Cross began racing
midget cars in 1938. He served as a tank commander during the
Second World War, and received a
Purple Heart for his wounds during the
Battle of the Bulge. He returned to midget cars after the war, and raced in one of
Pappy Hough's "Little Iron Pigs." Cross won the first Indy 500
Rookie of the Year award after a fifth-place finish in the
1952 Indianapolis 500. Cross used his share of $27,000 from the race to purchase a farm near LaPorte, Indiana. Cross finished second in the
1953 Indianapolis 500 behind
Bill Vukovich. Despite it being one of the hottest Indy 500s on record, Vukovich and Cross completed the entire race without relief. Driver
Carl Scarborough died from the heat. Cross' car was the "Springfield Welding Special", which was owned by Bessie Lee Paoli, who was the only female owner at the time. After retiring from racing, Cross turned his attention to running the farm in LaPorte, Indiana. He later became involved in a heavy equipment business and in construction. He was inducted in the
National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1992. ==Indianapolis 500 results==