John Holman

Background

He was born in Nashville, Tennessee.

Career

He is most famous for his co-ownership of two time National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing championship team Holman Moody with Ralph Moody. After the start of World World War II, Holman began a career as a tool and die maker and as a shipyard worker After the war, he became a trucker.

He assembled a Mack truck between shipments.

He was hired in 1952 by Clay Smith and Bill Stroppe to drive their parts truck to each leg of the 1952 Mexican Road Race, and to stay ahead of the racing team Smith was killed in a racing accident at DuQuoin, Illinois in 1954, and Stroppe took over.

Holman continued to work for him until 1956. Holman was hired by Ford Motor Company to run their factory shop in Charlotte.

The drivers formed a partnership after the American Manufacturers" Association banned Ford"s factory partication in stockcar racing in June 1957.

The move unemployed both mentor They decided to pool their resources, and formed The team became one of the winningest team in National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing history, after racking up 92 wins and two championships before Holman sold his interests to Moody. Ironically, bought out Bill Stroppe in 1965 and the Long Beach facility at 2190 Temple Avenue. became -Stroppe.

Holman died of a heart attack in 1975 while testing a new intercooler.

Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (2005).

Achievements

• The team won the race, and they hired Holman as a full-time mechanic and parts man after the race to work in their Long Beach, California shop. Ralph Moody was the mechanic, manager, and star driver of 1925 Indianapolis 500 winner Pete DePaolo"s Ford factory-sponsored stockcar racing facility in Charlotte, North Carolina.