCoy | 1 |
| 1954 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Frank Armi | 1 |
| 1954 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Fred Agabashian | 1 |
| 1954 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Gene Hartley | 1 |
| 1954 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jack McGrath | 1 |
| 1954 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jerry Hoyt | 1 |
| 1954 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jimmy Daywalt | 1 |
| 1954 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jimmy Jackson | 1 |
| 1954 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Johnnie Parsons | 1 |
| 1954 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Larry Crockett | 1 |
| 1954 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Mike Nazaruk | 1 |
| 1954 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Pat Flaherty | 1 |
| 1954 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Pat O'Connor | 1 |
| 1954 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Paul Russo | 1 |
| 1954 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Sam Hanks | 1 |
| 1954 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Tony Bettenhausen | 1 |
| 1954 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Troy Ruttman | 1 |
| 1955 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Al Herman | 1 |
| 1955 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Al Keller | 1 |
| 1955 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Andy Linden | 1 |
| 1955 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Art Cross | 1 |
| 1955 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Bill Homeier | 1 |
| 1955 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Bill Vukovich | 1 |
| 1955 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Bob Sweikert | 1 |
| 1955 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Cal Niday | 1 |
| 1955 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Chuck Weyant | 1 |
| 1955 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Ed Elisian | 1 |
| 1955 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Fred Agabashian | 1 |
| 1955 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jack McGrath | 1 |
| 1955 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jimmy Davies | 1 |
| 1955 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jimmy Daywalt | 1 |
| 1955 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Johnnie Parsons | 1 |
| 1955 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Johnny Boyd | 1 |
| 1955 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Pat Flaherty | 1 |
| 1955 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Pat O'Connor | 1 |
| 1955 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Paul Russo | 1 |
| 1955 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Ray Crawford | 1 |
| 1955 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Sam Hanks | 1 |
| 1955 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Tony Bettenhausen | 1 |
| 1955 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Walt Faulkner | 1 |
| 1956 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Al Herman | 1 |
| 1956 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Al Keller | 1 |
| 1956 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Andy Linden | 1 |
| 1956 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Bob Christie | 1 |
| 1956 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Bob Veith | 1 |
| 1956 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Dick Rathmann | 1 |
| 1956 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Duke Dinsmore | 1 |
| 1956 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Ed Elisian | 1 |
| 1956 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Fred Agabashian | 1 |
| 1956 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jack Turner | 1 |
| 1956 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jim Rathmann | 1 |
| 1956 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jimmy Daywalt | 1 |
| 1956 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Johnnie Parsons | 1 |
| 1956 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Johnnie Tolan | 1 |
| 1956 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Johnny Boyd | 1 |
| 1956 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Keith Andrews | 1 |
| 1956 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Pat O'Connor | 1 |
| 1956 | Kurtis Kraft-Novi | Paul Russo | 1 |
| 1956 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Ray Crawford | 1 |
| 1956 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Rodger Ward | 1 |
| 1956 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Sam Hanks | 1 |
| 1956 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Tony Bettenhausen | 1 |
| 1956 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Troy Ruttman | 1 |
| 1957 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Al Keller | 1 |
| 1957 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Andy Linden | 1 |
| 1957 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Bill Cheesbourg | 1 |
| 1957 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Bob Christie | 1 |
| 1957 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Don Edmunds | 1 |
| 1957 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Don Freeland | 1 |
| 1957 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Ed Elisian | 1 |
| 1957 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Eddie Johnson | 1 |
| 1957 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Eddie Russo | 1 |
| 1957 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Elmer George | 1 |
| 1957 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Fred Agabashian | 1 |
| 1957 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jack Turner | 1 |
| 1957 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jimmy Daywalt | 1 |
| 1957 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jimmy Reece | 1 |
| 1957 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Johnnie Parsons | 1 |
| 1957 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Johnnie Tolan | 1 |
| 1957 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Johnny Boyd | 1 |
| 1957 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Marshall Teague | 1 |
| 1957 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Mike Magill | 1 |
| 1957 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Pat O'Connor | 1 |
| 1957 | Kurtis Kraft-Novi | Paul Russo | 1 |
| 1957 | Kurtis Kraft-Novi | Tony Bettenhausen | 1 |
| 1958 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Al Keller | 1 |
| 1958 | Kurtis Kraft-Novi | Bill Cheesbourg | 1 |
| 1958 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Billy Garrett | 1 |
| 1958 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Bob Christie | 1 |
| 1958 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Bob Veith | 1 |
| 1958 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Eddie Johnson | 1 |
| 1958 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jerry Unser | 1 |
| 1958 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Johnnie Parsons | 1 |
| 1958 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Johnny Boyd | 1 |
| 1958 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Johnny Thomson | 1 |
| 1958 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Len Sutton | 1 |
| 1958 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Mike Magill | 1 |
| 1958 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Pat O'Connor | 1 |
| 1958 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Paul Goldsmith | 1 |
| 1958 | Kurtis Kraft-Novi | Paul Russo | 1 |
| 1958 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Shorty Templeman | 1 |
| 1959 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Bob Christie | 1 |
| 1959 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Bobby Grim | 1 |
| 1959 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Chuck Arnold | 1 |
| 1959 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Chuck Weyant | 1 |
| 1959 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Don Freeland | 1 |
| 1959 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Duane Carter | 1 |
| 1959 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Eddie Johnson | 1 |
| 1959 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jim McWithey | 1 |
| 1959 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jimmy Daywalt | 1 |
| 1959 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Jud Larson | 1 |
| 1959 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Paul Russo | 1 |
| 1959 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Red Amick | 1 |
| 1959 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Rodger Ward | 2 |
| 1960 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | A J Foyt | 1 |
| 1960 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Bob Christie | 1 |
| 1960 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Dempsey Wilson | 1 |
| 1960 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Don Freeland | 1 |
| 1960 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Eddie Russo | 1 |
| 1960 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Gene Force | 1 |
| 1960 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Gene Hartley | 1 |
| 1960 | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | Shorty Templeman | 1 |