Sal Tovella

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.

Early life

Tovella was born August 13, 1928.[1] Tovella grew up on the city's North Side.[2]

Racing career

Tovella began his racing career at Chicago's Soldier Field racetrack in the early 1950,[2][3] 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.[2] He won his first feature at the Soldier Field track[2][3] 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.[4] During the track's 1963 season, Tovella again took the track's title[4] 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.[2] 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.[5]

The cars Tovella raced varied over his career, with Tovella, at different times, driving cars manufactured by several brands (including Ford, Chevrolet, Edsel, Plymouth,[2] Dodge,[1] and Oldsmobile[6]).

Tovella was long a top racer in USAC Stock Car racing.[2][3] 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 2.5 miles (4.0 km)-long road course, and prevailed over Billy Foster and Roger Regeth.[2] 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.[7] Tovella's final of six USAC victories came in 1980 at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack.[2]

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.[2]

On June 9, 1968, Tovella won what ultimately prove to be the final stock car race held at Soldier Field.[2][3][8]

In 2012, Tovella was inducted in the Illinois Stock Car Hall of Fame.[2]

International Racing Association

After retiring from racing himself,[2] Tovella founded the International Racing Association in October 1981.[9] The league served as a sanctioning body for races featuring USAC/ARCA-style automobiles,[2][9] and used the marketing motto "The Return of Real Racing".[9] The league operated full racing season calendars between 1982 and 1985.[2]

Personal life

Tovella long lived in Chicago,[6] 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.[2]

Tovella died on March 10, 2019, at the age of 90.[6][2] His funeral was held at Russo's Hillside Chapels. He was entombed at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillsdale, Illinois.[2]

USAC Stock Car career statistics

USAC Stock Car season statistics

USAC Stock Car season results[1][10]
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 [11][12]
1980 5th Fred Tovella Plymouth Volare 10 of 11 1 4 0 5 7 91 11.00 7.10 1 1,445 [13][14]
1981 2nd Fred Tovella Plymouth Volare 10 of 10 0 3 0 5 8 7 11.10 6.40 1 1,365 [15][16]

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 MKE
37 		MKE
21 		N/a [17]
1958 information missing – – – – – – MKE
DNQ 		– – N/a [18]
1959 1959 59 Chevy SKY SLM MKE
12 		TRH MKE
7 		WGR DUQ
22 		MKE
26 		N/a [19]
information missing LAN WGR NSH LAN ATL ASP LAX LVG HOU
1960 1960 '60 Ford Chevy MKE
30 		TRH
7 		MKE
12 		MKE
20 		DUQ
7 		MKE
20 		N/a [20]
information missing – – –
1961 '59 Ford DAY
9 		N/a [21]
23 '61 Ford MKE
9 		MKE
27 		MKE
33 		MKE
8
'61 Ford DAY
7 		IMS
7
information missing – – IRP
11 		– CHI
10 		– – – IRP
18 		IMS
6 		DUQ
14 		DUQ
31 		– –
1962 83 1962 Ford MKE
19 		MKE
19 		MKE
8 		DUQ
5 		N/a [22]
1962 Ford MKE
7
Ford IMS
6
information missing CAN
2 		IMS
17 		IND
8 		IMS
22 		MSF
5
1963 8 '63 Ford IRP
8 		MKE
6 		MKE
8 		N/a [23]
Tom Hawkinson 8 '63 Ford MKE
4
'63 Ford MKE
12 		LAN
13 		IMS
5
Ford IRP
9
information missing IMS
11 		IMS
11 		MDW
4 		SPR
9 		DUQ
23 		IND
8
1964
1965
1966 5 '65 Plymouth LAN
3 		MKE MKE MKE LNG
5 		MKE N/a [24]
'65 Plymouth IND MID
Plymouth CAN
4 		CAN
1
missing information IND SPR DUQ
1967 4 '67 Dodge IRP
27 		MKE
7 		MKE
39 		MKE
12 		MKE
14 		N/a [25]
'67 Dodge Charger DUQ
14
'65 Dodge CHI
4 		CHI
4 		CHI
3
Dodge CAN
9 		CAN
12
54 '67 Ford IND
10
information missing CHI
2 		CHI
2 		CHI
16 		SPR
30
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974 54 '72 Chevrolet Chevelle KNX
20 		MKE
7 		N/a [26]
23 Chevy SPR
10
Cabrera Racing 20 '74 Dodge IND
11 		DUQ
21 		MKE
8
1975 8 Plymouth MKE
10 		MKE
1 		MKE
3 		DUQ
3 		SPR
3 		IND
6 		MKE
5 		TTN
1 		N/a [27]
1976 8 Plymouth Satellite TWS
6 		I70
10 		MAR
7 		MKE
2 		MCH
5 		TWS
5 		MKE
2 		MKE
5 		SPR
10 		DUQ
19 		MKE
5 		TWS
6 		N/a [28]
1977 8 Plymouth Volare ONT
24 		IND
8 		TWS
4 		MKE
17 		MCH
8 		MKE
1 		TWS
2 		SPR
3 		DUQ
2 		MKE
24 		N/a [29]
1978 8 Plymouth Volare MKE
2 		MKE
3 		MKE
5 		MKE
4 		IMS
7 		N/a [30]
Dodge Aspen ONT
12
Dodge Magnum SPR
1 		DUQ
5
Dodge TWS
16 		MCH
35
1979 8 Plymouth Volare IMS
22 		MKE
22 		MKE
4 		MKE
23 		MKE
4 		IMS
3 		OZK
10 		N/a [31]
Dodge Diplomat TWS
33 		ONT
9 		IMS
7 		DUQ
5
Dodge Mirada TWS
35
1980 3 Plymouth Volare TTN
4 		MKE
2 		MKE
3 		IMS
14 		DUQ
1 		IRP
7 		MKE
3 		IMS
19 		N/a [32]
Dodge Mirada SPR
7 		IMS
11
1981 6 Plymouth Volare CAP
9 		TRI
5 		WIN
3 		SPR
9 		MKE
11 		MKE
2 		ELD
15 		N/a [33]
Dodge Mirada SPR
4 		DUQ
2 		DSM
7
Key
Color Result
Gold Winner
Silver Finished 2nd–5th
Bronze Finished 6th–10th
Green Finished 11th–20th
Blue Finished 21st or worse
Purple Did not finish (DNF)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Tan Withdrew From Race (Wth)
White Qualified for another driver (QL)
Qualified but replaced due to injury or incident (INQ)
Relieved another driver (RL)
Blank Did not participate (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)


NASCAR Cup Series career statistics

NASCAR Cup Series season statistics

NASCAR Cup Series (Grand National) season results[1][6][34][35]
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 N/a Rick Jaynes Oldsmobile Cutlass 0[a] of 31 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 $0[b] N/a N/a N/a 0 0 1
Total N/a N/a N/a 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 NWCC 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 CHI
17 		CCF MGY OKL ROA OBS SAN NOR PIF MYB POR DAR CSH CLT LAN POR CLB HBO NWP CLT CCF MAR HCY WIL N/a [36]
1960 Frank Filizer 52 Ford CLT CLB DAY DAY
16 		DAY
67 		CLT NWS PHO CLB N/a [37]
Bob Rose 25 Ford MAR
DNQ 		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 DAY DAY
25 		PIF
14 		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 N/a [38]
Jack Meeks 83 Ford CLT
23 		BRI GPS HBO
1962 Tom Hawkins 88 Ford CON AWS DAY
19 		DAY DAY
88 		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 N/a [39]
1963 Tom Hawkins 80 Ford BIR GGS THS RIV
32 		DAY
13 		DAY DAY
17 		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 N/a [40]
1964 Herb Onash 09 Ford CON AUG JSP SVH RSD DAY DAY
12 		DAY
23 		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 [41]
1981 Rick Jaynes Oldsmobile RSD DAY
DNQ 		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 N/a n/a 0 [1][42]

NASCAR Convertible Division career statistics

NASCAR Convertible Division season statistics

NASCAR Convertible Division season results[1]
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 N/a Plymouth 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 $100 21.0 21.0 0 1.00 0 0 [43][44]

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 CHI
21 		[44]

ARCA Menards Series career statistics

ARCA Menards Series season statistics

ARCA Menards Series season results[6][10]
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 N/a 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 Ref
1980 Scorpion Race System 06 Plymouth DAY NWS FRS FRS MCH
4 		TAL [45]
n/a Plymouth IMS
DNQ 		FRS
Test Tube Volare MCH
10
1981 Test Tube 06 Chevy DAY
34 		DSP FRS FRS BFS TAL FRS COR N/a [46]

Notes

  1. ^ while Tovella did not qualify for any 1981 races, he did compete in the 1981 First UNO Twin 125 Qualifier (a qualifier for the 1981 Daytona 500)[6]
  2. ^ did earn $750 from 1981 First UNO Twin 125 Qualifier, but earned $0 in NASCAR Cup Series races due to failure to qualify for any

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Sal Tovella". www.driverdb.com. Driver Database. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Gasper, Gary (March 12, 2019). "Remembering Sal Tovella". Racestar Publications. Archived from the original on September 18, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d "Sal Novella Photo Scrapbook #2". Chicagoland Auto Racing. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Soldier Field Track Champions". kalracing.com. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  5. ^ Ackerman, Lee (March 18, 2024). "Gallery: When Mopar Dominated The Action at Soldier Field in 1967". Mopar Connection Magazine. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Sal Tovella". www.racing-reference.info. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Sal Tovella Cops 200-Miler Sunday". Marshfield News-Herald. The Associated Press. August 11, 1975. p. 10. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Caraviello, David (September 15, 2012). "Carviello: In Chicago, Nothing Like a Race At Soldier Field". nascar.com. NASCAR. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
  9. ^ a b c "International Racing Association - History". KalRacing.com. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  10. ^ a b "Sal Tovella". The Third Turn. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  11. ^ "1979 USAC Stock Car Series Central". The Third Turn. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  12. ^ "Sal Tovella/Results/USAC Stock Car Series/1979". The Third Turn. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  13. ^ "Sal Tovella/Results/USAC Stock Car Series/1980". The Third Turn. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  14. ^ "1980 USAC Stock Car Series Central". The Third Turn. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Sal Tovella/Results/USAC Stock Car Series/1981". The Third Turn. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  16. ^ "1981 USAC Stock Car Series Central - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  17. ^ "Sal Tovella/Results/USAC Stock Car Series/1957 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  18. ^ "Sal Tovella/Results/USAC Stock Car Series/1958 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  19. ^ "Sal Tovella/Results/USAC Stock Car Series/1959". The Third Turn. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  20. ^ "Sal Tovella/Results/USAC Stock Car Series/1960 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  21. ^ "Sal Tovella/Results/USAC Stock Car Series/1961 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  22. ^ "Sal Tovella/Results/USAC Stock Car Series/1962 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  23. ^ "Sal Tovella/Results/USAC Stock Car Series/1963 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  24. ^ "Sal Tovella/Results/USAC Stock Car Series/1966 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  25. ^ "Sal Tovella/Results/USAC Stock Car Series/1967 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  26. ^ "Sal Tovella/Results/USAC Stock Car Series/1975 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  27. ^ "Sal Tovella/Results/USAC Stock Car Series/1974 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  28. ^ "Sal Tovella/Results/USAC Stock Car Series/1976 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  29. ^ "Sal Tovella/Results/USAC Stock Car Series/1977 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  30. ^ "Sal Tovella/Results/USAC Stock Car Series/1978 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  31. ^ "Sal Tovella/Results/USAC Stock Car Series/1979 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  32. ^ "Sal Tovella/Results/USAC Stock Car Series/1980 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  33. ^ "Sal Tovella/Results/USAC Stock Car Series/1981 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  34. ^ "Sal Tovella". ESPN. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  35. ^ "Sal Tovella Career NASCAR Statistics". frcs.pro. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  36. ^ "Sal Tovella 1956 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  37. ^ "Sal Tovella 1960 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  38. ^ "Sal Tovella 1961 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  39. ^ "Sal Tovella 1962 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  40. ^ "Sal Tovella 1963 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  41. ^ "Sal Tovella 1964 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  42. ^ "Sal Tovella 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  43. ^ "Nascar Convertible Series Standings for 1956". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  44. ^ a b "1956 NASCAR Convertible Series". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  45. ^ "Sal Tovella/Results/ARCA Racing Series/1980 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  46. ^ "Sal Tovella/Results/ARCA Racing Series/1981 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
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