Fred Johnson (racing driver)

Fred Johnson (December 11, 1929 – January 7, 1992) was a NASCAR Grand National Series driver from Hamptonville, North Carolina.

Summary

Johnson's career spanned from 1949 to 1956. He managed to get two "top ten" finishes after completing 562 laps; earning $910 in the process ($8,191.11 when adjusted for inflation). Johnson's average start is 20th place while his average finish is 24th place.^[1] At NASCAR's first ever Cup Series race, Johnson would finish in 25th place out of 33 racing vehicles while driving a 1947 Ford vehicle.^[2]

At the 1955 Southern 500, Fred Johnson would qualify in 22nd place and end up finishing in 46 place out of the 69 drivers on the racing grid; collecting $260 in the process ($2,375.20 when adjusted for inflation). Johnson's chosen vehicle was a 1955 Cadillac.^[3]

The best finishes of Johnson's career occurred on road courses where he would finish in 18th place on average. Intermediate tracks were considered to be his weakness; where he would pick up an atrocious 46th-place finish on average. Road America was Johnson's favored race course; where he would pick up a 9th-place finish at the serie's only visit (as of 2017). Darlington Raceway was like Johnson's least favorite track where he would pick up an average finish of 46th place.^[4]

Fred Johnson was mostly associated with the #21 Chevrolet; both of his "top ten finishes" came in the 1950 season and the 1956 season.^[5] Johnson, however, was no stranger to the Chevrolet, Cadillac and Ford brand of manufacturers.^[6]

References