Johnny Boyd[1] (August 19, 1926 – October 26, 2003) was an American racecar driver.

Johnny Boyd
BornJohn George Boyd
(1926-08-19)August 19, 1926
Fresno, California, U.S.
DiedOctober 26, 2003(2003-10-26) (aged 77)
Fresno, California, U.S.
Champ Car career
55 races run over 15 years
Years active1952, 1954–1967
Best finish6th – 1956
First race1954 Langhorne 100 (Langhorne)
Last race1966 Hoosier Grand Prix (IRP)
Wins Podiums Poles
0 5 3
Formula One World Championship career
Active years19551960
TeamsKurtis Kraft, Epperly
Entries6
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums1
Career points4
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1955 Indianapolis 500
Last entry1960 Indianapolis 500

Racing career

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Born in Fresno, California, Boyd drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series from 1954 to 1966 with 56 starts. He finished in the top ten 31 times, with his best finish in 2nd position, in 1959 at Milwaukee.

Boyd qualified for the Indianapolis 500 for the first time in 1955 but finished 29th after being involved in an accident that killed driver Bill Vukovich. In a dozen starts, his best race was in 1958, when he led 18 laps and finished 3rd. In total, he finished in the Top 10 at the 500 five times.

After 1949 Boyd had become close friends with Bob Sweikert of Hayward, California when he met him on the California racing circuit. The two often raced together, and Boyd qualified for entry in the 1955 Indianapolis 500 when Sweikert helped him overcome mechanical handling problems in Boyd's car. Sweikert won the race that day, but was overshadowed by the death of Vukovich. Boyd also raced against Sweikert in 1956 at Indy, but Sweikert was killed several weeks later in a Sprint car race.[2]

Boyd retired as a driver after failing to qualify for the Indy 500 and Milwaukee race in 1967. He died of cancer at age 77 in his hometown of Fresno.

Awards

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In 1966, Boyd was inducted into the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame.[3] He was named to the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2010.

Indianapolis 500 results

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Complete Formula One World Championship results

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(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 WDC Points
1955 Sumar / Chapman Root Kurtis Kraft 500D Offenhauser L4 ARG
MON
500
29
BEL
NED
GBR
ITA
NC 0
1956 Bowes Seal Fast / Bignotti Kurtis Kraft 500E Offenhauser L4 ARG
MON
500
30
BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
ITA
NC 0
1957 Bowes Seal Fast / Bignotti Kurtis Kraft 500G Offenhauser L4 ARG
MON
500
6
FRA
GBR
GER
PES
ITA
NC 0
1958 Bowes Seal Fast Racing Kurtis Kraft 500G Offenhauser L4 ARG
MON
NED
500
3
BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
POR
ITA
MOR
16th 4
1959 Bowes Seal Fast / Bignotti Epperly Indy Roadster Offenhauser L4 MON
500
6
NED
FRA
GBR
GER
POR
ITA
USA
NC 0
1960 Bowes Seal Fast Racing Epperly Indy Roadster Offenhauser L4 ARG
MON
500
27
NED
BEL
FRA
GBR
POR
ITA
USA
NC 0

References

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  1. ^ "Johnny Boyd". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  2. ^ Dorie Sweikert, Along For the Ride-A Love Story, (1998, Nicholas Ward Publishing, LLC.), no longer in print, reprinted under new publisher ca. 2005
  3. ^ "Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame | Home". Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame | Home. Archived from the original on 2017-07-31. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
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