From drag racing's household names, like "Big Daddy" Don Garlits and Bob Glidden, to drivers you may have never heard of, being a member of the Car Craft All-Star Drag Racing Team has been an important step in many careers. You might think earning a spot on the All-Star Team for John Force might not be a big deal after 12 straight appearances, but you'd be wrong. Force says he still gets a rush of adrenaline when the time nears for the announcement of the Funny Car Driver category.
"This is really a big deal for me," he says. Force brought the house down at the Downtown Marriott Hotel during his acceptance speech at the 35th Anniversary Car Craft All-Star award ceremony. He told everyone about the time he went to an NHRA points meet to watch his daughter Ashley race her Super Comp dragster. "She won her first round deal," Force said, beginning to wind up like a helicopter. "I was jumping around like she'd just won the world championship when I felt this hand on my leg. I turn around, and there's a little kid standing there, and he says, 'Congratulations, you just beat my Grandpa.' Talk about coming back to reality!"
Two other highlights of the evening were the Person of the Year and the Ollie Award, both selected by the magazine's staff. The former, which goes to the individual-in this case "individuals"-who made the greatest positive impact on the sport in the previous year, had to be the "feel good" story of the season, with Funny Car driver Gary Densham and tuner Jimmy Prock sharing the honors.
Densham, a former California high school teacher, joined John Force's team in 2001 and was teamed with Prock, an ultra-serious young tuner who was determined to succeed. They won four times during the All-Star year, and the fans and the racing community loved it.
This year's Ollie Award went to Jeg Coughlin Sr., patriarch of the Coughlin family of racers and founder of the impressive Jeg's mail order parts company. A former Top Fuel driver, Coughlin has been personally active in all levels of racing, and he passed his love of the sport on to his four sons. He showed them how to run the business and helped them become outstanding racers in their own rights. We think he succeeded-just look at the records compiled by Jeg Jr., Mike, John, and Troy.
Here's a complete list of the '02 Car Craft Magazine All-Star Drag Racing Team:Top Fuel Driver Larry Dixon Jr.
Top Fuel CrewchiefDick LaHaie
Funny Car DriverJohn Force
Funny Car CrewchiefAustin Coil/Bernie Fedderly
Pro Stock DriverWarren Johnson
Pro Modified DriverFred Hahn
Pro Racing CrewchiefGeorge Bryce
Pro Bike DriverAngelle Savoie
Pro Racing Engine BuilderDavid Reher/Reher-Morrison Racing Engines
Fuel Racing Chassis BuilderMurf McKinney/McKinney Corp.
Fuel Racing SponsorBudweiser
Pro Chassis BuilderRick Jones/RJ Race Cars
Pro Racing SponsorSummit Racing Equipment
Equipment Manufacturer of the YearHolley Performance
Top Alcohol Dragster DriverDuane Shields
Top Alcohol Funny Car DriverFrank Manzo
Competition DriverDavid Rampy
Super Stock DriverDan Fletcher
Stock DriverMonty Joe Bogan Jr.
8.90 Sportsman DriverRod Fuller
9.90 Sportsman DriverScotty Richardson
10.90 Sportsman DriverDonald Webb
Sportsman Chassis BuilderBen Worthy/Worthy Race Cars
Sportsman Engine BuilderDavid Reher/Reher-Morrison Racing Engines
Sportsman Racing SponsorSummit Racing Equipment
Automobile Manufacturer of the YearPontiac
Persons of the YearGary Densham and Jimmy Prock
Ollie AwardJeg Coughlin Sr.
Special Recognition AwardsDon PrudhommeKenny BernsteinJon AsherHooker HeadersMoroso PerformanceMr. Gasket/HurstPOWERadeLucas Oil Products
Tuner George Bryce won the Pro Racing Crewchief award after three straight appearances as a finalist. A huge Car Craft fan, Bryce even entered his trick Viper in our Real Street Eliminator competition.