Johnnie Tolan

Johnnie Tolan was an American racecar driver, known for his relentless pace in midget car racing and his trademark pre-race ritual. Tolan was one of the most prolific and respected short-track racers of his era.

Nationality	American
Born	22 October 1917 Victor, Colorado
Died	6 June 1986 (aged 68) Redondo Beach, California

Born in the United States and later based in Redondo Beach, California, Tolan burst onto the midget racing scene in the 1940s, quickly making a name for himself as a driver with both speed and consistency. His breakthrough came in 1946, when he claimed 45 midget car victories and won the Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association (RMMRA) Championship. He successfully defended his title the following year, racking up 47 wins in 1947, and continued his winning streak with 27 feature victories in 1948.

Tolan’s momentum carried through the 1950s. He captured the 1950 AAA Midwest Championship, then added an impressive double in 1952—winning both the AAA National Midget Championship and the Midwest Championship. His dominance on the dirt ovals was undeniable, and he cemented his reputation further by winning the prestigious Night Before the 500 midget race in 1953.

Indianapolis 500 and Later Career

With his midget racing credentials firmly established, Tolan took on the Indianapolis 500, the pinnacle of American open-wheel racing. He competed in 1956, 1957, and 1958, driving against some of the sport’s biggest names. His best result came in 1958, when he finished a solid 13th place, a commendable effort in an era of brutal mechanical attrition and fierce competition.

International Ventures and Final Years

In 1964, Tolan embarked on a racing tour to Australia, travelling with fellow American drivers Bob Tattersall and Jimmy Davies to compete at the famed Sydney Showgrounds. Unfortunately, his racing career came to an abrupt end there when he suffered serious back injuries in an accident that forced his retirement from competition.

Superstition and Ritual

Tolan was as colourful off the track as he was fearless on it. He was known for a quirky pre-race ritual: before every midget racing event, he would light a cigarette during warmups, take a few drags, and then flick it toward the starting line as he began his first flying lap. Hitting the mark, he believed, was a sure sign of good luck for the night ahead.

Johnnie Tolan Formula One World Championship career

F1 Career	1951, 1953–1954, 1956–1959
Teams	Kuzma, Kurtis Kraft, Lesovsky
Entries	7 (3 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First entry	1951 Indianapolis 500
Last entry	1959 Indianapolis 500

Johnnie Tolan Teammates

2 drivers	Involvement	First Year	Last Year
George Connor	1	1953
Jimmy Bryan	1	1953

Johnnie Tolan Complete Formula One Results

Year	Entrant	Team	WDC Points	WDC Pos.
1951	Peter Wales Trucking	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	0	NC
1953	Chrysler / Wolcott	Kurtis Kraft-Chrysler	0	NC
1954	Hoosier Racing Team	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	0	NC
1956	Trio Brass Foundry / Anderson	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	0	NC
1957	Greenman-Casale	Kuzma-Offenhauser	0	NC
1958	Greenman-Casale	Kuzma-Offenhauser	0	NC
1959	H.A. Chapman	Lesovsky-Offenhauser	0	NC