Car Craft All Star Drag Racing Team

Cory McClenathan was your All-Star choice for Top Fuel Driver, likely based on the outstanding performance (combined with great driving talent) of the McDonald's-sponsored Top Fueler of Joe Gibbs Racing. Much of the winning credit should also go to tuner Mike Green and Murf McKinney Chassis, both of whom also won All-Star trophies.

Cory McClenathan was your All-Star choice for Top Fuel Driver, likely based on the outstan

The '98 Car Craft All-Star Drag Racing team is dedicated to four-time CC All-Star winner John Myers who recently lost his life in a motorcycle accident. Godspeed, John...we'll miss you buddy.

There's no sport like drag racing, and there are no drivers like drag racers. While many motorsports thrive on fans watching the racing, most don't allow fans to intermingle with the drivers and crews. That's part of what makes drag racing great-fans can go into the pits, rub elbows with their favorite drivers, get autographs, and ask questions. That alone is usually worth the price of admission. It's this same concept that we apply to the Car Craft All-Star Drag Racing Team-let the fans and industry insiders choose who they want to be on the All-Star team.

We've been doing the Car Craft All-Star Drag Racing Team gig since 1967. Each year we run a ballot that lets readers and racers choose their favorite drivers, crewchiefs, sponsors, equipment manufacturer, chassis manufacturer, and automobile manufacturer. The votes are tallied and then three finalists in each category are formally invited to a big, glitzy All-Star awards banquet where the winners are announced. In addition, the CC staff presents awards including Special Recognition, Person of the Year, and the prestigious Ollie Lifetime Achievement Award. The "Ollie" is the most coveted All-Star award as it recognizes a person who, over their career, has made an outstanding impact on the sport of drag racing.

Warren Johnson continued to prove that he's definitely the "Professor of Pro Stock" as he scooped up All-Star honors as Pro Stock Driver. W.J. was also a finalist as Pro Stock Crewchief. W.J.'s sponsor, GM Performance Parts, was named to the '98 All-Star team as Pro Stock Sponsor. W.J.'s chassis builder, Rick Jones of RJ Race Cars, snagged All-Star glory as Pro Stock Chassis Builder.
Warren Johnson continued to prove that he's definitely the "Professor of Pro Stock" as he
In NHRA Super Stock, Dan Fletcher has been the man to beat. His Valvoline/Summit-sponsored '69 Camaro helped Fletcher land in the winners' circle on a regular basis including three straight times during the '98 season alone. Could this be why he was voted Super Stock Driver All-Star? Duh.
In NHRA Super Stock, Dan Fletcher has been the man to beat. His Valvoline/Summit-sponsored
Rick Santos is one of those guys who doesn't talk, he performs. His diamond-encrusted '97 NHRA Federal Mogul Championship ring is proof, but he's not resting on his laurels-he's working hard for the '98 ring too. Consequently, he was the overwhelming choice for the Alcohol Dragster Driver All-Star.
Rick Santos is one of those guys who doesn't talk, he performs. His diamond-encrusted '97

Earlier we stated that some companies, with their outstanding sponsorship support, make drag racing a reality for so many racers. No company offers more sponsorship help than Winston. Fans recognize this and, consequently, Winston was the clear choice for the '98 Top Fuel/Funny Car Sponsor All-Star.
Earlier we stated that some companies, with their outstanding sponsorship support, make dr
Once a rock starts rolling, it's hard to stop it. Such is the case with Alcohol Funny Car Driver All-Star Frank Manzo. As last year's Federal Mogul Funny Car champion, he's well on his way to another NHRA championship for '98.
Once a rock starts rolling, it's hard to stop it. Such is the case with Alcohol Funny Car
Although Stock Driver All-Star Al Corda won the '97 NHRA Winston Stock Eliminator championship with his super-sano, Mopar-sponsored, Hemi-powered '70 Dodge Challenger, he's struggling to repeat the feat for '98.
Although Stock Driver All-Star Al Corda won the '97 NHRA Winston Stock Eliminator champion

The banquet is open to anybody that wants to attend-and who can shell out the 75 clams for the ticket and show up in some fancy duds (preferably a tuxedo). In 1998, the banquet returned to its roots during the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis after a several-year departure to Dallas and then Los Angeles.

Putting on the All-Star banquet is a lot of work, and we couldn't do it without the support of great sponsors. Just like with a race car, sponsor support helps make dreams realities-so please consider which companies support drag racing the next time you make a purchase. There are also others to thank: the racers/builders for their outstanding efforts throughout the year; Jon Asher, Beth Stewart, Dave McClelland, and Chuck Schifsky for their weeks of hard work; and you, the fans who read Car Craft and have voted for your favorites. Now, without further oildowns, we proudly present your winners for the '98 Car Craft All-Star Drag Racing Team.

Pro Stock Crewchief honors went to the dynamic duo of Rich Purdy and Jerry Bickel who have made Jim Yates' (also a finalist) Pro Stock Firebird such a powerful force.
Pro Stock Crewchief honors went to the dynamic duo of Rich Purdy and Jerry Bickel who have
Ollie Lifetime Achievement Award
It's not surprising that readers voted the always-jabbering John Force as the Funny Car Driver All-Star, making Force a winner for the eighth straight time. It's Force's popularity that also made him the Ollie recipient for '98. Could it be due to Force's winning ways, his dangerous driving, his awesome antics, his witty words, or just because of his publicity ploys? We don't know, but it sure has made Force a superstar standout and worked to make a lot of non-racing people rabid fans of drag racing. Force always has something up his sleeve, we just can't wait to see what's next.
Ollie Lifetime Achievement Award It's not surprising that readers voted the always-jabbe
As of the '98 U.S. Nationals, seven of the top 10 cars in NHRA Super Comp national rankings were products of Kurt Damron's Undercover Chassis, which may explain why the Sportsman Chassis Builder All-Star trophy went to Damron's company.
As of the '98 U.S. Nationals, seven of the top 10 cars in NHRA Super Comp national ranking

Competition Driver All-Star Darren "The California Kid" Davis is far from juvenile, with driving talents that helped him to the final round many times-including the season-opening '98 Winternationals.
Competition Driver All-Star Darren "The California Kid" Davis is far from juvenile, with d
Persons of the Year
The father and son combo of Byron and Matt Hines has been an unstoppable force in Pro Stock Motorcycle during '97 and '98. Currently, Matt holds the best win record of any NHRA racing category and shows no sign of letting up. Together, Matt and Byron have brought outstanding awareness to Pro Stock Motorcycle with their domineering force and positive attitudes, which made them shoe-ins for the Car Craft All-Star Persons of the Year award.
Persons of the Year The father and son combo of Byron and Matt Hines has been an unstopp
Most anybody can buy a stack of speed parts, but to properly assemble the combo and tune it is the real trick. As crewchief for the McDonald's Top Fueler, Mike Green has consistently provided that winning combo. Green was awarded the Top Fuel Crewchief All-Star, and Cory "Big Mac" McClenathan snagged the Top Fuel Driver All-Star honors.
Most anybody can buy a stack of speed parts, but to properly assemble the combo and tune i