Johnny Mantz

Johnny Mantz (18 September 1918 - 25 October 1972): American racing driver from Hebron, Indiana who was a Hollywood stuntman and raced stock cars, midgets, sprint cars, and Indy Cars. He won the 1948 Milwaukee 100 mile race and also won at Williams Grove and Arlington in 1949. Mantz became JC Agajanian's first Indy car driver when he entered the 1948 Indianapolis 500, finishing 13th. He returned in 1949 finishing 7th, with his last appearance at the Indy 500 in 1953 when he finished 17th.

In NASCAR, Johnny Mantz won the first Southern 500 NASCAR Cup race at Darlington in 1950. In his NASCAR career, Mantz made 12 starts in the NASCAR Grand National Division and recorded 1 win, 4 top-5s, and 8 top-10s. The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960, and drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. In the 1953 Indianapolis 500, Mantz drove in relief of Walt Faulkner and as a result of this shared ride participated in 1 World Championship race, but scored no World Championship points.

He died at age 54 in a fatal car accident near Ojai, California.