Tags: Motorsport Racer, Racing Driver.
Richard Charles Atkins (April 23 1936-November 13 1966) was an American racing driver from Oakland California.Atkins came up in sprint cars and won the Turkey Night Grand Prix in 1965 and was rewarded by race promoter J. C. Agajanian with a chance to race in the USAC National Championship in 1966. He failed to qualify for the 1966 Indianapolis 500 but finished fourth at Trenton Speedway in September then won on the dirt oval at Sacramento in October for his first big car win.