Johnny Mantz
| Johnny Mantz | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
September 18, 1918 Hebron, Indiana | ||||||
| Died | October 25, 1972 (aged 54) | ||||||
| Achievements | 1956 USAC Stock Car National champion | ||||||
| NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career | |||||||
| 12 race(s) run over 4 year(s) | |||||||
| First race | 1950 Occoneechee Speedway race | ||||||
| Last race | 1956 Willow Springs Speedway race | ||||||
| First win | 1950 Southern 500 (Darlington) | ||||||
| Last win | 1950 Southern 500 (Darlington) | ||||||
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| Born | September 18, 1918 |
|---|---|
| Died | October 25, 1972 (aged 54) |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |
 American |
| Active years | 1953 |
| Teams | Kurtis Kraft |
| Races | 1 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First race | 1953 Indianapolis 500 |
| Last race | 1953 Indianapolis 500 |
Johnny Mantz (September 18, 1918 in Hebron, Indiana – October 25, 1972) was an American racecar driver.
Champ car
He made 17 starts in the AAA Championship Car series from 1948 to 1952, capturing a victory in his rookie season at the Milwaukee Mile as well as winning the Indianapolis Sweepstakes at Williams Grove Speedway.
Stock car
He was the first USAC Stock Car national champ in 1956.
Mantz also made 12 NASCAR Grand National starts from 1950–1951 and 1955-1956. He won in his third NASCAR race, the first Southern 500 held at Darlington Raceway. Mantz' Plymouth was the race's slowest qualifier, but because he qualified on the 9th of 15 days of time trials, he started 43d in the 75 car field. Mantz fitted truck tires which did not wear quickly or blow out, while his competitors had to stop often to pit for new tires. It was his only NASCAR win.
As of 2010, the speedway presents the Johnny Mantz trophy to the winner of the Southern 500, now held each May on the evening before Mother's Day.
He died at 54 years old in a fatal car accident near Ojai, California.
Indy 500 results
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World Championship career summary
The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. In the 1953 Indianapolis 500, Johnny Mantz drove in relief of Walt Faulkner. As a result of this shared ride, Mantz participated in 1 World Championship race, but he scored no World Championship points.