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 3,432 ranks Branson 1853th of 15,348 indexed drivers, on an Elo scale where the strongest reach the low five figures. 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 | +125 |
| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Podiums | DNFs | Poles | Points | Pos | Gain/Loss | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | ▸Formula 1 | Phillips | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | P19 | +125 | 3,444 |
| 1959 | ▸Formula 1 | Phillips | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | P20 | −65 | 3,394 |
Don Branson was an American racing driver who competed in Formula 1 during the 1959 and 1960 seasons, entering two races for Phillips. His only classification came in 1960, when he finished nineteenth. Though his Grand Prix record was goalless, Branson demonstrated competitive pace against experienced drivers; he finished ahead of Duane Carter, a mid-field professional rated significantly higher than himself, and also beat established names including Tony Bettenhausen, Eddie Johnson, and Jimmy Bryan in individual races. These results suggest he possessed the capability to mix with the professional ranks of American single-seater racing at the time.[1]
Branson's Formula 1 tenure was brief and unfruitful, but the competitive context of his limited outings places him within a generation of American drivers attempting to establish themselves in Europe during the early Grand Prix era. He has since retired from racing. The exact circumstances of his career remain obscure in the available record beyond the basic facts of his two starts, though period reporting from figures closely associated with American racing during that era may contain references to his participation.