The grandson of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Bill Vukovich and the son of Bill Vukovich II, Vukovich III was the 1988 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year. Billy Vukovich III was killed in practice for a CRA race at Mesa Marin Raceway, in Bakersfield, California, when his throttle stuck open which caused his car to swerve into the wall.
Vukovich III, grandson of two-time Indy 500 champion Bill Vukovich and son of Bill Vukovich II, earned Rookie of the Year honors at the 1988 Indianapolis 500. Tragically, Billy Vukovich III lost his life in a crash during practice for a CRA race at Mesa Marin Raceway in California when his throttle got stuck, sending his car careening into the wall.