Don Branson is a racing driver from United States who last raced in Formula 1 for Phillips. Branson has recorded 0 wins and 0 podiums from 2 starts.[1]
A Racer Rating of 3,873 ranks Branson 4140th of 39,300 indexed drivers, on an Elo scale where the strongest reach the high 8,000s. It is built from every indexed race in the driver's file, decayed for time since their last race.
| 1960-05-30 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | P4 | +128 |
| Rating won | Race | Series | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| +128 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway 1960 | Formula 1 | P4 |
| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Podiums | DNFs | Poles | Points | Pos | Gain/Loss | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | ▸Formula 1 | Phillips | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | P11 | +128 | 3,886 |
| 1959 | ▸Formula 1 | Phillips | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | P14 | +2,484 | 3,834 |
| Rival | Rating | Raced | Ahead | Behind | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 Duane CarterHigher-rated | 6,176 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50% |
| 🇺🇸 Tony BettenhausenHigher-rated | 6,070 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50% |
| 🇺🇸 Bob VeithHigher-rated | 5,996 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50% |
| # | Driver | Series | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4,130 | 🇨🇱 Martín Scuncio | Star Mazda Championship | 3,875 |
| 4,131 | 🇩🇪 Steffen Görig | 24H Series | 3,875 |
| 4,132 | 🇺🇸 Vivek Kanthan | Spanish F4 | 3,875 |
| 4,133 | 🇮🇪 Michael Fassbender | European Le Mans Series | 3,874 |
| 4,134 | 🇺🇸 Price Cobb | FIA GT Championship | 3,874 |
| 4,135 | 🏳️ Seb Morris | British GT Championship | 3,874 |
| 4,136 | 🇬🇧 Alex Connor | GB3 | 3,873 |
| 4,137 | 🇺🇸 Andy Belmont | NASCAR Xfinity | 3,873 |
| 4,139 | 🇺🇸 Cecil Green | Formula 1 | 3,873 |
| 4,138 | 🇺🇸 CJ Faison | NASCAR Truck | 3,873 |
| 4,140 | 🇺🇸 Don Branson | Formula 1 | 3,873 |
| 4,141 | 🇺🇸 Josh Green | GT4 America | 3,873 |
| 4,142 | 🇿🇦 Kwanda Mokoena | GT Winter Series | 3,873 |
| 4,143 | 🇺🇸 Russ Dugger | ARCA Menards Series | 3,873 |
| 4,144 | 🇬🇧 Brian Shawe Taylor | Formula 1 | 3,872 |
| 4,145 | 🏳️ Cédric OLTRAMARE | Le Mans Cup | 3,872 |
| 4,146 | 🇺🇸 Darryl Lacks | NASCAR Xfinity | 3,872 |
| 4,147 | 🏳️ Ernst Klodwig | Formula 1 | 3,872 |
| 4,148 | 🇫🇷 Johan Charpilienne | Formula Renault Eurocup | 3,872 |
| 4,149 | 🇺🇸 Jonathan Klein | SVRA | 3,872 |
| 4,150 | 🇺🇸 Max Hanratty | IMSA WeatherTech | 3,872 |
Don Branson held a professional-level racing licence and competed at the sharp end of international single-seater racing. His rating of 4,333 places him among professional drivers; this level describes a national championship front-runner or competitor in a strong feeder series, capable of beating semi-professionals comfortably. His record spans two seasons of Formula 1 racing between 1959 and 1960, contested under the Phillips team banner.[1]
Branson made two Formula 1 starts across the 1959 and 1960 seasons, neither yielding a podium finish. His most recent recorded result came in 1960, when he finished 19th. Despite the brevity and lack of points finishes in the championship, his competitive record shows he was capable of outrunning some of the period's fastest drivers; he finished ahead of Duane Carter (7,326), Tony Bettenhausen (7,220), Eddie Johnson (7,167), and Bob Veith (7,146) in single encounters. These were drivers operating at the elite professional level, and beating them even once demonstrates he belonged in the fields he contested. His career has now ended; his final racing activity was recorded in 1960.