Born on the Fourth of July, Johnnie Parsons won the 1950 Indianapolis 500 and was one of America's top open-wheel drivers of the late 1940s, also competing in NASCAR's early Grand National races when the schedules allowed.
Parsons died in 1984 at 66 in California's San Fernando Valley, a hero of the postwar racing boom whose career bridged two disciplines.
At a Glance
- Born: July 4, 1918, Los Angeles, California
- Died: September 8, 1984, Van Nuys, California
- Age: 66
- Cause of death: Natural causes
From the Book
This profile is adapted from Legends at Rest: NASCAR Legends by Howard Wear.
Portrait: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.