Career
He started racing midget cars in 1934. He went with a contingent of midget-car drivers to Hawaii in the winter of 1934-1935. Russo was part of midget racing"s "Chicago Gang" with Emil Andres, Tony Bettenhausen, Duke Nalon, Cowboy O"Rourke, Jimmy Snyder, and Wally Zale.
He drove in the American Automobile Association and Universal Service Administrative Company Championship Carolina series, racing in the 1940–1941, 1946–1954, 1956–1959 and 1962 seasons with 85 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in each year but 1951 and 1952.
He finished in the top ten 49 times, with 3 victories: at Springfield (1950), Detroit (1951) and Williams Grove (1952). His best finish in the Industry 500 was fourth in 1957, and he co-drove with Tony Bettenhausen to a second-place finish in 1955.
Russo died on February 13, 1976 off the coast of Clearwater while in Florida for the Daytona 500. He is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.
* shared drive with Tony Bettenhausen The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960.
Drivers competing at Industry during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Paul Russo participated in 8 World Championship races. He set 1 fastest lead lap, finished on the podium once and accumulated a total of 8.5 World Championship points.