Larry Odo

by Stan Kalwasinski

 

            Joseph “Larry” Odo was among a number of drivers, that include the likes of Fred Lorenzen, Tom Pistone, Gene Marmor, Sal Tovella and others, who began their stock car racing careers and enjoyed success at Chicago’s Soldier Field—the mammoth sports arena on the shore of Lake Michigan, blocks from Chicago’s downtown “Loop” area.

 

            Odo, who was born on September 30, 1921 (NASCAR records show September 22, 1922), began his speed career around 1950 and was mentioned as one of the leading drivers in a Chicago Tribune newspaper story regarding the 1951 Soldier Field season-opening event.  1951 would see Odo race his ’49/50-vintage Ford No. 27 sponsored by Ritz Central Motors in Chicago.  After three years of trying, Odo, behind the wheel of a 1950 Mercury No. 7, won his first career feature race, a 25 lapper, at the ‘Field on June 10, 1953, defeating Kenny Netzel, Paul Bell and Kenny Johnson before a “chilled” crowd of 6,364.

 

            1954 was a big year for Odo at Soldier Field as he finished third in the point standings behind champion Tom Pistone and was among the track’s leading feature winners.  Odo’s big win of the year was the track’s season-opening special, the 9th annual Chicago Park District Police Benevolent Gold Trophy race on Sunday afternoon, May 16, 1954.  Driving his ’53 Oldsmobile No. 7, Odo raced to victory in the 20-lap battle, besting, Roy Czach, Dave Hirschfield and Pistone before an estimated crowd in excess of 50,000, who witnessed the racing program—traditionally the track’s biggest event of the year.

 

            Odo was a regular for the late model stock car competition at Solider Field in 1955 with the races promoted by Andy Granatelli, years before the days of his STP fame.  Granatelli had been involved with the promotion at Soldier Field for a number of years, dating back to 1947 when Granatelli introduced “hot rod” racing to the giant lakefront arena.    Odo captured the 100-lap Season Championship race at Soldier Field in 1955, piloting his ’55 Oldsmobile to victory ahead of Pistone and Marmor.  In addition to his Soldier Field promotion, Granatelli also presented a number of events at 87th Street Speedway in Chicago in 1955.

 

            Odo and his Olds No. 7 won back-to-back late model features at the quarter-mile paved 87th Street oval on July 12 and July 19 with his July 12 victory being the track’s 50-lap Mid Season title race. 

 

            1956 saw Odo compete on NASCAR’s new convertible stock car circuit, finishing third in the points behind champion Bob Welborn and NASCAR legend Curtis Turner.  Odo made 47 starts, grabbing one win and 31 “top 10” finishes, including 13 “top fives.”  Odo’s lone convertible victory came at the Lancaster Raceway in Lancaster, S.C. on April 28, 1956 with Odo wheeling his ’56 Chevy No. 7A to the win.  Odo started 20th in the 22-car field with only three cars running at the finish.  Odo collected $650 for his winning effort. 

 

            Odo made one NASCAR Grand National start in 1956, finishing 19th at Martinsville, Va. in his Chevy “ragtop.”  He competed in the first Daytona 500 on January 22, 1959, finishing 58th – one position behind relative stock car newcomer, Richard Petty, in the 59-car field.  Odo in a ’57 Ford convertible No. 79 encountered engine problems and only completed three laps.  The inaugural 1959 Daytona 500 was Odo’s first and only appearance in the Florida stock car classic.

 

            Odo, who operated Larry Odo Automotive Engineering at 2901 S. Lowe in Chicago, formed the Independent Car Owners Drivers Association (ICODA) in 1957 with fellow driver, Vince Rizzo.  The circuit featured USAC/NASCAR-style late model stock cars with the tour competing at numerous Midwestern tracks for about three or four years.  One of Odo’s challengers at Soldier Field years earlier, Dave Hirschfield was the 1957 ICODA champion. 

 

            A resident of Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood, Odo had been retired from racing for a numbers of years when he was involved in a minor automobile accident in May of 1969 on 95th Street in Evergreen Park, Ill.  Complaining of a bad headache, Odo was on his way home after playing golf with friends and suffered a massive brain hemorrhage and crashed into parked cars.  Odo passed away on May 19, 1969, leaving his wife, Josephine and two daughters, Felicia and Renee.