Miller Victory, Altoona 1926

This wonderful photo shows Dave Lewis (7) winning a 250-mile race at the Altoona Speedway board track. It was June 12, 1926. As for Lewis, he had a long and exciting career. He was a veteran of four "500s" with a best result of runner-up in 1925 with the help of relief driver Bennett Hill. It is worth noting that his first "500" was in 1916 but he did not return until nine years earlier. He lost his life in 1928 not in a racing accident, but by suicide after a brushfire destroyed his ranch. Check out another image of Lewis during this same race on First Super Speedway.
 
As you can read in the margin notes, the great Harry Miller (Lewis' brother-in-law) constructed the Miller race car. I am dubious that this was the first victory by a Miller, as there are race records that indicate there were previous winners. It may have been the first Miller victory in the 91.5 cubic inch displacement era. However, this photo is definitely of Lewis winning at Altoona on June 12, 1926. The margin notes also name the flagman as the legendary American Automobile Association starter Fred Wagner.
 
Thanks to the Paul Sheedy Collection for this photo. 
 
Notes from Carl Schulz: From Old Racing Cars by Historian Michael Ferner "the 1926 Miller/Lewis red & white #1 car

Allegedly Chassis Nr. 3 – Dave Lewis drove this car during its first two seasons (with a little help from Earl Cooper), and became the first driver ever to win a ‘proper’ motor race in a front-drive racing car on June 12 in 1926 at Altoona Speedway in Pennsylvania (as #7, colours reversed in ‘27 but still #7). Hollywood stuntman Cliff Bergere purchased the car in late 1927 (cream? #24) and drove it for two seasons (red & white #21 and #24 in ‘28, red & silver #25 in ‘29), with relief by Peter Kreis on occasion. Apparently, it was then purchased by Bill White, who had it rebuilt into a two-man car but didn’t enter it in any races before loaning it to Roscoe Dunning in 1933, who probably purchased it subsequently. Dunning fitted a De Soto engine and put Mauri Rose (#39) into the car, but the tie rod failed on the very last lap of qualifying and it never started. The following year, it was #44 and wrecked by Babe Stapp. Subsequent history unclear. Check out this link for more.