# George Follmer

George Richard Follmer (born January 27, 1934) is an American former auto racing driver, and one of the most successful road racers of the 1970s. He was born in Phoenix, Arizona. His family moved to California when he was just an infant.

## Career

Follmer began his career running a Volkswagen Beetle in Gymkhana competition in parking lots in the San Gabriel Valley of Southern California.
Follmer raced in the USAC Championship Car series in the 1967-1971 and 1974 seasons, with 25 career starts, including the 1969-1971 Indianapolis 500 races. He finished in the top ten 11 times, with his one victory in 1969 at Phoenix International Raceway. His best finish at the Indianapolis 500 was in 1971. He started 29th and finished in the 15th position driving the Grant King Racer's turbo Offy.
In 1973, Follmer competed in Formula One with Don Nichols' UOP Shadow team. He took part in his first Grand Prix, in South Africa, at the age of 39 years and 1 month - making him F1's oldest débutant since the 1950s, a distinction he still holds. In 13 Championship races, his best results were 6th in South Africa and a podium 3rd in Spain, in his first two Grands Prix, which gave him 13th in the Drivers' Championship with five points. He also competed in several non-Championship races.
Follmer also had success in other racing series. In 1965, he won the SCCA United States Road Racing Championship. Follmer won two races in the 1970 SCCA Continental Championship for Formula A cars, placing sixth in the standings. He won the Trans-Am championship in 1972, winning four races with an AMC Javelin, and 1976, driving a Porsche 934 Turbo.
In 1972, Follmer was the Can-Am champion, substituting for the injured Mark Donohue in Penske Racing's Porsche 917/10, causing the racing press to dub Follmer "George Am". He was vice-champion in 1973 driving for Rinzler and 1974 in a Shadow. He collected 6 wins and 13 podiums in the three-year spell. He is the only driver to win the Can-Am and Trans-Am championship in the same year.
Follmer competed in the NASCAR Winston Cup series in 1974, with appearances in 13 of 30 races. He collected three top 5 finishes and a pole position. In 1974 and 1975, he raced at the International Race of Champions, where he won a race.
In 1977 he returned to the revived Can-Am, resulting 6th in 1977 and 5th in 1978. He won the 1978 St. Jovite Can Am in his Prophet-Chevy over Alan Jones.
After his retirement, he came back to racing for the 1986 24 Hours of Le Mans, obtaining a prestigious third place with a Porsche 956.
Though long-retired from professional motorsports competition, Follmer still competes in vintage races, often driving the very same cars in which he competed during his heyday.
In addition to his racing career, Follmer also owned a Porsche-Audi-Subaru dealership in Pomona, California, later relocated to Montclair, California, from 1977 to 1990.

## Awards

* He was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1999.
* He was inducted in the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame in 2019.
* He was also inducted into the SCCA Hall of Fame in 2019.
* He was inducted in the Trans-Am Series Hall of Fame in 2025.

## 2014 Saleen Mustang Limited Edition

On August 17, 2013 Saleen introduced a limited edition Saleen | George Follmer Edition Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine Ford Mustang. Based on the #16 1969 Boss 302 Mustang racecar that he drove in the 1969 SCCA Trans-Am series, the 2014 Saleen/Follmer Edition was period correct with its livery, naturally aspirated 495HP 5.0L high revving engine, track tuned suspension, and 6-speed manual transmission. Production was limited to 250 units.

## Motorsports career results
### 24 Hours of Le Mans results

| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
| 1966 | North American Racing Team | Charlie Kolb | Ferrari Dino 206S | P 2.0 | 9 | DNF | DNF |
| 1986 | Joest Racing | John Morton Kenper Miller | Porsche 956 | C1 | 355 | 3rd | 3rd |

### American open-wheel racing

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

#### USAC Championship Car

USAC Championship Car results :
| Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 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 | Pos. | Pts |
| 1967 | Rolla Vollstedt | Vollstedt | Ford | PHX | TRE | INDY | MIL | LAN | PPR | MOS | MOS | IRP 17 | LAN | MTR | MTR | SPR | MIL | DSF | INF | TRE 21 | SAC | HAN | PHX | RSD 6 | | | | | | | | 27th | 230 |
| 1968 | George R. Bryant | Cheetah | Ford | HAN 11 | LVS 15 | PHX 24 | TRE | INDY DNQ | MIL | MOS 11 | MOS 10 | LAN | PPR | CDR | NAZ | IRP | IRP | LAN | LAN | MTR | MTR | ISF | MIL | DSF | INF | TRE | SAC | MCH | HAN | PHX | RSD 8 | 32nd | 206 |
| 1969 | George Follmer | Cheetah | Chevy | PHX 1 | HAN 9 | | | | | | | | IRP 6 | IRP 3 | MIL 11 | ISF | DOV | DSF | INF | BRN 6 | BRN 6 | TRE | SAC | SIR 15 | SIR 6 | | | | | | | 16th | 880 |
| 1969 | George Follmer | Cheetah | Ford | | | INDY 27 | MIL | LAN | PPR | CDR | NAZ | TRE | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16th | 880 |
| 1969 | STP Racing | Lotus 56 | Offy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | PHX DNQ | | | | | | | | | 16th | 880 |
| 1969 | STP Racing | Lotus 56 | Plymouth | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | RSD 14 | | | | | | | 16th | 880 |
| 1970 | STP Racing | Brawner Hawk | Ford | PHX | SON | TRE | INDY 31 | MIL | LAN | CDR | MCH | | | | ONT 20 | DSF | INF | SED | TRE | SAC | PHX | | | | | | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1970 | George Walther | Morris | Ford | | | | | | | | | IRP 21 | ISF | MIL | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1971 | Grant King | Kingfish 70 | Offy 159 ci turbo | RAF | RAF | PHX | TRE | INDY 15 | MIL | POC | MCH | MIL | ONT | TRE | PHX | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1975 | American Kids Racer | Eagle 72 | Offy 159 ci turbo | ONT | ONT 8 | ONT DNS | PHX | TRE | INDY DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1975 | Adams Automotive | Eagle 72 | Offy 159 ci turbo | | | | | | INDY DNQ | MIL | POC | MCH | MIL | MCH | TRE | PHX | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NC | 0 |

#### Indianapolis 500

| Year | Chassis | Engine | Start | Finish | Team |
| 1968 | Cheetah | Ford | DNQ | DNQ | George R. Bryant |
| 1969 | Cheetah | Ford | 27 | 27 | George Follmer |
| 1970 | Brawner Hawk | Ford | 21 | 31 | STP Racing |
| 1971 | Kingfish | Offenhauser | 29 | 15 | Grant King |
| 1975 | Eagle | Offenhauser | DNQ | DNQ | American Kids Racer |
| 1975 | Eagle | Offenhauser | DNQ | DNQ | Adams Automotive |

### NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

#### Winston Cup Series

NASCAR Winston Cup Series 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 | NWCC | Pts | Ref |
| 1972 | Frasson Racing | 18W | Dodge | RSD | DAY | RCH | ONT 49 | CAR | ATL | BRI | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | MCH | RSD | TWS | DAY | BRI | TRN | ATL | TAL | MCH | NSV | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | TWS | 120th | 9 | |
| 1974 | Bud Moore Engineering | 15 | Ford | RSD 18 | DAY 20 | RCH | CAR 5 | BRI 28 | ATL 4 | DAR 22 | NWS 6 | MAR 22 | TAL 28 | NSV 6 | DOV 5 | CLT | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 29th | 230.49 | |
| 1974 | Penske Racing | 16 | AMC | | | | | | | | | | | | | | RSD 33 | MCH | DAY | BRI | NSV | ATL | POC | TAL | MCH | DAR | RCH | DOV | NWS | MAR | CLT | CAR | | | | 29th | 230.49 |
| 1974 | Donlavey Racing | 90 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ONT 32 | | 29th | 230.49 | |
| 1975 | Moyer Racing | 33 | Chevy | RSD | DAY 24 | RCH | CAR | BRI | ATL | NWS | DAR | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 74th | 167 | |
| 1975 | Michael Brockman | 50 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | RSD 29 | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | DAR | DOV | NWS | MAR | CLT | RCH | CAR | BRI | ATL | ONT | | 74th | 167 | |
| 1986 | Midgley Racing | 29 | Chevy | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | DOV | CLT | RSD | POC | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN 18 | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL | RSD 36 | | | 76th | 164 | |
| 1987 | Midgley Racing | 29 | Chevy | DAY | CAR | RCH | ATL | DAR | NWS | BRI | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | POC | RSD 40 | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | RSD 16 | ATL | | | 70th | 163 | |
| 1988 | Midgley Racing | 50W | Pontiac | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | DAR | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | RSD DNQ | POC | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | CLT | NWS | CAR | PHO | ATL | | | NA | - | |

##### Daytona 500

| Year | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
| 1974 | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 5 | 20 |
| 1975 | Moyer Racing | Chevrolet | 40 | 24 |

### International Race of Champions

(key) (Bold – Pole position. * – Most laps led.)
International Race of Champions results :
| Year | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Pos. | Pts | Ref |
| 1973–74 | Porsche | RSD 4 | RSD 1 | RSD 5 | DAY 5 | 5th | - | |
| 1974–75 | Chevy | MCH 5 | RSD 2 | RSD 5 | DAY 8 | 7th | - | |

### Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | WDC | Pts |
| 1973 | UOP Shadow Racing Team | Shadow DN1 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | ARG | BRA | RSA 6 | ESP 3 | BEL Ret | MON DNS | SWE 14 | FRA Ret | GBR Ret | NED 10 | GER Ret | AUT Ret | ITA 10 | CAN 17 | USA 14 | 13th | 5 |

### Non-Championship Formula One results

(key) (races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 1971 | Brian O'Neil Racing | Lotus 70B | Chevrolet 5.0 V8 | ARG | ROC | QUE 30 | SPR | INT | RIN | OUL | VIC |
| 1973 | UOP Shadow Racing Team | Shadow DN1 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | ROC | INT 6 | | | | | | |

### Complete Canadian-American Challenge Cup results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Car | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Pos | Pts |
| 1966 | John Mecom Racing | Lola T70 Mk.2 | Ford V8 | MTR 5 | BRI Ret | MOS DNS | | | | | | | | | 10th | 4 |
| 1966 | John Mecom Racing | Lola T70 Mk.2 | Chevrolet V8 | | | | LAG 17 | RIV 5 | LVG Ret | | | | | | 10th | 4 |
| 1967 | Roger Penske Racing | Lola T70 Mk.3B | Chevrolet V8 | ROA 18 | BRI 3 | MOS 6 | LAG 3 | RIV 6 | LVG Ret | | | | | | 7th | 10 |
| 1968 | Agapiou Racing | Lola T70 Mk.3B | Ford V8 | ROA | BRI | EDM | LAG Ret | RIV Ret | LVG 2 | | | | | | 7th | 6 |
| 1969 | Agapiou Racing | Ford G7A | Ford V8 | MOS | MTR | WGL | EDM | MDO DNS | ROA Ret | BRI | MCH | LAG | RIV | TWS | NC | 0 |
| 1970 | Advanced Vehicle Systems | AVS Shadow Mk I | Chevrolet V8 | MOS Ret | MTR Ret | WGL | EDM | MDO | ROA | ATL | BRA | LAG | RIV | | NC | 0 |
| 1971 | Roy Woods Racing | McLaren M8D | Chevrolet V8 | MOS | MTR | ATL | WGL | MDO | ROA | BRA | EDM | LAG | RIV 9 | | 31st | 2 |
| 1972 | Penske Racing | Porsche 917/10 | Porsche Flat 12 | MOS | ATL 1 | WGL 5 | MDO 1 | ROA 1 | BRA 4 | EDM 3 | LAG 1 | RIV 1 | | | 1st | 130 |
| 1973 | Rinzler Motoracing | Porsche 917/10 | Porsche Flat 12 | MOS Ret | ATL 1 | WGL Ret | MDO 2 | ROA 3 | EDM 2 | LAG Ret | RIV Ret | | | | 2nd | 62 |
| 1974 | Phoenix Racing Organisations | Shadow DN4 | Chevrolet V8 | MOS 2 | ATL 2 | WGL 2 | MDO Ret | ROA Ret | | | | | | | 2nd | 45 |
| 1977 | U.S Racing | Lola T332C | Chevrolet V8 | MTR | LAG | WGL | ROA Ret | MDO Ret | MOS 2 | CTR | SON Ret | RIV 2 | | | 6th | 35 |
| 1978 | U.S Racing | Prophet 1 | Chevrolet V8 | ATL | CLT | MDO 2 | MTR 1 | WGL Ret | ROA 4 | MOS 5 | CTR | LAG DNS | RIV | | 5th | 1088 |
| 1979 | U.S Racing | Prophet 1 | Chevrolet V8 | ATL | CLT DNS | MOS 4 | MDO Ret | WGL | ROA | BRA | CTR | LAG | RIV | | 14th | 3 |
| 1980 | U.S Racing | Prophet 1 | Chevrolet V8 | SON | MDO | MOS | WGL | ROA | BRA | CTR | ATL | LAG | RIV DNS | | NC | 0 |
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