The
colorful Armenian with the big smile and terrific personality
began racing cars while in his teens. He won his first midget
championship in 1937 with the Northern California Racing
Association against
such drivers as
Duane Carter, Lynn Deister, and Paul Swedberg.
Driving
for Jack London, Freddie
captured the BCRA crown in 1946, then switched to
the George Bignotti racing team in 1947. He was almost
unbeatable for the next two years and captured the BCRA title
twice more in 1947 and 1948.
Agabashian did not limit his driving abilities to
midgets. He won in big cars and stock cars as well which
earned him a ride at Indianapolis for the 1947 race. He
competed at Indy on eleven occasions and is best remembered
for his pole winning effort in 1952 in the unique Cummins
Diesel. His best finish at Indianapolis came the next year
when he placed 4th with relief from Paul Russo, another member
of the Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.
After retiring he worked as a color commentator on the
500 Network and was always a great advocate of midget racing.
Fred Agabashian died on October 13, 1989.
