Leon Sirois, known as Leon Duray “Jigger” Sirois, died on September 23, 2026, at the age of 91. His passing was confirmed by family members familiar with his life and career.
Sirois was born in Shelby, a town in northern Indiana. Over a career spanning several decades, he competed in multiple racing disciplines including midget, stock, and Indy big cars. Despite his varied racing background, he remained a figure most associated with the American racing scene from the mid-20th century.
He was the son of Earl “Frenchy” Sirois, a longtime mechanic for the Indianapolis 500. Earl worked on winning cars for drivers such as Lee Wallard, Sam Hanks, and Jimmy Bryan. The family’s ties to racing ran deep, and Sirois’s name reflects this history. He was named after driver Leon Duray, a racing figure from the 1920s and 1930s, while his nickname “Jigger” was given both by family friend Jigger Johnson and his older sister.
Details about Sirois’s career remain limited, but his family's involvement in racing points to a lifelong immersion in the sport. His father’s work on winning Indy cars suggests that racing was a family tradition. Sirois’s own participation in midget and stock car racing placed him among a generation of drivers who competed across various circuits, often balancing multiple disciplines.
Sources confirmed his death but did not specify the circumstances. The date, September 23, 2026, was announced by family members, who said he had lived a full life. Sirois’s age was verified as 91 at the time of his passing.
While Sirois's name may not be as widely recognized today as some of his contemporaries, his connection to the Indianapolis 500 through his father highlights a legacy intertwined with American motorsport history. His career spanned a period when racing was transitioning from its early roots into a more organized and professional sport.
His passing comes at a time when many of his era's drivers have long since retired or passed away. The racing community remembers families like the Siros for their contributions behind the scenes and on the track. Earl “Frenchy” Sirois, Sirois’s father, left a legacy through his work on some of the most successful cars in Indy history, and Leon Jr. continued that tradition in his own way.
No further details about his life outside racing have been made public. Family members confirmed his death but did not share additional information about his later years or personal pursuits.
The loss of Leon Sirois closes a chapter on a lineage of American racing that dates back nearly a century. Observers note that drivers like Sirois, who competed across different racing forms, helped shape the sport's early years. His death underscores how many racing lives, often overshadowed by stars, contribute quietly to the fabric of American motorsport.
According to Dead-People.