Johnnie Tolan (October 22, 1917 – June 6, 1986) was an American racecar driver from Victor, Colorado, known for his remarkable success in midget car racing and his versatility across multiple open‑wheel divisions. In the mid‑1940s he established himself as a top short‑track competitor, winning 45 midget races in 1946 and capturing the Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association championship, then repeating his success with 47 wins in 1947. Tolan continued his strong form in the early 1950s by taking the 1950 AAA Midwest Championship and both the AAA National Midget and Midwest titles in 1952, as well as winning the prestigious Night Before the 500-midget race in 1953.
Tolan also competed in the Indianapolis 500 three times — in 1956, 1957, and 1958 — with his best result being 13th place in 1958 among stiff competition at the Speedway. After his USAC Champ Car appearances, he continued racing and even toured internationally, but his career ended following a serious back injury sustained during competition in Australia in 1964. Outside of racing, Tolan was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to the sport.
