The Big Wheel (1949)

Young Billy Coy (Mickey Rooney) lost his dad to a fiery wreck at the Indy 500, but that doesn't stop him from wanting to get behind the wheel as a professional driver. He makes his first step toward racing glory when he lands a gig in a garage with Red (Thomas Mitchell), the man who fine-tuned Billy's father's car. With the support of his mother (Spring Byington), love-struck beauty Louise (Mary Hatcher) and Red, Billy finally makes it as a pro, and gets his own shot at the Indy 500.