Bill Sheffler

Bayard Taylor "Bill" Sheffler (August 23, 1917 – June 28, 1949) was an American racing driver active during the 1940s.[1][2]

Sheffler attended the University of Southern California, where he was a pole vaulter on the track team. He began racing in Southern California, and was a dominant driver in big car races at Southern Ascot Speedway in South Gate, California prior to World War II.

Sheffler made 15 AAA Championship Car starts, including the 1946 Indianapolis 500 where he finished ninth, and 11 races in 1948, when he finished fourth in the National Championship. He died from injuries sustained in a practice crash prior to the 1949 Championship Car race at Trenton Speedway.[1]