Sal Tovella (August 13, 1928 – March 10, 2019) was an American racecar driver who competed in USAC Stock Car. He also competed in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Convertible Series, and the ARCA Menards Series. His racing career spanned from the 1950s into the 1980s. After his own racing career, he founded the short-lived International Racing Association stock car series.
Early life Tovella was born August 13, 1928. Tovella grew up on the North Side of Chicago.
Racing career Tovella began his racing career at Chicago's Soldier Field racetrack in the early 1950, initially competing there in the Hurricane Hot Rod Association. The association, run by promoter Andy Granatelli, featured occasionally-staged action in order to provide an entertaining product for spectators. He won his first feature at the Soldier Field track in a June 21, 1952, 22-lap race in which he steered his 1949 model Ford car to victory before a reported 18,846 spectators. Tovella was long a fixture on the Soldier Field track. He won the track's own stock car title during its 1952 season. During the track's 1963 season, Tovella again took the track's title after coming out on top of a intensely-contested season-long rivalry with Bob Chapman. He clenched the track's 1963 late model stock car championship title thanks his "double-points" 100-lap victory in a race on June 29, 1963. He drove a '63 Chevy II during the track's 1963 season. Tovella competed in Soldier Field stock car races by a variety of organizing leagues, including a 1967 race organized by the International Motor Contest Association.
The cars Tovella raced varied over his career, with Tovella, at different times, driving cars manufactured by several brands (including Ford, Chevrolet, Edsel, Plymouth, Dodge, and Oldsmobile).
Tovella was long a top racer in USAC Stock Car racing. Despite having had his first start for a USAC race in 1957, during the 1963 season, he was named the USAC "Rookie of the Year". Tovella secured his first victory in the USAC in a July 30, 1966 race at the Mosport International Raceway; a race in which his '65 Plymouth won a 50-lap race on the -long road course, and prevailed over Billy Foster and Roger Regeth. Tovella won several USAC races at the Milwaukee Mile. His first victory at the track occurred on August 10, 1975, with a memorable finish over Ramo Stott, Roger McCluskey, Butch Hartman, and Larry Moore. In the race, Tovella steered a '72 Plymouth which had been prepared for the race by his brother, Fred. This 1975 victory was his second USAC Stock Car victory. Tovella's final of six USAC victories came in 1980 at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack.
Tovella also competed in several NASCAR races, including NASCAR Grand National Series races. He competed in fourteen NASCAR events. This included a 1956 NASCAR Grand National Series race at Soldier Field, which he had to withdraw from due to break problems (coming in 16th place). Tovella raced in the Daytona 500 for five consecutive seasons, competing in the 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, and 1964 iterations). He placed 14th in the 1961 iteration, marking most successful Daytona 500 appearance.
On June 9, 1968, Tovella won what ultimately prove to be the final stock car race held at Soldier Field.
In 2012, Tovella was inducted in the Illinois Stock Car Hall of Fame.
International Racing Association After retiring from racing himself, Tovella founded the International Racing Association in October 1981. The league served as a sanctioning body for races featuring USAC/ARCA-style stock cars, and used the marketing motto "The Return of Real Racing". The league operated full racing season calendars between 1982 and 1985.
Personal life Tovella long lived in Chicago, later living in Addison, Illinois. For most of his life, he operated a used car sales business, Sal's Auto Sales. The business was long located in Chicago on Milwaukee Avenue, but later relocated to Elmhurst, Illinois.
Tovella died on March 10, 2019, at the age of 90. His funeral was held at Russo's Hillside Chapels. He was entombed at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillsdale, Illinois.
USAC Stock Car career statistics USAC Stock Car season statistics
+ USAC Stock Car season results Year Rank Team Car Starts Wins Poles Podium finishes Top 5 finishes Top 10 finishes Laps led Average start Average finish DNFs Points 1956 '56 Plymouth 1 0 0 0 1957 '57 Chevrolet 2 of 16 0 0 0 1958 '57 Chevrolet 2 of 12 0 0 0 1959 '58 Ford Edsel Convertible 4 of 17 0 0 0 1960 '60 Ford 6 of 9 0 0 0 1961 58th '59 Ford 12 of 22 0 0 0 1962 105th '62 Ford 9 of 22 0 0 0 1963 44th '63 Ford 11 of 16 0 0 0 1964 '63 Ford 11 of 15 0 0 0 1965 Tovella Racing '64 Ford 12 of 16 0 1 0 1966 '65 Plymouth 13 of 17 1 3 0 1967 '67 Dodge 14 of 22 0 3 0 1968 '68 Dodge Charger 7 of 20 0 1 0 1969 Fred Tovella '69 Ford 5 of 25 0 0 0 1970 '70 Plymouth Superbird 11 of 20 0 1 0 1971 Fred Tovella '70 Plymouth 15 of 19 0 0 0 1972 Fred Tovella '72 Plymouth 17 of 19 0 1 0 1973 Fred Tovella Dodge 12 of 16 0 0 0 1974 Donald Hobbs '72 Chevrolet 6 of 19 0 0 0 1975 3rd Fred Tovella '72 Plymouth 8 of 15 2 5 3 1976 3rd Fred Tovella '76 Plymouth 12 of 12 0 3 0 1977 3rd Fred Tovella '74 Plymouth and '77 Plymouth Volare 10 of 10 1 4 0 1978 Fred Tovella Dodge and '77 Plymouth Volare 10 of 13 1 3 0 1979 7th Fred Tovella '79 Dodge Diplomat 12 of 12 0 1 0 4 7 1 12.25 14.83 5 1,050 1980 5th Fred Tovella Plymouth Volare 10 of 11 1 4 0 5 7 91 11.00 7.10 1 1,445 1981 2nd Fred Tovella Plymouth Volare 10 of 10 0 3 0 5 8 7 11.10 6.40 1 1,365
USAC Stock Car race statistics
USAC Stock Car race results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Pts Ref 1956 1957 MKE37 MKE21 colspan=8 1958 information missing – – – – – – MKEDNQ – – colspan=13 1959 1959 59 Chevy SKY SLM MKE12 TRH MKE7 WGR DUQ22 MKE26 rowspan=2 colspan=8 information missing LAN WGR NSH LAN ATL ASP LAX LVG HOU 1960 1960 '60 Ford Chevy MKE30 TRH7 MKE12 MKE20 DUQ7 MKE20 colspan=16 rowspan=2 information missing – – – 1961 '59 Ford DAY9 colspan=3 rowspan=4 23 '61 Ford MKE9 MKE27 MKE33 MKE8 '61 Ford DAY7 IMS7 information missing – – IRP11 – CHI10 – – – IRP18 IMS6 DUQ14 DUQ31 – – 1962 83 1962 Ford MKE19 MKE19 MKE8 DUQ5 colspan=3 rowspan=4 1962 Ford MKE7 Ford IMS6 information missing CAN2 IMS17 IND8 IMS22 MSF5 1963 8 '63 Ford IRP8 MKE6 MKE8 colspan=9 rowspan=5 Tom Hawkinson 8 '63 Ford MKE4 '63 Ford MKE12 LAN13 IMS5 Ford IRP9 information missing IMS11 IMS11 MDW4 SPR9 DUQ23 IND8 1964 1965 1966 5 '65 Plymouth LAN3 MKE MKE MKE LNG5 MKE colspan=8 rowspan=4 '65 Plymouth IND MID Plymouth CAN4 CAN1 missing information IND SPR DUQ 1967 4 '67 Dodge IRP27 MKE7 MKE39 MKE12 MKE14 colspan=3 rowspan=6 '67 Dodge Charger DUQ14 '65 Dodge CHI4 CHI4 CHI3 Dodge CAN9 CAN12 54 '67 Ford IND10 information missing CHI2 CHI2 CHI16 SPR30 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 54 '72 Chevrolet Chevelle KNX20 MKE7 colspan=6 rowspan=3 23 Chevy SPR10 Cabrera Racing 20 '74 Dodge IND11 DUQ21 MKE8 1975 8 Plymouth MKE10 MKE1 MKE3 DUQ3 SPR3 IND6 MKE5 TTN1 colspan=10 rowspan=3 1976 8 Plymouth Satellite TWS6 I7010 MAR7 MKE2 MCH5 TWS5 MKE2 MKE5 SPR10 DUQ19 MKE5 TWS6 colspan=13 1977 8 Plymouth Volare ONT24 IND8 TWS4 MKE17 MCH8 MKE1 TWS2 SPR3 DUQ2 MKE24 colspan=15 1978 8 Plymouth Volare MKE2 MKE3 MKE5 MKE4 IMS7 colspan=12 rowspan=4 Dodge Aspen ONT12 Dodge Magnum SPR1 DUQ5 Dodge TWS16 MCH35 1979 8 Plymouth Volare IMS22 MKE22 MKE4 MKE23 MKE4 IMS3 OZK10 colspan=13 rowspan=3 Dodge Diplomat TWS33 ONT9 IMS7 DUQ5 Dodge Mirada TWS35 1980 3 Plymouth Volare TTN4 MKE2 MKE3 IMS14 DUQ1 IRP7 MKE3 IMS19 colspan=14 rowspan=2 Dodge Mirada SPR7 IMS11 1981 6 Plymouth Volare CAP9 TRI5 WIN3 SPR9 MKE11 MKE2ELD15 colspan=15 rowspan=2 Dodge Mirada SPR4 DUQ2 DSM7
NASCAR Cup Series career statistics NASCAR Cup Series season statistics + NASCAR Cup Series (Grand National) season results Year Rank Team Car Races Wins Poles Top 5 finishes Top 10 finishes Top 15 finishes Top 20 finishes Laps led Points Earnings Average start Average laps Average finish Races running at finish Lead lap finishes DNQs Withdrawals 1956 221 1 of 56 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 $100 24.0 71 16.0 0 0 1960 143 2 of 44 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 100 $275 26.5 18 41.5 1 0 1 1961 59 4 of 52 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1,624 $850 29.5 47 25.8 2 0 1962 107 2 of 53 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 232 $450 29.5 32 29.0 1 0 1963 44 3 of 55 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 2,570 $1,300 21.3 81 20.7 2 0 1964 74 2 of 62 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1,274 $850 19.0 70 17.5 1 0 1981 Rick Jaynes Oldsmobile Cutlass 0 of 31 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 $0 0 0 1 Total 14 0 0 0 0 3 7 0 5,800 3,825 25.4 22.5 7 0 2 0
NASCAR Cup Series race statistics NASCAR Cup Series race results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 Pts Ref 1956 n/a 2 Ford HMS CLT WSS PBS ASF DAB PBS WIL ATL NWS LAN RCH CLB CON GPS HCY HBO MAR LIN CLT POR EUR NYF MER MAS CLT MCF POR AWS RSP PIF CSF CHI17 CCF MGY OKL ROA OBS SAN NOR PIF MYB POR DAR CSH CLT LAN POR CLB HBO NWP CLT CCF MAR HCY WIL Colspan=6 1960 Frank Filizer 52 Ford CLT CLB DAYDAY16DAY67 CLT NWS PHO CLB rowspan=2 colspan=18 Bob Rose 25 Ford MARDNQ HCY WIL BGS GPS AWS DAR PIF HBO RCH HMS CLT BGS DAY HEI MAB MBS ATL BIR NVS AWS PIF CLB SBO BGS DAR HCY CSF GSP HBO MAR NWS CLT RCH ATL 1961 Bob Rose 23 Ford CLT CLB DAY DAYDAY25PIF14 AWS HMS ATL GPS HBO BGS MAR NWS CLB HCY RCH MAR MAR CLT CLT RSD ASP CLT PIF BIR GPS BGS NOR HAS STR DAY ATL CLB MBS BRI NSV BGS AWS RCH SBO DAR HCY RCH CSF ATL MAR NWS colspan=10 rowspan=2 Jack Meeks 83 Ford CLT23 BRI GPS HBO 1962 Tom Hawkins 88 Ford CON AWSDAY19 DAYDAY88 CON AWS SVH HBO RCH CLB NWS GPS MBS MAR BGS BRI RCH HCY CON DAR PIF CLT ATL BGS AUG RCH SBO DAY CLB ASH GPS AUG SVH MBS BRI CHT NSV HUN AWS STR BGS PIF VAL DAR HCY RCH DTS AUG MAR NWS CLT ATL colspan=9 1963 Tom Hawkins 80 Ford BIR GGS THSRIV32DAY13 DAYDAY17 PIF AWS HBO ATL HCY BRI AUG RCH GPS SBO BGS MAR NWS CLB THS DAR ODS RCH CLT BIR ATL DAY MBS SVH DTS BGS ASH OBS BRR BRI GPS NSV CLB AWS PIF BGS ONA DAR HCY RCH MAR DTS NWS THS CLT SBO HBO RSD colspan=7 1964 Herb Onash 09 Ford CON AUG JSP SVH RSD DAYDAY12DAY23 RCH BRI GPS BGS ATL AWS HBO PIF CLB NWS MAR SVH DAR LGY HCY SBO CLT GPS ASH ATL CON NSV CHT BIR VAL PIF DAY ODS OBS BRR ISP GLN LIN BRI NSV MBS AWS DTS ONA CLB BGS STR DAR HCY RCH ODS HBO MAR SVH NWS CLT HAR AUG JAC 1981 Rick Jaynes Oldsmobile RSD DAYDNQ RCH CAR ATL BRI NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT TWS RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD colspan=31 n/a 0
NASCAR Convertible Division career statistics NASCAR Convertible Division season statistics + NASCAR Convertible Division season results Year Rank Car Starts Wins Poles Top 5 finishes Top 10 finishes Top 15 finishes Top 20 finishes Laps raced Laps led Earnings Average start Average finish Races running at finish Miles raced Lead lap finishes Points 1956 Plymouth 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 $100 21.0 21.0 0 1.00 0 0
NASCAR Convertible Division race statistics NASCAR Convertible Division race results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 Ref 1956 n/a 21 Plymouth CHI21
ARCA Menards Series career statistics ARCA Menards Series season statistics + ARCA Menards Series season results Year Rank Races Wins Poles Top 5 finishes Top 10 finishes Laps raced Laps led Average start Average finish Races running at finish Miles raced Lead lap finishes DNQs Withdrawals 1959 4+ of 32 1960 1+ of 33 1966 1+ of 30 1969 1+ of 28 1975 1+ of 13 1980 14th 2 of 9 0 0 1 2 172 0 $2,740 14.0 7.0 2 1 1 0 1981 1 of 8 0 0 0 0 2 0 $0 29.0 34.0 0 0
ARCA Menards Series race statistics ARCA Menards Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Ref1980 Scorpion Race System 06 Plymouth DAY NWS FRS FRS MCH4 TAL n/a Plymouth IMSDNQ FRS Test Tube Volare MCH10 1981 Test Tube 06 Chevy DAY34 DSP FRS FRS BFS TAL FRS COR
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