Sadly died after a long battle with ill health. Jim suffered a lot of tragedy in his life, having lost a son - James in a racing crash - and daughter - Shirley in the same aeroplane crash that killed her husband Tony Bettenhausen Jr. He also had to care for his seriously ill wife for over a decade before his own health took a downturn. Despite all this, he kept close links with the sport and even drove in the 2003 'Heroes of Indy' race - despite being 75 years of age! McElreath started racing on short-track dirt ovals in modified stock cars as long ago as 1945 before then establishing himself in midgets and then Inydcars, taking 6 wins in the series over five years. He didn't retire driving from the sport until he was 67 in 1995.

Biography last updated 19 May 2017