NHRA's Top 25 Alcohol Drivers: A Celebration of Speed and Legacy
The NHRA's 75th Anniversary salute to its racers continues with the unveiling of the Top 25 Alcohol Drivers list. This collection of great racers was curated by a panel of racing experts, honoring the sport's greatest Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car drivers. The list will be revealed in five parts, with five drivers added each time, starting today. Let's dive into the first group and explore what makes these drivers so remarkable.
Pat Austin: The Brightest Star of the 1980s and 1990s
Pat Austin is a legend in the NHRA, with a five-year reign between 1987 and 1991 that was nothing short of extraordinary. During this period, he won four championships and a staggering 70 career Top Alcohol Funny Car national event wins, along with 54 divisional wins. What's truly remarkable is that he achieved this dominance while also becoming the first driver to win in both Top Alcohol Funny Car and Top Fuel at the same event, a feat he repeated just a few months later. Austin's talent and killer instinct, combined with the horsepower of his Castrol-sponsored entry, instilled fear in his opponents. His perfect 10-win season in 1991 was a testament to his dominance, and his legacy continues to inspire new generations of racers.
Blaine Johnson: The Dominant Force of the 1990s
Blaine Johnson is another class great, despite having only competed for six seasons before his mid-1990s ascent to the Top Fuel ranks. His dominance began early, winning in his second career start at the 1988 NHRA Gatornationals. By the end of the 1993 season, he had set a then-class record of 26 wins. Johnson's success extended beyond the track, as he won five divisional championships and compiled 26 divisional event victories. His four consecutive season titles between 1990 and 1994 were a testament to his consistency and skill. Johnson's perfect season in 1992, the first in the 10-race points format, remains an impressive achievement in the annals of NHRA history.
Bucky Austin: The Northwest Hitter
Bucky Austin, the self-proclaimed 'Northwest Hitter,' carved a successful career path in the Northwest. He won eight Division 6 Top Alcohol Funny Car championships, 17 NHRA national events, and 44 divisional Wallys. His first national event win in 1989 at his Seattle hometrack was a significant moment, as he defeated Pat and Walt Austin in the final round. Austin's dominance extended to his hometown race, which he won four times. His 15-year winning career, which ended in 2004, and his role as a dominant owner/tuner in the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series, make him a key figure in the sport's history.
Doug Gordon: The Three-Generations-Spanning Race Team
Doug Gordon's driving career began in 1996, succeeding his father, Mike, in the family Funny Car. He displayed elite natural talents immediately, winning his first of 36 divisional events that year. However, it was in the past decade that he emerged as a perennial title contender, winning 19 times since 2020 and collecting world championships in 2020, 2022, and 2023. After turning the seat over to his daughter Maddi in 2024, Gordon unretired in 2026 when Maddi moved up to the Top Fuel ranks. The three-generations-spanning race team's biggest moment came at the Norwalk event this year, where Doug won Top Alcohol Funny Car, Maddi won Top Fuel, and Maddi's team owner Ron Capps won Funny Car at the same event, creating a historic moment in NHRA history.
Joey Severance: The Modest Personality with a Killer Instinct
Joey Severance's success can be attributed to a combination of factors. His modest personality and killer instinct, coupled with a car prepared by an outside-of-the-box-thinking father, left no quarter for competitors. Severance captured four consecutive world championships between 2015 and 2018, ending the Meyer family's three-year dominance in the class and striking a blow for the traditional supercharged powerplant against the dominant A/Fuel Dragster combinations. His achievement of four championships in the class' 50-year history is a testament to his skill and determination. Severance's success also extended to the West Region championships and Division 6 championships, where he amassed 41 regional/divisional victories. The Severance family's ownership of the popular Woodburn Dragstrip track in Oregon further highlights their impact on the sport.
In conclusion, the NHRA's Top 25 Alcohol Drivers list is a celebration of speed, legacy, and the human spirit. These drivers have left an indelible mark on the sport, inspiring new generations of racers and pushing the boundaries of what's possible. As we continue to uncover the stories behind these remarkable individuals, we gain a deeper appreciation for the passion, skill, and determination that make NHRA racing so captivating. So, let's raise a virtual toast to these drivers and the legacy they've built, and look forward to the next chapter in the NHRA's 75th Anniversary salute.
