Cooper began his racing career in 1908 in San Francisco in a borrowed car.

He won the race, but lost his job as a mechanic after he beat one of his bosses, so he became a full-time racer.

Cooper got another late start in 1916 after Stutz pulled out of racing, and he finished fifth in the championship.

He won his third title in 1917 when the season was shortened by the outbreak of World War I, after which Cooper officially retired from full-time racing.

He blew another tire just as he was passing Joe Boyer, and the pit stop forced him to settle for second.