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"The Top 25 Alcohol Funny Car drivers of all Time". For the Top TAD drivers of all time go here This page have over 50 photos on it so it will take a bit of time to load Contributors to the list include Jamie Clerf, Dan "The TA Man" Lynch, Bob Wilson, Guy Van Syckle, Mike Rice, Bob Frey and Speedzone's secret agent. Photographers include Larry Pfister, Guy Van Syckle Dean Murdoch, James Morgan, Lyle Greenburg, David McGriff, David Smith, Mark King, Dale Fackler, John Pattison and team file photos. The best "Top Alcohol Funny Car Drivers of all Time". What a list it is. "Wild" Wilfred Boutilier, Pat Austin, Larry Miner, Brad Anderson and of course Frank Manzo. It certainly is an elite group in a class that has seen over 1200 drivers don a SFI 20 suit. Here is the criteria: 1. Success: The most obvious (30 points) The list compiled here includes five guys that were just outside looking in, ten honorable mentions, and then: "The Top 25 Top Alcohol Funny Car Drivers of all Time". So sit back and enjoy what we think is the "best of the best". Just off the list. (In no particular Order) No point totals given for these drivers, but they were just a little less than the honorable mention in front of them
Honorable Mentions
(listed in order from lower rank to higher rank) Gary Southern (Best ET/MPH 6.515 216.86). Southern had success in both funny car and dragster in the Pro Comp Days and was within a round of the world championship in 1981. Two Div championships and three national event wins. Total Points: 60
Jimmy Scott (Best ET/MPH 6.515 216.86). Jimmy was on the more versatile drivers in the 70's during the Pro Comp days. He drove dragsters, funny cars and altereds, and he drove them well. Danny White from the Drag List stated that "Scott was a guy that legends were made of". While most of his success was in the dragster version of Pro Comp especially in 1974 where he won three races in a row and r/upped at the next, he was also very successful in BB/FC. Total Points: 68
The Top 25
19. Jackie Stidham (Best ET/MPH 5.680 252.73). A long time Division 4 hitter that has amassed 5 Divisional titles and a couple national event wins. Has also finished in the top ten a number of times. Total Points: 73
The Top Ten
Just a note before you read the final eight. This elite group was quite easy to come up with compared to the TAD list from a month ago. The ironic thing about the TAD list was one thing: "Parity". While there was not much doubt of the top two, the next 15 down the list were all equally strong and could have been farther up the list. It was almost a crap shoot. The Funny Car drivers list on the other hand, were "DOMINATED" bythe top eight. The top eight won and incredible 260 national events out of the 487 events held. The top eight in the TAD class on the other hand, won only 139 events during the same time span. I am not trying to take anything away from the rest of the TAFC class below the top eight, but I just wanted to point out how good the elite eight were and are.
Tony is one of the few that have had great success in both TAFC and TAD. A pure driver that let's the team tune the car. He gets in a drives (and pays the bills). A winner of seven divisional titles, 25 TAFC national events and two world titles. One of the most dominant drivers in the 90's. With Steve Boggs at his side it was almost hard for him to not win. "He nabbed the last world championship before Manzo took over…Not a tuner or innovator by any means, but a solid driver and dedicated competitor" (Clerf) Total Points: 82.5
Note: It was brought to my attention today after this story was published, that I had neglected to give Newberry his kudos as the first alky funny car into the 5's with a 5.98 in 1989 at Englishtown the same month as Steve Faria ran the first TAD five, only Steve's was at Sears Point a week later I believe. He was also the first into the 5.60's, he feat he accomplished in Feb.1994 at the Ennis Div. race. It was done before (the supposed quicker) TAD accomplished that mark over a year later by Rick Santos.
The Final Two The final two or the "crème" of the crop are pretty obvious, "Pat Austin and Frank Manzo". For as good as the guys' right behind these two are, these two are head and shoulders above the pack.
Bob's take on Pat Austin; "Pat crammed a whole lot of great racing into a shorter period of time and were it not for the point's structure, he would have won more world titles. In 89, for example, he won nine national events and finished 3rd in the points because he won most of them after he was out of races to claim". SpeedZone's secret agent stated this, "I've spent a lot of time thinking about this. I've thought about it many times before this ever came up. It's almost impossible to pick. Austin has 36% more career wins, but those championships of Manzo's... Then again, Austin barely lost the 1986 title to Manzo, and barely lost the 1989 title to Brad Anderson. He was hands-down the best Alcohol Funny Car driver from 1986-92". Then he went on to say, "I think it's cool that you're committing to one of them, instead of calling it a tie. Screw ties. I can't imagine Pat Austin not being No. 1 all-time, but if I have to pick, I'll pick Manzo". And finally these comment from Frey, "You do get credit for winning the championships and for doing it over a sustained period of time, at least in my opinion.Frank's also won an amazing 75 divisional races and that's huge. Pat gets credit for what he did on the national stage but he was, basically, a touring pro in those years, meaning that he went to a lot more national events than any of the others. That's not taking anything away from him and if you're starting a team and you get Frank I certainly won't be upset if I get Pat, but if I have to make a choice...it's Frank. And Frank won their head-to-head meetings in final rounds 3-2. Hey, it's not much but it's something". Pat Austin (72 Nat'l event wins and approx. 40 Div'l wins (Best ET and MPH: 5.569 257.21) Frank Manzo (55 Nat'l event wins, 75 Div'l wins: (Best ET and MPH: 5.549 262.33) So have you come up with Speedzone's choice as the "#1 Top Alcohol Funny Car Driver of All Time", Well based on the criteria used to determine the "Best"; wins/success, longevity, innovation, driving ability, sportsmanship, quality of opponents, budget and nat'l./div. participation. Based on a total point score of 100 being the ultimate Funny Car racer. Here are the scores for the top two:
Pat Austin 1. 30
Pat Austin total: 90 points Frank Manzo 1. 28 Frank Manzo total: 91 points Frank Manzo is the Best Top Alcohol Funny Car Driver of all time! There you have it, "The Best Top Alcohol Funny Car Drivers of all time". How did we do, and how did your favorite driver stack up against the rest. While it certainly is open to debate and discussion, we feel that this list pretty well represents a class of cars the have entertained the fans from coast to caost but never seemed to get the respect from the associations that governed them. When teams are spnding six figures to go fast and get mid five figures in payback there is something wrong. To bad, because they certainly deserve more promotion money and exposure. Dean Murdoch, editor. I would like to take this time to thank all that helped in this "Best of.........list", and they include Jamie Clerf, Dan Lynch, Bob Wilson, Mike Rice, Guy Van Syckle, Speedzone's secret agent and THE sportsman guru Bob Frey. Many of the stats are courtesy NHRA (Jerrie Foss), The Drag List and Steve Klemetti's Racing Stats. Photos are courtesy of and not exclusive to Guy Van Syckle, Dean Murdoch, Larry Pfister, Mark King, David Smith, Dale Fackler, David McGriff, 70's Funny Cars Lyle Greenberg, Motorsport Underground (James Morgan) and John Pattison.
For the Top TAD drivers of all time go here For the Top Tuners and Innovators go here For the quickest runs in history by
TAD and TAFC go here
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Joe
Penland (Best ET/MPH: 5.739 247.11). On the list with having the
shortest career in Top Alcohol Funny Car who also made the most impact.
He raced in the class for only a couple years, (Three I think), but
he won two divisional championships and the World title in the mid
90's under the guidance of Steve Boggs. The following year, he was
no where to be seen. If he had of run the class more than three years
he would be higher on the list (shown here is Ron Gustin in the
ex-Penland championship car). 
Marc
White (Best ET/MPH: 5.626 258.32). One of the best leavers in
the class Marc won the div 3 title in 1998 and has been in the winners
circle at four national events. A top ten finisher in four of the
last six years he also was in the top five in points in Division 3
every year since 1997. 
Scott
Weis(Best ET/MPH: 5.741 244.89). Scott make this list for one
main reason. He was the guy that made the rules makers abolish A/Fuel
Funny Cars from the IHRA. Scott found instant success in the IHRA
when he decided to try A/Fuel Funny Car in their Pro Alcohol class.
He shattered the national record with a 5.74/244 blast. He won 6 national
event in 18 final rounds running both a blown alcohol funny car and
then the A/Fuel ride for the last two, but with all the whining from
the blown contingent, the IHRA outlawed the combination, and he made
the switch to the NHRA. Too bad, as it would have made for as much
controversy as the TAD/Parity issue or the nitrous/blown debate. Scott
was a top 5 finisher in the IHRA for five straight years. 
Peter
Gallen (Best ET/MPH: 5.978 231.54). A very strong running East
Coast racer who won at the division level and three national events.
Unfortunately for him he was in the same division as Newberry, Karp
and that Manzo guy. He also had success in the IHRA much like a bunch
of East Coast racers.
Chuck
Beal (Best ET/MPH: 6.206 235.10). California hitter who moved
up from TAFC to the nitro ranks as an independent. He won nationally
as well as a number of division events and was division champ in 1986.
(shown here in his Top Fuel Funny Car) courtesy NHRA.com
Roger
Bateman (Best ET/MPH: 5.660 253.66). One of, if not THE most recognized
Canadian Funny Car Driver. A 25+ year career in the flopper ranks
with long time partner Bob Reynolds. The epitome of a budget racer,
the team match raced both in the prairies during the North American
racing season and in Puerto Rico (of all places) in the off season.
Won the Division 6 title a few years back, under their long time "Showdown
Banner".
Don
Gay Jr (Best ET/MPH: 6.019 232.07). Hit the Alcohol Funny car
trail by storm, winning three national events in a row in 1988 including
two of those wins over Pat Austin. He also won the Division 2 title
in 1988. Three more runner-ups in 1988 and 1989 and he moved to the
nitro ranks and had a horrific fire in his second race in a nitro
coupe in 1989 which has kept him out of the sport. Total Points:
61
Todd
Paton (Best ET/MPH: 5.724 253.14). Todd took the IHRA by a storm
starting in 1991. He finished 4th that despite competing in only a
handful of events. In 1992 he was his fisrt national event, and in
1993, Paton posted back-to-back victories early in the season, giving
him enough momentum to hold on to the points lead for the balance
of the season, and give the young Canadian his first world championship.
After finishing second during the 1994 season, Todd and his family
returned to their championship form and claimed the alcohol funny
car championship again in 1995. In 1996, went over to compete on the
NHRA circuit, where he posted several victories en route to four top-10
finishes before leaving the alcohol funny car category to try his
hand at nitro. Todd had four national event wins. Total Points:
64
Dick
Bell (Best ET/MPH: 6.005 237.46). N.E. Match racer extraordinaire,
Dick and Arnie Karp and Frank Manzo were classic matchups in the eastern
states and Canada. Starting in the 70's The Bell Boys never got their
one and only National event win until 1991 against Frank Manzo at
Englishtown. Along the way the team had a number of runner-up finishes.
The Bell Boyz 20+ yr. career and their success put them on the list.
Total Points: 64.5 
John
Weaver (Best ET/MPH: 5.620 256.16). John and the "Dream Weaver"
Funny Car team is the true blue family operation. A low to mid budget
team that won races on pure drive and determination. John has won
two Division titles in THE toughest funny car division there is, division
7 and has one National Wally to his credit. Total Points: 66
Bunny
Burkett (Best ET/MPH: 5.885 242.54). 1986 IHRA Funny Car
World Champion 1986 Div 2 NHRA champion. More than 25 years in Funny
Car was one of the few ladies who had very good success in the floppers.
Her success in 86 alone is unbelievable and her longevity gives her
a place on the list. Total Points: 66
Todd
Simpson (Best ET/MPH: 5.685 250.13). A three time divisional champ
and the winner of five national events, Simpson has long been a force
in the South Central division in the NHRA. Total Points: 66.5
Jerry
Gwynn (Best ET/MPH: 6.575 212.27). Jerry Gwynn, father of Drag
Racing legend Darrell Gwynn started racing in Pro Comp in the 70's.
He won four Division 2 titles from 1974 - 1981. After that, Jerry
turned his efforts to son Darrell and the rest as they say is history.
Total Points: 67
Wilfred
Boutilier (Best ET/MPH: 6.695 203.16). "Wild Wilfred"
Boutilier raced across the continent with success from Quebec to California.
Starting his career in Canada we moved to California and competed
in BB/FC in the Pro Comp class. He won two national events and r/upped
at three. He also had considerable success match racing against fuel
floppers. His biggest claim to fame was being the "first"
BB/FC in the six second zone when he ran 6.98 in 1974. It was .3 quicker
than anyone had ever gone before (they went to a bigger 8-71 blower
that year). Total Points: 69
25.
Larry Miner (Best ET/MPH: 5.578 260.81). Larry Miner and the
Miner Bros. Team are one of the toughest teams on the west coast.
Actually they are one of the most feared teams in the country. Long
time Fontana Hemi runners they were the first team to run 260 mph
in a alcohol funny car. Larry had that no-lift attitude that won him
a number of races when most would have lifted. Larry one the Division
7 championship in 1995 and has 6 national event Wallys on his mantle.
Total Points: 70 
24.
Terry Mullins (Best ET/MPH: 5.870 243.17). An outstanding career
that if you just took Divisional results it would put him in the top
15 for sure. Terry won six Division 2 championships including three
in a row from 89-91. Ironically he has never won a national event.
He has r/upped 6 times. Total Points: 70.5
23.
Lou Gasparrelli (Best ET/MPH: 5.692 250.76). The Gasparrelli
clan is another one of those feared Division 7 teams. Lou and now
second generation driver Steve have terrorized Funny Car teams for
a couple decades. The elder Gasparrelli, has four Division 7 championships
and three national event wins under his belt. He also has numerous
top ten national finishes. Son Steve has taken off right where Lou
left off and finished #2 in the world in 2002. Total Points: 71.5
21.
(tie) Scott Weney (Best ET/MPH: 5.860 241.67). Long time Funny
car campaigner who has had success in both IHRA and NHRA competition.
He not only drives the cars he builds them as well under the S&W
banner. Scott was an IHRA World champion and a winner of 9 national
events. He also was a player in nationals event in the NHRA. He has
competed in the class for close to 20 years. Total Points: 72
21.
(tie) Arnie Karp (Best ET/MPH: 6.048 230.76). The "Boston
Strangler" could be on the list just for the name alone. One
of the few drivers that match raced extensively and also won in the
big show. Arnie won three national events and was runner-up at five
others. In between those races he terrorized the East Coast funny
car competitors at match races in every state and eastern provinces.
Total Points: 72
20.
Jay Payne (Best ET/MPH: 5.582 259.51). The "Thunder Slug"
is one of the few touring Alcohol drivers. A lifestyle afforded him
by the family trucking business. Jay is also one of the few (especially
in the present), that has had success in Top Alcohol Dragster and
Funny Car. Since moving to the floppers he has amassed two divisional
titles and 8 national events. Has been in the top five in the funny
car ranks almost every year he has competed in the class. Total
Points: 72.5
18.
Dale Armstrong (Best ET/MPH: 6.495 213.52). Another one of
the legends in the class. He also had one of the cooler car names
in the class, the "Alcoholic". His Jim Foust's owned Donovan
powered BB/FC was perhaps the most dominant alky flopper out there,
as he not only beat up on all the double "B's", he beat
up on a lot of the nitro coupes as well. Back them it was rumored
that he was dumping nitrous into his alky burner. If he had a longer
TA/Pro Comp career (1973 - 1980) he would be much higher on the list.
17.
Chuck Cheeseman (Best ET/MPH: 5.654 255.68). Never won the
"championship", but always there, always consistent…a
five time Division 3 champ who has a couple "full pulls"
(five wins in a season) in division competition. Chuck also has four
national event victories and a bunch of r/ups. Total Points: 75.5
16.
Bob Gottschalk (Best ET/MPH 5.835 246.64). The 1982 world champion
also won two divisional titles and a four national events. Bob had
a stint in nitro funny car as well. A twenty year veteran of the class.
Bob won the 1982 US Nationals twice in that year. He won the Alcohol
Funny Car class and then faced the Top Alcohol Dragster winner Galen
Roggie and proceeded to win that as well. Total Points: 76
15.
Jimmy Rector (Best ET/MPH: 5.763 242.98). One of the winningest
drivers in the IHRA. He has gone to 38 final rounds and won 17 times.
Has in his over decade career won two IHRA world titles and been in
the top 3 seven times during his run. He is out of the seat right
now and taking his tuning prowess to multi time champ Mark Thomas
and Mitch Stott in Pro Mod. A very capable driver with excellent tuning
abilities and innovations, put him on the list. Total Points: 76.5
14.
Randy Anderson (Best ET/MPH: 5.697 253.73). Short but spectacular
career in which he almost equaled Dad's championships (3) with two
of his own back to back ('94 and '95). 16 national event wins to go
along with one division championship. Would have a bunch more titles
and be higher up in the list if he had of stayed in the class longer
instead of taking a run at nitro floppers. He now is a hired tuner
for a number of Top Alcohol teams and has tuned teams like Gasparrelli's,
Bucky Austin, Robert Lee and others. Also consults on a number of
top teams as well. He also has a bit of a reputation as a hot head
and has found himself in the middle of a few pit battles. That in
itself gives him brownie point being that I love a bit on controversy.
Total Points: 77 
12.
(tie) Mark Thomas ( Best ET/MPH: 5.788 243.41). THE man in
IHRA Funny Car competition for well over a decade. With 36 final rounds
and 15 wins in the other series, he has five world titles to his credit.
Also one of the few with strong corporate backing behind him. Total
Points: 78
12.
(tie) Danny Townsend (Best ET/MPH: 5.796 253.23). Another multi
divisional champion with 7 championships (six in TAFC) and 9 national
event victories in TAFC and Competition eliminator, including three
in a row against Pat Austin in 1990 (a feat not too many can claim).
He also had over a half dozen r/ups. A career that started over 20
years ago, he got his first divisional title in 1986. Total Points:
78
11.
Cy Chesterman (Best ET/MPH: 5.531 259.71). Represents the new
breed of TA/FC drivers who bankroll their operations with the best
in tuning talent and parts. The world record ET holder in the class,
he has one of the top tuners on his side, in Les Davenport. Cy's forte
is go fast or go home, and it has won him 14 national events and two
divisional titles. A perennial top ten finisher in the national standings.
He along with Crew chief Davenport have developed a new lock up style
clutch for the Top Alcohol ranks that will possibly revolutionize
the class. Total Points: 78.5
10.
Von Smith (Best ET/MPH: 5.594 257.28). Arguably the best Alcohol
Funny Car driver in IHRA history. Two world titles, 19 wins (the most
in the class) and good success in the NHRA. He won the Division 2
title in 2002 in his first full year of NHRA competition. He also
has two national event wins in NHRA competition. One of the top drivers
in the class is also a hired gun in the Pro Mod ranks. One of the
few Top Alcohol drivers out there with consistent corporate sponsors
in the side of the car. Total Points: 79
9.
Fred Mandoline (Best ET/MPH: 5.680 251.25). He been involved
in Top Alcohol for well over 20 years and is one of the few that the
experts go to, to get information. Was active as a driver in the class
up until a couple years ago, and he won the world title back in 1983.
A winner of three national event and three divisional titles as well.
"The '83 Champ is still out there as a tuner and innovator
making awesome power". (Clerf) Total Points: 79.5
8.
Ken Veney (Best ET/MPH: 6.375 223.32). Two Words. "Veney's
Vega" (Clerf). One of the most famous cars in the Pro Comp
"BB/FC" days in "Veney's Vega". This car was flat
out bad! He routinely beat up on the supposed quicker dragsters and
won the world title in 1980 the last year both dragsters and funny
cars raced side by side throughout eliminations. He set or broke 11
national and track record in a five years span from 1974 - 1979 and
won 13 National events. Total Points: 82
7.
Tony Bartone (Best ET/MPH 5.549 259.06). 
6.
Brad Anderson: (Best ET/MPH: 5.968 236.34) Brad is arguably
the best to ever sit between the frame rails of an alcohol funny car.
A holder of over 15 national or track et and mph records he shattered
the TAFC record in 1975 when he went 6.55/212, which was almost 2/10ths
and 7 mph quicker and faster than anyone had gone before. He was the
first to go over 220 mph and the first in the 6.20's. If he did not
had the reigns over to son Randy, he probably would have a lot more
than his 24 national event wins, 8 divisional titles and three world
championships (after all his son continued winning with 16 nationals
and two world titles). "Maybe the most influential driver
on this list…"Bad Brad" was the brain behind BAE Enterprises
and much more…one of the winningest. TA/FC's of all time, including
three Indy titles" (Clerf) Total Points: 83.5
5.
Bucky Austin (Best ET/MPH: 5.561 260.46). The "Northwest
Hitter" has had a very long successful career, and he persevered
through a number of lean years divisionally and nationally, but still
won match racing. Bucky has amassed a record of 7 divisional titles
and fifteen national titles. He started racing alcohol and A/Fuel
back in the mid 70's and had a fiery temper. He has since mellowed
a lot but still has a determination that has garnered him the second
most divisional event wins in the Northwest with 34. "The
West Coast version of Manzo except without the world titles…Name
is practically permanently engraved on the Division 6 trophy. Only
mark against is the lack of a world championship". (Clerf)
Total Points: 84 
4.
Vern Moats Best (ET/MPH: 5.611 253.66) Most is one of the longest
running TA funny car drivers out there. And with his success, why
would he stop. He has set the standard for divisional championships
with a whooping 15, and has 16 national event wins in 29 final rounds
to go along with it. His first divisional title was over twenty years
ago, in 1983. He started in the class back in the beginning of Pro
Comp and at 60+ is still going strong "Has done everything
in the class except one….Win the world championship. Vern has
the most division titles of any race, and has been in the top ten
to many times to count". (Clerf) Total Points: 85
3.
Bob Newberry (Best ET/MPH: 5.572 258.07). An amazing career
that has rivaled anyone in the sport and he won up against the "King
of World Championships" Frank Manzo. Bob has 11 Divisional championships
to his name and an incredible 40 national championships. Did you know
that from 1981 (in inception of TAFC) to the present only two drivers
have won the Division 1 Funny Car title? Newberry and Manzo. Bob won
seven in a row from 1988-1994. "Innovator…His rivalry
with Frank Manzo on the East coast one of the best the sport has ever
seen. Still hard to believe he has only one championship though".
(Clerf) Total Points: 87
Over
¼ of the total wins in the class at the national event level
were won by these two. And there are more wins to come from both,
as Pat is set to come back into the class this year, and Frank just
keeps on winning. I am going to give you a little history about the
success of both of these incredible drivers and you can draw your
own conclusions as to who is the greatest driver of all time. The
first thing most look at is the world titles, which of course Frank
Manzo has nine of including the last seven in a row. An unbelievable
stat. Pat on the other hand has won four championships, and missed
two more (one won by Manzo) by one round each. Frank won his first
title, waaay back in 1981 the first year the class split from Pro
Comp. He actually won his first event in Pro Comp in 1980 driving
his Kenny Cox built AA/A. He has won 13 divisional championships since
then and an awesome 55 national event wins. Between Manzo and Newberry
they have won every Divisional title in Division 1. Pat Austin on
the other hand does not have 55 
national
event wins he has 72. Most (54) of those were won from 1987 - 1995.
There were three years in a row (89-91), where Pat won 9 races each
year. He went to 35 final rounds in those three years alone. During
the same time span, where Austin won those 54 (in 80 final rounds)
national events, Manzo only won nine in 13 final rounds (Frank did
only race the minimum requirement during a few of those years, possibly
because Pat was so dominant). No other driver has ever won 9 national
events in a year, and Pat did it three times. He also won five US
Nationals. Frank was no slouch at the "Big Go" either, as
he won the most ever in the class, with an incredible six Wally's
in his name. What's next on the list of accomplishments from these
two legends of the class? Oh ya, the 
NHRA
named these two to the top "50" of all time back in 2000.
Frank was #40 and Pat was the highest sportsman driver at #13 (Frank
would surely be higher on the list if it was polled this year). Let's
talk National ET and speed records. Frank Manzo set or reset the record
eight times during his 25 year career. Pat was the first to run in
the 6.20's, 5.80's, 5.70's and 5.50's and the first to 250 mph (he
did that in 1995). From 1989 - 1999, Pat set and reset the ET and
MPH records 27 times (a couple records were not backed up during that
time but they were still the first leg of the record), more than everyone
else in the class put together (21). Manzo has 75 div'l wins. Pat
has 33 in division six, and a number out of division wins so that
one is no contest for Manzo. Frank also holds the record for the most
undefeated rounds in a row at national events. He went 7-0 in 2000
to go 28-0. Frank was the second Top Alcohol 
driver
to get a full pull in a competition year. Pat Austin was the first
ever to get a full pull), where he was 10-0 (Five National wins and
five divisional wins). That was the year he was 7-0 nationally, so
he was really 12-0. Interestingly enough, their record in National
event competition is not a big factor. They only faced each other
five times in final round competition during all those years and Frank
holds the edge 3-2. What their record is against each other in the
other three rounds of eliminations I don't know. Longevity is also
heavily in Frank's favor as he started drag racing back in the mid
70's, so he has 30 years in the sport. Pat's career, while being non
existent for the last two years is getting a revival as the family
is set to return to the class this year. As far as team innovation
goes, I have to give the edge to the Austin family, as they have been
at the forefront of developing new products for the class. They introduced
the Whipple Super Charger to TAFC, as well as their own cylinder heads
in conjunction with Alan Johnson. Their fuel systems have been on
many Top Alcohol teams. Manzo is not to be ignored in the development
department either as he and John Glade have been at the forefront
in fuel system development. They have perfected the Newberry combination
as well as the BAE combo, where as Pat and family ran the WAR Hemi
or Wedge combo. They also built a few of their chassis' in-house.
Bob Frey is quoted as saying, "for a number of years,
when Pat showed up the others were racing for second place. He wanted
to rip the competitions throat out at every event, at most he did".
And he is still young enough if he decides to get back serious in
the class, watch out! "Force's record win total could be in danger",
especially if the team runs nationals the way they did in previous
years. Other comments from Bob Frey. "This topic is a very
good question, Pat or Frank, Frank or Pat.
.
Total points based out of 100, in the nine criteria at the top of
the page:
Points
points based out of 100, in nine criteria at the top of the page: