Chris Cord

Chris Cord
Born(1940-07-15)July 15, 1940
Beverly Hills, California, US
DiedJuly 28, 2022(2022-07-28) (aged 82)
Sun Valley, Idaho, US
IMSA GT Championship
Years active1975–1993
Championship titles
1987IMSA GT Championship – GTO Class
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years1978
TeamsPorsche Kremer Racing
Best finish6th (1978)
Class wins1 (1978)

Chris Cord (July 15, 1940 – July 28, 2022) was an American racing driver and investment banker. He won the Group 5 SP class at the 1978 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 1987 IMSA GT Championship in the GTO class.

Racing career

At the age of 15, Cord was a crew member for his father's team racing club races in California.[1] After family friend Ernie McAfee died in a racing accident at Pebble Beach in 1956, Cord switched to motocross racing.[2] Cord made his racing debut in the 1975 IMSA GT Championship at Riverside International Raceway.[3][4]

At the 1978 24 Hours of Le Mans, Cord won the Group 5 SP class and finished sixth overall for Porsche Kremer Racing.[4]

Cord entered a 1980 Chevrolet Monza for the 1980 24 Hours of Daytona.[5]

Cord was recruited by Dan Gurney to drive a Toyota Celica for All American Racers for the 1984 IMSA GT Championship.[4]

Cord won the 1987 IMSA GT Championship in the GTO class, winning four races.[4][3][6] Cord was leading the GTO class of the 1987 24 Hours of Daytona with 30 minutes to go until the rear suspension of his Celica broke and was forced to pit for repair, resulting in a second-place finish in class.[7] Cord's win in the final race of the season at Del Mar Fairgrounds clinched the manufacturers' championship for Toyota.[8][9]

In 1988, Cord won two more races in the GTO class, including a comeback win at Mid-Ohio.[10] Midway through the 1988 season, Cord had surgery to correct an intestinal disorder. Cord retired from full-time racing in 1989 due to health problems from surgery.[11][12] Cord would later appear in IMSA Firehawk Series races in 1990.[13]

Personal life

Cord graduated from the University of Southern California with a business degree.[14] He was the grandson of Errett Lobban Cord, the founder of the Cord Corporation, which also ran Cord Automobile.[4]

Cord passed away on July 28, 2022 at the age of 82 in Sun Valley, Idaho.[4]

Racing record

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1978 Porsche Kremer Racing Jim Busby
Rick Knoop 		Porsche 935/77A 5 SP 337 6th 1st
Source:[15]

Complete 24 Hours of Daytona results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1976 Ken Starbird Jim Adams
Milt Minter 		Ferrari 365 GTB/4 GTO 500 6th 6th
1978 Chris Cord Racing Jim Adams Chevrolet Monza GTX 261 DNF DNF
1980 Chris Cord Racing Jim Adams Chevrolet Monza GTX 188 DNF DNF
1981 Chris Cord Racing Jim Adams Chevrolet Monza GTX 191 DNF DNF
1984 All American Racers Jim Adams Toyota Celica GTU 292 DNF DNF
1985 All American Racers Dennis Aase Toyota Celica GTU 533 19th 3rd
1986 All American Racers Dennis Aase Toyota Celica GTO 489 16th 5th
1987 All American Racers Steve Millen Toyota Celica Turbo GTO 681 8th 2nd
1988 All American Racers Dennis Aase
Steve Millen 		Toyota Celica Turbo GTO 416 DNF DNF
1989 All American Racers Steve Bren
Drake Olson 		Toyota 88C GTP 180 DNF DNF
1991 Hotchkis Racing Jim Adams
Rob Dyson
John Hotchkis 		Porsche 962 GTP 692 3rd 2nd
1993 Hotchkis Racing Jim Adams
Robert Kirby 		Porsche 962 GTP 162 DNF DNF
Sources:[16][17]

International Race of Champions

(key) (Bold – Pole position. * – Most laps led.)

International Race of Champions results
Year Make 1 2 3 4 Pos. Pts Ref
1988 Chevrolet DAY
9 		RSD
7 		MCH
 GLN
6 		10th 26 [18]

References

  1. ^ Borzi, Pat (June 16, 1987). "GTO leader, 46, is making up for late start". The Miami Herald. pp. 1C–2C. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  2. ^ Glick, Shav (October 24, 1987). "He Rebounds After Hitting Wall: Aase Back With Cord on Gurney Team Today at Del Mar". The Los Angeles Times. pp. 4, 27. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  3. ^ a b Armijo, Mark (May 16, 1987). "On the fast track: Chris Cord finds success in both racing, board room". The Arizona Republic. p. G/NW5. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Pruett, Marshall (July 30, 2022). "Chris Cord, 1940-2022". RACER. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  5. ^ Fannin, Earl (January 27, 1980). "Chris Cord's Monza will challenge foreigners". The Florida Times-Union. p. C-8. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  6. ^ "Chris Cord 1987 Season Results IMSA Camel GT Championship". The Third Turn. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  7. ^ Kelly, Godwin (February 2, 1987). "GTO Battle Goes Down To Wire". The Daytona Beach News-Journal. p. 7C. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  8. ^ Glick, Shav (October 25, 1987). "IMSA Racing at Del Mar : Cord Gets a Victory, and So Does Toyota". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  9. ^ Garrity, Karl (October 25, 1987). "Cord gets gift win in IMSA GTO race". North County Times. p. D-3. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  10. ^ McHale, T.E. (June 6, 1988). "Anger helps Cord capture race at Mid-Ohio". News Journal, Mansfield, Ohio. p. 5-B. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  11. ^ "Bodine says IROC Should Be Tough". Winston-Salem Journal. August 6, 1988. p. 26. Missing will be Chris Cord, the IMSA road racer who is recuperating from abdominal surgery to correct an intestinal disorder. Cord, who is 10th in the point standings, is expected to be ready in time to drive in the fourth and final IROC event of the season next Saturday at Watkins Glen, N.Y.
  12. ^ Jones, Graham (June 22, 1989). "Chris Cord retires". The Toronto Star. p. B10. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  13. ^ Weaver, Ed (September 22, 1990). "Aase, Cord reunite today". Star-Gazette. p. 4C. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  14. ^ Fabrizio, Tony (January 30, 1986). "Racer's respect: Chris Cord finally a Daytona favorite". Jacksonville Journal. pp. 1C, 4C. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  15. ^ "Le Mans 24 Hours 1978 - Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  16. ^ "Chris Cord (USA) - All Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  17. ^ "Chris Cord - 24 Hours of Daytona Event Results". Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  18. ^ "Chris Cord - 1988 IROC Results". Racing Reference. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
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