Again, I'll give you a few names, and you can choose between them.
Don Garlits: "Big Daddy" was the first driver to use a rear engined Top Fuel car, as well, he was the first driver to break 200, 210, 230, and 250 miles an hour.
Kenny Bernstein: "The King of Speed." He is the first driver to ever win a Championship in both Funny Far, and Top Fuel, although not in the same year, also the first driver to break 300, and 310 miles an hour.
Joe Amato: Five time Top Fuel Champion.
Blaine Johnson: (deceased) Won more National Events in Top Fuel in one season than any other racer before (1996).
Darrel Gwynn: Revolutionized Aredoynamics in Top Fuel.
Tony Schumacher: He was the first racer to break 330 miles an hour in Top Fuel.
Scott Kalitta: The first back-to-back Top Fuel Champion since the seventies (1994-95).
Shirley Mouldowney: First female Top Fuel Champion, won the Championship 3 times in the early 80's.
Again, if you have anyone else to add, feel free.
2007-08-07 15:13:01 · 14 answers · asked by senor_police 2 in Sports ➔ Auto Racing ➔ Other - Auto Racing
Man . . . I did forget to mention Eddie Hill, didn't I? First driver to make a run in four seconds.
2007-08-07 16:08:45 · update #1
Actually, Don Purdhomme didn't make as big of an impact with Top Fuel, as he did with Funny Car.
2007-08-07 16:32:07 · update #2
I've heard of Tony Nancy, and the last time I ever saw him race, he got beat by Larry Dixon Sr.
2007-08-08 06:22:47 · update #3
To Zhapod . . . there's more to "flooring it, and keeping the wheel straight" as you have put it . . . try doing it at over 330 miles an hour, with rear tires that have no tread on them at all.
2007-08-08 06:24:13 · update #4
So far, it's Eddie Hill with two votes.
2007-08-08 07:53:06 · update #5
And we have a tie, folks, Eddie Hill with two votes, and "Big Daddy" Don Garlits with two votes.
2007-08-08 13:25:33 · update #6
A new name has entered the fray, the late Blaine Johnson, who held the national elapsed time record before his death in 1996, as well as the most consecutive number one positions in qualifying than any other racer before, which extended from the Gator Nationals in 1995, to the tragic qualifying run at the U.S. Nationals in 1996.
2007-08-09 07:31:58 · update #7
"Big Daddy" Don Garlits is the leader at present, with four votes, to Eddie Hill's two.
2007-08-09 07:32:59 · update #8
Still at four votes, Don Garlits, and there's now a tie for second, between Eddie Hill, and the late Blaine Johnson, with Joe Amato bringing up third..
2007-08-11 18:50:17 · update #9
"Big Daddy" Dan Garlits, he was a true pioneer for the sport.
2007-08-09 00:03:51 · answer #1 · answered by Gorilla 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
actually big daddy was not the first rear engine dragster, he was the first to make it work, have been a "big" fan all my life, i saw him at indy 303mph, i named my first son after blaine johnson, a family operation that was smoking the competition gotta admire that, joe knows drag racing hes a great champion, what would schumacher be without alan johnson, we are tony fans also, bernstein is better know in funny cars( the batmobile) and 300mph in top fuel, eddie hill was and is awesome wish he was still doing it, give shirley credit where its due, however she was never fan friendly, how about clay millican, hes a blast to talk too, tv tommy remember him brought drag racing into the mainstream, so many to list they are all fantastic in one way or another, but to pick one driver it is............................................ blaine johnson.....rip my friend
2007-08-09 02:46:55 · answer #2 · answered by nitroyes 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Man, that's too close to call. I've always liked Amato, but Bernstein, Garlits, and Muldowney are all legendary top drivers. I don't think I could say either one was that much better or different than the others.
2007-08-10 15:33:13 · answer #3 · answered by Nc Jay 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just to be different this time, I vote for Eddie Hill. First in the fours!
2007-08-07 15:43:34 · answer #4 · answered by napoleon_in_rags 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. Eddie Hill
2. Big Daddy
Last: Bernstein (cry baby, whiner, mama's boy)
Anybody know that Prudhome is claustrophobic? Takes some guts to drive a funny car with that in your head!
2007-08-14 13:23:09 · answer #5 · answered by racerkeith 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Darrel Gwynn. He may not have won as many championships as other drivers listed, but revolutionizing aerodynamics made things much safer for all drivers and thats why he gets my vote.
2007-08-08 07:35:20 · answer #6 · answered by brek69amx 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don 'Big Daddy" Garlits
2007-08-08 10:49:04 · answer #7 · answered by Bruce Almighty 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Garlits
2007-08-14 05:01:18 · answer #8 · answered by roadrunner426440 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One vote for Bob "Mad Dog" Glidden. Edit: The "Mad Dog" was from my memory. With a little Googling I found confirmation online: "His nickname among fellow Pro Stock racers was 'Mad Dog,' a handle not given for erratic behavior, but for the sheer doggedness with which Glidden and his entire family pursued winning." -- Jim Hill You are correct that he never used the nickname as Garlits, Prudhomme etc. used theirs.
2016-05-21 03:04:56 · answer #9 · answered by daisey 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
all that you mentioned above,hard to compare different people from different phases of cometition they are all great when they was running at that time.if i had to pick 1 it would had to be blaine johnson,who knows what he would have done with the super team he had when he passed away.
2007-08-10 01:57:30 · answer #10 · answered by john c 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋