Jose Johnson Special Eagle
Name: Jose Johnson Special
Year Built: 1973
Livery Year: 1975
Livery Year Driver: Jerry Karl
Sponsor: Jose Johnson
Chassis: Eagle
Engine: Chevrolet
Ever the innovator, colorful Henry “Smokey” Yunick fielded an All American Racers-built Eagle in several United States Auto Club-sanctioned National Championship races between 1973 and 1975. The difference between Smokey’s Eagle and others was the power plant: a 207 cubic-inch V8 Chevrolet boosted by twin turbochargers instead of the single turbocharged four-cylinder Offenhauser engine usually found in AAR Eagles. Smokey had planned to enter the car in the 1972 Indianapolis 500, but it was not completed in time. It was driven in 1973 by Jerry Karl in all three of USAC’s 500-mile races: at Indianapolis, Pocono (Pennsylvania), and Ontario (California); the 1974 Pocono 500, with Sam Sessions; and the 1975 Indianapolis 500, again in the hands of Karl. The car was forced to retire with mechanical problems in all but two of its events, its best finish being 13th with Karl in the rain-shortened 1975 Indianapolis 500.