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An original (not modern reprint) 3.5x5" vintage photo from the Marty Himes estate.
Provenance: This photograph comes directly from the Marty Himes Racing Museum Collection, assembled over decades by Marty Himes - racer, restorer, and lifelong archivist of American racing. Every piece he preserved tells part of the story of motorsport’s rise from dirt tracks to the spectacle of the Indy 500. We acquired the majority of his photo collection after his passing. Many of his photos are extremely rare or even one of a kind.
Photo Overview
Johnny Benson Sr. climbs out of his Jet Engineering supermodified in the pits at Winchester Speedway in Winchester, Indiana, moments after winning the 50 lap open competition feature on November 11, 1979; his helmet rests on the car’s bodywork while crew members look on, captured in a candid black and white racing victory image from the Marty Himes Racing Museum collection.
Johnny Benson Sr. was a standout Midwestern short track and supermodified racer, and his son Johnny Benson Jr. later became a NASCAR Busch Series champion and Winston Cup winner, giving photos from Benson Sr.’s career added importance to modern stock car history. Winchester Speedway, one of America’s legendary high banked half mile ovals, has hosted generations of stars whose careers bridged local supermodifieds and national series. Add this authentic period print from the Himes collection to your racing wall now before it speeds away to another collector.
Text Present
Front - on driver’s uniform, chest:
Johnny Benson
Front - on uniform patch:
Kendall
Front - on car body (partial, near nose):
JET
ENGINEERING
Back - handwritten caption:
Johnny Benson climbs from
his Jet Engineering super-
modified after winning the
50 lap open-competition
feature at Winchester
Speedway.
Back - handwritten date:
11/11/79
Back - handwritten credit/address:
Jim Cooling
Box 44506
Indianapolis, Ind.
46244
Print analysis:
Single weight glossy fiber-based photographic paper with period handwriting on the reverse giving full caption, date 11/11/79, and photographer credit to Jim Cooling indicates a darkroom print made from the original negative, very likely produced contemporaneously for personal or press use. Given the paper surface, sharpness, and direct dating, this is best classified as a Type 1 original photo printed in 1979 or within a few years of the event.
Condition: Please see scans of the image we have provided for the most accurate and complete state of the photo. Many of the photos in this collection are very old and have age related wear, chips, creases, curling, etc. Others are remarkably well maintained.
