A mechanical engineer, he was twice badly injured in crashes, yet twice recovered and returned to the tracks. Sockwell built, despite being just twenty years of age, and then entered his own car, the Sockwell Special, for the Indianapolis 500 but failed to qualify. By 1940, he had left the motor racing industry and worked as a debt collector. Sockwell's partner in his car building efforts, Floyd Rankin, later became promoter of Cumberland County Speedway in North Carolina.

Biography last updated 31 Aug 2017