In May 1955, Bill Vukovich, Esther and his brother Mike were staying at the at the Thompson Speedway house while Vukovich pursued his favorite hobby. Vuky qualified third fastest for the 39th 500. He had won the two previous 500s and was the favorite to win his third in a row.
He was leading the race on lap 57 when an accident in front of him caused him to lose control of his car which vaulted over a wall on the south end of the back stretch, flipped end over end, and burst into flames, killing Vukovich.
Esther, sitting with Mrs. Thompson on the main straightaway, did not see the crash. But she had a bad feeling when her husband's car failed to appear as the field circled the oval and returned to the main straightaway.
"It's him. Something's happened," Esther told Mrs. Thompson.
--Cooter
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