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.

[1][2] 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.

Despite it being one of the hottest Indy 500s on record, Vukovich and Cross completed the entire race without relief.

Cross' car was the "Springfield Welding Special", which was owned by Bessie Lee Paoli, who was the only female owner at the time.