Midget racing star who died of cancer and is buried in Denver. Tolan was inducted into the National Midget Hall of Fame in 1988 and was the 1952 AAA National Midget Champion and was the BMARA Midget Driver of the Year in 1947. Despite his great success in the sport, Tolan originally trained and then worked as a plumber, following his father in the profession before taking up motor racing full-time after World War Two, having started his career racing midgets in 1939 in his home state. He served in the Marine Corps as a fighter pilot in the War, before taking up racing again, full-time now, in 1946. He was Rocky Mountain Midget Champion in 1946 and 1947 and the AAA Midwest Champion in 1950 and 1952. For many years, Johnnie lived in Norwalk, California. He continued racing until 1964, when injuries sustained in a crash in Australia, where he decided to tour one winter, led to his retirement.

Biography last updated 21 Aug 2016