Leon Duray "Jigger" Sirois, a longtime racer in multiple series, has passed away at the age of 91 after battling a number of health issues.
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Sirois' wife, Juanita, announced the news on Sept. 23 with a post on Facebook. She had been using the page to provide updates about his health, but she also shared the news of his passing.
"It is with a heavy heart I am sending this post," Juanita wrote on Facebook. "'Jigger' Sirois passed away early this morning. More details to follow as they are worked out."
A native of Indiana, Sirois competed in multiple racing series throughout his career. He drove stock cars, midgets, and open wheel cars while battling for wins.
His career included time competing in the United Auto Racing Association, which held many events at Joliet Memorial Stadium. Sirois won the drivers' championship in 1961 after scoring eight feature wins.
The racer also competed in the ARCA Menards Series, making one start in 1975. He drove the No. 25 Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway, and he finished eighth in a race that Ron Hutcherson won.
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Sirois also spent several years competing in the USAC National Midget Car Series while facing off with some of the biggest names in racing. He won one race, which took place at Joliet Memorial Stadium in 1968. He also finished second behind Dave Strickland at Boyd's Speedway that same season.
One of the biggest races of his career is actually an event that he did not win due to weather. He took part in the 1972 Ted Horn Memorial at DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, and he led four laps. However, he lost the lead to AJ Foyt, who went on to win after rain shortened the race's length.
While Sirois earned induction into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2013, his name also became synonymous with an unexpected award. The Jigger Award highlighted the drivers who experienced bad luck during qualifying for the Indianapolis 500.
Back in 1969, Sirois attempted to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 for the first time. He and his team drew the first qualifying spot, so he climbed into his car and headed out onto the speedway.
He completed three laps while posting the following speeds: 161.783 mph, 162.279 mph, and 160.542 mph. As he went to complete his fourth lap, car owner Myron Caves told the team to wave off the qualifying lap.
If Sirois had completed his fourth lap, he would have won the pole. At the time, the rule for qualifying would have put him in the pole position. Rain washed out qualifying, so Sirois would have been the only driver to make a pole run.
The rule at the time, according to The Indy Star, stated that "Only qualifying attempts made on the official Pole Day would be eligible for the 1969 Indy 500 pole, assuming there were any attempts."
Instead of winning the pole, the Indiana native had to return to the track the following week for another attempt at qualifying. He showed up the following Saturday and initially posted a time good enough to qualify 26th.
The team thought he could do better, so they waved off the effort and sent him back out onto the track. The engine on his race car then blew up, which meant that he did not even qualify for the race.
1969 qualifying for the Indy 500.
Jigger Sirois disappointed pic.twitter.com/dVJO7m2a62
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