Died after crashing his pick-up truck, falling asleep at the wheel after returning from his role as promoter of the Speedway races at the Ventura Fairgrounds. Mantz initially worked on the family farm before starting his racing career just after World War Two. He proved quite adept in Indycars, winning the 1948 Milwaukee 100 mile race and then also won at Williams Grove and Arlington in 1949. Friom 1950, Mantz focused on NASCAR stock cars and won his third race at Darlington. He also tackled the Carrera Panamericana in his Lincoln Cosmopolitan. In 1956, he won the USAC Stock Car title before finishing his racing career after losing his left arm in a road accident.

Biography last updated 18 Jan 2016