600th Top Alcohol national event in Las Vegas (1 Viewer)

[Dave]

With the upcoming Denso Nationals being the 600th event for the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car classes, I thought it would be neat to look back over the win lists and some of the names that have been a part of the first 599. From Jerry Darien and Brad Anderson in the first event to Rich McPhillips and John Lombardo Jr in the 599th, here are the category winners.

Top Alcohol Dragster - 141 different winners, 60 one hit wonders.

Rick Santos 36
Bill Reichert 28
Blaine Johnson 26
Bill Barney 23
Jim Whiteley 23
Duane Shields 22
Tom Conway 19
Chris Demke 18
Jay Payne 16
Bobby Taylor 14
Bill Walsh 12
Chuck Baird 12
Morgan Lucas 11
Darrell Gwynn 10
Joey Severance 10
Al DaPozzo 9
Don Woosley 9
Mike Kosky 9
Jay Meyer 8
Randy Meyer 8
Mike Troxel 7
Darrell Russell 7
Keith Stark 7
Michael Gunderson 7
David Wells 7
Bruce McDowell 6
Darren Nicholson 6
Marty Thacker 6
Art Gallant 5
Dave Hirata 5
Steve Federlin 5
Alan Bradshaw 5
Ashley Force 5
Shawn Cowie 5
Brian Raymer 4
Bubba Sewell 4
Dennis Forcelle 4
Cory McClenathan 4
Roger Primm 4
Randy Parks 4
Mitch Myers 4
Rich McPhillips 4
Steve Torrence 4
Monroe Guest 4
Joe Amato 3
Gary Scelzi 3
Denny Lucas 3
Cruz Pedregon 3
Steve Faria 3
Mike Austin 3
Chess Bushey 3
Shawn Bowen 3
Shelly Howard 3
Troy Buff 3
Rick Henkelman 3
Jeff Wilson 3
Gary Ormsby Jr 3
Brandon Bernstein 3
Mark Hentges 3
Tony Bartone 3
Sean O'Bannon 3
John Finke 3
Spencer Massey 3
Buddy Domingue 2
Bill McCornack 2
John Rose Jr 2
Brooks Brown 2
Todd Datweiler 2
John Shoemaker 2
Cliff Bozzelli 2
Mark Taliaferro 2
Rob Wendland 2
Melanie Troxel 2
Brian Hough 2
Jeff Bohr 2
Aaron Olivarez 2
Ken Perry 2
Tom Bayer 2
Mark Niver 2
Chase Copeland 2
Shayne Lawson 2
Jerry Darien 1
Bill Mullins 1
Dan Nimmo 1
Les Davenport 1
Galen Roggie 1
Dave Hage 1
Don Irvin 1
Stephen Fedele 1
Kirk Lawrence 1
Lee Young 1
Eldon Slick 1
Charlie Bauer 1
Walt Rhoades 1
Dale Hall 1
John Speelman 1
Tony Volturo 1
Ken Murray 1
Earl Datweiler 1
Gary Southern 1
Jeff Rapp 1
Amy Faulk 1
Wayne Celko 1
Bernie Plourd 1
Shelly Anderson 1
Ted Gord 1
Tiffani Hyland 1
Shaun Hyland 1
David Busby 1
Michael Bartone 1
Johnny Gray 1
Russ Conroy 1
Jeremy Torstveit 1
Ned Ott 1
Ken Zeal 1
Shane Gay 1
Jeannie Booz 1
Bruce Bowler 1
John Haley 1
Hillary Will 1
Dan Mercier 1
Brandon Johnson 1
Randy Eakins 1
Jeff Isbell 1
Diana Harker 1
Brandon Lewis 1
Justin Davis 1
Courtney Force 1
Michael Manners 1
Cody Perkins 1
Richard Bourke 1
Gord Gingles 1
Brandon Booher 1
Robin Samsel 1
Johnny Ahten 1
Cory Mchalek 1
Mike Strasburg 1
Mia Tedesco 1
Megan McKernan 1
Bill Litton 1
Garrett Bateman 1


Top Alcohol Funny Car - 103 different winners, only 13 have won 10 or more.

Frank Manzo 104
Pat Austin 70
Bob Newberry 44
Tony Bartone 38
Jay Payne 26
Brad Anderson 24
Bucky Austin 17
Vern Moats 16
Cy Chesterman 16
Randy Anderson 14
Steve Harker 11
Steve Gasparrelli 10
Mickey Ferro 10
John Lombardo Jr 7
Brian Hough 6
Larry Miner 6
Doug Gordon 6
Todd Simpson 5
Von Smith 5
Clint Thompson 5
Ken Veney 4
Bob Gottschalk 4
Arnie Karp 4
Danny Townsend 4
Stan Sipos 4
Chuck Cheeseman 4
Joe Penland Jr 4
Todd Paton 4
Marc White 4
Dan Pomponio 4
Fred Mandoline 3
Lou Gasparrelli 3
Peter Gallen 3
Don Gay Jr 3
Gary Scelzi 3
Jeff Rapp 3
John Lawson 3
Sam Blue 3
Paul Gill 3
Mick Snyder 3
David Ray 3
Sean O'Bannon 3
Paul Lee 3
Annie Whiteley 3
Jonnie Lindberg 3
Gary Southern 2
Chuck Beal 2
Ronny Young 2
Chuck Phelps 2
Jackie Stidham 2
Scott Weney 2
Johnny Gray 2
Dennis Taylor 2
Kebin Kinsley 2
Bob Tasca III 2
Bobby Martin 2
Daniel Oliver 2
Kris Hool 2
Andy Bohl 2
Chris Foster 2
Shane Westerfield 2
Jerry Gwynn 1
Jeff Jones 1
Gary Henderson 1
Jon Barrett 1
Hank Johnson 1
Dave Sebring 1
Charlie Byers 1
Gene Boul 1
Bunny Burkett 1
Al DaPozzo 1
John Samolyk 1
Tommy Johnson Jr 1
Dennis Piranio 1
Gary Rettell 1
Cruz Pedregon 1
Paul Johnson 1
Mike Andreotti 1
Pete Duhart 1
Dick Bell 1
Craig Peterson 1
John Weaver 1
Tim Wilkerson 1
Randy Parker 1
Steve Sommer 1
John Hyland 1
Rod Alexander 1
Eric Lourie 1
Mert Littlefield 1
Jeff Craig 1
Ron August Jr 1
John Bojec 1
Fred Hagen Jr 1
Alexis DeJoria 1
John Evanchuk 1
Jirka Kaplan 1
Paul Noakes 1
Nick Janiuk 1
Dale Brand 1
Scott McVey 1
Ulf Leanders 1
Todd Veney 1
Sean Bellemeur 1

 

[vegasnitro]

Only 13 have won 10 or more in Funny Car because of that first name on the list, Frank Manzo. He was so dominant for so long.

Awesome list ... man some names on that list bring back memories! It would be a fantastic "where are they now?"

 

[Jimbo]

For me these are the two classes that make me want to go attend drag racing events.

I often wonder why they do not get more respect and are treated better by the sectioning bodies.

When I attend a national event and look at their operations with the semi haulers and the amount money they have invested to run these classes and then to be parked some where in the grass that when it rains they cannot even get out of it is rather remarkable that they are treated this way.

I look at the money they are paid and think about how long it's been without an increase in the pay out for these racers.

Just my opinion.
Jim Hill
http://www.nostalgicracingdecals.com

 

[Rajunz]

The most shocking thing to me in those lists is that Bill Mullins only got one win. He always had one of the most dominant cars at the divisional races.

 

[Nunz]

Do those wins count the ones drivers earned when the classes were combined under Pro Comp?

 

[mike]

In dragster RIP Blaine-Bill Barney-Al Dapozo-Don Woosley-Mike Troxel-Darrel Russel-Shelly Howard-Mark Niver-Bill Mullins?

 

[mike]

Good list!

However, Linberg has won more than one national event! I can think of at least 3 national events he has won off the top of my head.

 

[Dave]

Do those wins count the ones drivers earned when the classes were combined under Pro Comp?

No they do not, only from 1981-present.

 

[Dave]

Good list!

However, Linberg has won more than one national event! I can think of at least 3 national events he has won off the top of my head.

You're correct! Thanks for catching that. I had his total switched with Scott McVey. Oops!

 

[.]

Those lists are kind of amazing. Seeing the numbers for legends like Vern Moats and Bucky and then looking at how their wins compare to Pat Austin and Mnzo really puts things into perspective.

Do you have any numbers of how many championships these drivers have won. Off the top of my head I would have expected a former TAD champ like Mitch Myers to have more national event wins.

 

[Dave]

Those lists are kind of amazing. Seeing the numbers for legends like Vern Moats and Bucky and then looking at how their wins compare to Pat Austin and Mnzo really puts things into perspective.

Do you have any numbers of how many championships these drivers have won. Off the top of my head I would have expected a former TAD champ like Mitch Myers to have more national event wins.

Sure -

TAD:
5 - Rick Santos (All in a row)
5 - Bill Reichert (All in a row)
4 - Blaine Johnson (All in a row)
3 - Bill Walsh (All in a row)
2 - Tom Conway
2 - Jim Whiteley (All in a row)
1 - Brian Raymer
1 - Don Woosley
1 - Darrell Gwynn
1 - Denny Lucas
1 - Mike Troxel
1 - Jay Payne
1 - Bobby Taylor
1 - Art Gallant
1 - Alan Bradshaw
1 - Mitch Myers
1 - Steve Torrence
1 - Duane Shields
1 - Chris Demke
1 - Joey Severance

TAFC:
16 - Frank Manzo
4 - Brad Anderson
4 - Pat Austin
2 - Randy Anderson
2 - Bob Newberry
1 - Bob Gottschalk
1 - Fred Mandoline
1 - Joe Penland
1 - Tony Bartone
1 - Cy Chesterman
1 - Steve Harker
1 - Jonnie Lindberg

Also remember starting in 2002 they stopped running at every national event. They had 16 races per year from 2002-present, aside from one year when they had 17 in 2008.

 

[Randy]

Shameless plug. We won the 500th race in TA/FC against Alexis DeJoria in Las Vegas, Fall 2009.

 

[Nunz]

I remember that win Randy. You involved with any teams these days, or did you manage to pull the needle out of your arm?

 

[Dave]

Shameless plug. We won the 500th race in TA/FC against Alexis DeJoria in Las Vegas, Fall 2009.

I remember that too. I wonder whatever happened to that poor Alexis girl. Losing back to back finals like that..

I have the full ESPN show if you'd like me to put it on the YouTube.

 

[Randy]

I remember that too. I wonder whatever happened to that poor Alexis girl. Losing back to back finals like that..

I have the full ESPN show if you'd like me to put it on the YouTube.

We raced Alexix two weeks later in the semi finals at the Finals at Pomona. I got a chance to talk to her dad for a few minutes before we ran against her. I think he wanted her to win her first race worse than she did, he was so excited. We ended up losing to Shawn O'bannon in the final, his 5.53 to our 5.54. Great drag race. It's on YouTube. That would be the 501'st Top Alcohol race.

 

[Randy]

I remember that win Randy. You involved with any teams these days, or did you manage to pull the needle out of your arm?

I helped out a couple of people with fuel systems and consulting including Dan Nickelson with his pro mod Viper. I enjoyed it because torque converters, fuel systems and superchargers can be an interesting mix. He actually ran very well for what he had and how he chose to run it. After he quit I bought a property in Huntington Beach at a foreclosure auction and flipped it. Then we got word on my wife's "C-word" diagnosis and I've been staying close to home.

But to answer your question, the needle broke off and I was told it's impossible to remove.

 

[Toejam]

Div. 7 used to be King in the Alcohol classes, in the 90's they ran 16 car fields getting over 50 cars at most races! To see only 11 dragsters in Vegas? Times have changed

 

[T.Smith]

Jay Payne has won 26 national events in TAFC?...is that right? I didn't think it was that much.

 

[cknight]

In dragster RIP Blaine-Bill Barney-Al Dapozo-Don Woosley-Mike Troxel-Darrel Russel-Shelly Howard-Mark Niver-Bill Mullins?

I believe Don Shoemaker is gone. Bill Mullins is alive and well... Regards, Chase.

 

[mike]

I believe Don Shoemaker is gone. Bill Mullins is alive and well... Regards, Chase.

Chase I think Don is still around . The ? after Mullins is because I havent heard anything on him in ages. Regards Mike