About Bob Swanson
Lived 1912 – 1940 (aged 27). Bob Swanson was an American engineer and racing automobile driver.
Robert John Swanson (August 20, 1912 – June 13, 1940) was an American racing driver.
Biography
Swanson won the first Turkey Night Grand Prix midget-car race in 1934. During the 1939 Indianapolis 500, he was involved in the accident that killed defending champion Floyd Roberts. Thrown out of his car when Roberts hit him, Swanson lay unconscious on the track as the car overturned and caught fire. His lucky escape proved to be only a temporary reprieve, as Swanson was killed a year later while attempting to qualify for a midget car race.
In a 2006 interview, motorsports reporter Chris Economaki called Swanson "the best racing driver he ever saw."
Swanson was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.
Motorsports career results
Indianapolis 500 results
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Important facts
People in Bob Swanson's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Bob Swanson's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Bob Swanson?
American racing driver
When was Bob Swanson born?
Bob Swanson was born on 20 August 1912 in Minneapolis.
When did Bob Swanson die?
Bob Swanson died on 12 June 1940 in Perrysburg.
What was Bob Swanson's occupation?
Bob Swanson was an engineer and racing automobile driver.
What nationality was Bob Swanson?
Bob Swanson was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Bob Swanson. https://biography.guide/bob-swanson/
MLA: "Bob Swanson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/bob-swanson/.
Chicago: "Bob Swanson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/bob-swanson/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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