NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS OF ATHLETES DURING PAST YEAR: Automobile Racing

Amarillo Daily News
December 31, 1922

Jimmy Murphy of Los Angeles won the title of champion automobile race driver for 1922, over a period of nine months, from March 5 to December 3.  Murphy competed in sixteen races held by the American Automobile Association throughout the country, and captured first prize in six of them, including three of the five biggest events.  He compiled a total of 2,420 points.  Tommy Milton, 1920 champion, finished second to Murphy with 1,910 points, and Harry Hartz of Los Angeles, third, with 1,788.  The other leaders were Frank Elliott, 875; Benny Hill, 459; Eddie Hearne, 393; Jerry Wunderlich, 375; Earl Cooper, 260, and Ralph Mulford, 255.  Roscoe Sarles, who was killed in an accident in the Kansas City, Mo., race September 17, had 280.

Automobile racing enjoyed an exceptional year in popularity.  Despite the many races and the great speed involved in each, only one accident resulted fatally.  Contrary to popular opinion, automobile racing has proved it is one of the least hazardous of all sports.

Four records were broken during the year although none of the drivers has as yet applied to the A. A. A. Contest Board.  The new marks were established for fifty, one hundred, two hundred and fifty, and three hundred miles.  Murphy, who, by the way, also captured the French racing classic, the Grand Prix, this year, is credited with two of the marks.  Driving a Duesenberg at Santa Rosa, Cal., May 7, he won that 100-mile race in 52 munites 1.83 seconds.