Tovella began his racing career at Chicago's
Soldier Field racetrack in the early 1950, 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 The cars Tovella raced varied over his career, with Tovella, at different times, driving cars manufactured by several brands (including Ford,
Chevrolet,
Edsel,
Plymouth, Tovella's final of six USAC victories came in 1980 at the
DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack. In 2012, Tovella was inducted in the Illinois Stock Car Hall of Fame. ==International Racing Association==