Earl Cooper’s driving career became significant in 1908 when he won a major race in San Fransico driving a Maxwell. He later drove for the famous Stutz Racing Team, winning many races and three AAA National Championships. In 1924 with backing from Studebaker, he built his own car and finished second in the National Championship to Jimmy Murphy. Highlights of his Indy 500 career include a second-place finish in 1924 and winning the pole in 1926. His last year as a driver was 1927. He later served with distinction as a race official with the AAA Contest Board. Cooper passed away at the age of 79 at his home in Atwater, Calif., on October 22, 1965. He was inducted into the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1999.