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 1950s, '60s Indianapolis 500 Contender Boyd Dies At 77
By Dick Mittman
indy500.com

Johnny Boyd, the flat-topped charger who finished in the top 10 in five of his 12 Indianapolis 500 starts, died Oct. 26 in his hometown of Fresno, Calif., after a long illness.

He was 77.

Boyd was one of a bevy of great drivers from Fresno to compete at Indianapolis. Others included Bill Vukovich, Bill Vukovich Jr. and Bill Vukovich III, and Duane Carter Sr.

A third-place finish in the 1958 Indianapolis 500 was the highlight of Boyd’s racing career. He also finished fifth at Indy in 1964, sixth in both 1957 and 1959 and 10th in 1962. His best start was sixth in 1957.

“He led for 18 laps (in 1958), but he didn’t lead the one he wanted,” said Shirley Boyd, his wife of 28 years. “He told me, ‘I wouldn’t have changed anything, but I would have like to have led the last lap.’

“He said that was the only thing he did not do in his lifetime that he wanted to do. Racing at Indy was his passion, his desire.”

Boyd followed his idol – two-time 500 champion Bill Vukovich Sr. – to Indianapolis in 1955 and, ironically, was involved in the tragic crash that took Vukovich’s life.

Boyd went on to drive in the 500 through 1966. He also drove in Indy-style races from 1952-66. His last start was on the road course at Indianapolis Raceway Park in 1966. He failed to qualify at Indianapolis and Milwaukee in 1967, and his driving career ended.

Boyd won a Triple-A midget feature race in 1954 at Kokomo, Ind., and USAC 100-lap midget features in 1957 at Fresno, Pacheco and Gardena, Calif., and again at Gardena in 1959.

“He was a pretty good racer,” said famed car-builder/mechanic A.J. Watson. “But he wasn’t too lucky. He drove for us (Leader Card) in 1961, but I worked with Ward. He used to hang around with Bob Sweikert (1955 Indy winner). They were buddies. I built a new sprint car for Sweikert, but Boyd drove it before Bob did.

“The last 10 years or so I remember him going through the garages (leading fan tours). He was a good ambassador for racing.”

The handsome Boyd returned to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway each May. Even when he was into his 70’s, his hair still was short-cropped and dark, making him look much younger.

Although he was ill, Boyd returned in May 2003 to the Speedway to attend the annual 500 Oldtimers/Hall of Fame banquet. He received the prestigious Oldtimers Club Louie Meyer Award for service to racing. He was elected to the Fresno Hall of Fame in 1966, was the first inductee into the Bay Cities Racing Association Hall of Fame and member of the Kings Speedway and Motor Sports Press Association Halls of Fame.

Survivors in addition to his wife include: Daughters Winona Maloney and Winifred Witte; step-daughters Terri Cavanaugh and Patti Cetchum; a sister, Julia Caudle; eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Graveside services for Boyd will take place Nov. 4 in Clovis, Calif., a Fresno suburb. The Farewell Funeral Home, 2970 E. McKinley, Fresno, CA 93703, is handling arrangements.

The family requests that remembrances be sent to the 500 Oldtimers Club, c/o Jack Martin, 45 Woodview Drive, Pittsboro, IN 46167-9503.

A “Celebration of Life” party for Boyd is being planned for May 2004 at the Speedway, Shirley Boyd said.

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