The silversmith who carved "Johnny" erased Johnnie's victory

The silversmith who carved "Johnny" erased Johnnie's victory The Borg-Warner Trophy has carried his face since 1950 — cast in silver, photographed by MGM's cameras, studied under broadcast lights every Memorial Day since. But the name pressed beside that face is not the name he was given at birth, and in 1991 the people responsible for the trophy had every chance to fix it. What made them decide the mistake was worth keeping? In this episode, we trace Johnnie Parsons from a vaudeville stage in Los Angeles to the winner's circle at Indianapolis, asking what happens when an institution values the story of an error more than the fact it was supposed to record. Person: Johnnie Parsons Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indiana Date: 1950 Case: the misspelled name on the Borg-Warner Trophy Status: error identified during 1991 restoration and deliberately left uncorrected - Born John Woodrow Parsons on July 4, 1918, in Los Angeles, California - Won the 1950 Indianapolis 500 after the race was stopped at lap 138 of 200 due to rain - One of only three drivers in FIA World Drivers' Championship history to win on debut, alongside Nino Farina and Giancarlo Baghetti - In 1957 he substituted for Dick Rathmann, who was mugged the night before the race, and started from Rathmann's qualified position under rules later changed - Won the Turkey Night Grand Prix in 1955, matching the record of his early idol Bob Swanson - Died of a heart attack on September 8, 1984, at his home in Van Nuys, California, at age 66 - Inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame (1984), the Auto Racing Hall of Fame (1986), the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (2004), and the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame (2008), each correctly spelling his name "Johnnie" To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].