RIP Rick Stewart

[Catman]

Sad news today hearing that Rick Stewart has passed away. It was apparent that he was not doing well when he recently could not attend his introduction into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame ceremony. Godspeed buddy.

 

[sutton]

Sad news today hearing that Rick Stewart has passed away. It was apparent that he was not doing well when he recently could not attend his introduction into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame ceremony. Godspeed buddy.

RIP my friend.
Larry Sutton---Lions starter

 

[Gone Dead Train]

Thank you Rick for the great memories!

AA/FD Rick Stewart in the seat. Crossley, Lee & Stewart 1968

AA/FD Rick on the roller starter 1968

AA/FD Rick in the seat 1966

Top Gas Dragster Rick in the seat Adams & Stewart

 

[Cliff]

Rick the Iceman Stewart. After he became the NHRA starter, I got his autograph & asked him to sign it Rick the Iceman Stewart. One of my treasures........

 

[Dragracer]

There are a whole lot of people that think he was only the NHRA starter and aren't aware that before he became starter he was one of the formidable top fuel drivers in the front motor t/f era. He didn't put up with any shxx when he was starter. A great person.
RIP

 

[teague14]

My Dad and I drove down to the Gators from Ohio for the first time I think in 2001. I was 10. My highlight of the trip was after the finals on Sunday we went out to the track. We walked up and my Dad had me take a picture with the Christmas tree. He wanted to ask Rick for a pic too but he just looked so busy. He stopped what he was doing, reached into the tree and handed me a bulb right out from the pre-stage lights. He said “whoever your favorite driver is, this light got him into the beams all day!” I thought that was so so cool. We walked the pits later and found Force and Austin Coil in their tow vehicle. We had them sign it and Coil said “well John, I think we’ve seen it all now.” They got the biggest kick out of it too.

Thanks for the memory Mr. Stewart. RIP.

 

[sutton]

A little bit of history of my connection with my friend Rick Stewart. we raced against each other in front motor top fuel cars, I was his starter at LIONS he was later my starter when I was still racing and he was not. I was also the ambulance attendant that took Rick to the hospital after the crash at Lions that is shown on the movie 7 second love affaire Rick would stand in my lane as I was staging until I would give him the sign that he was number one with the middle finger every lap I made LOL. Rick was called the ice man I called him superman. He crashed at Pomona in Gene Adams top gas car at 190 MPH plus when the fount spindle broke, he walked away. he crashed at lions, I carried him away, he crashed at Bakersfield at over 225 MPH when the shut pulled him out of the back of the car, he walked away. He was quite a guy.
Larry Sutton---Lions starter and racer (RET.)

 

[Professional Fan]

Nice that he got the experience of being in the Hall of Fame before he left us, even if he couldn't attend the event.

 

[twostep]

There are a whole lot of people that think he was only the NHRA starter and aren't aware that before he became starter he was one of the formidable top fuel drivers in the front motor t/f era. He didn't put up with any shxx when he was starter. A great person.
RIP

I'm one of them and I grew up in the front-engine era. Sad to hear of his passing; I had a lot of respect for Stewart as NHRA's head starter.