Drag Racing Stories

(Updated 3/2/11 )

A Salute to Black History Month - 2011

Pro Mod Driver - Ronnie Hood
2011 Inductee to the North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame

Ronnie Hood, a native of Lenoir, NC, started his drag racing career in the 60's
at Hudson, Shuffletown, Mooresville and Wilkesboro Dragways
before acquiring a professional ride in Bruce Walkers Pro Stock.

Ronnie drove for the Sanders brothers from 1994-1997
and won 17 races and the Quick Eight Association Championship.

Ronnie won the NHRA Mac Tool U.S. Nationals at Indy in 2001 the biggest win of his career.
Making him the first African-American driver to win a NHRA Pro Modified event.

Ronnie was inducted into the North Caroline Drag Racing Hall of Fame in January 2011.
(The above information for this story was taken from NHRA.com & North Caroline Drag Racing Hall of Fame website.)

The Following is an Article on Ronnie Hood Was Published in Drag Illustrated Magazine

Michael Phillips - NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle - History Maker

Michael Phillips made his first mark in drag racing in 1995 by becoming the first African American to win a NHRA Pro Stock Bike race. Michael is still going strong with an outstanding season in 2010 winning (3) NHRA National Events in Pro Stock Bike. Lets take a look at Michael Phillips (6) Career Wins in Pro Stock Bike.

A Look Back at Michael Phillips 1995 History Making Win in Houston, TX

In 2003 Michael earned his 2nd career win at the Lucas Oil Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.
When he rode his Calmes Motorsports Suzuki to the finish line in 7.133 at 189.07
to hold off three-time series champ Angelle Savoie

(Photo Taken from DragRaceCentral.com)

Michael Phillips Wins Memphis Pro Stock Motorcycle 2009

AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals 2010 - Madison, IL

NHRA SuperNationals 2010 - Englishtown, NJ

Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals 2010 - Sonoma, CA.

(All Videos Taken from You Tube)

(2/27/11)

Antron Brown Making His Mark in Black History
One Class at a Time in the National Hot Rod Association


Pro Stock Motorcycle (1998 - 2007) Team 23 Racing - Troy Vincent	Top Fuel Dragster (2008 - Present) Don Schumacher Racing - Don Schumacher

(Photos taken from NHRA & Drag Race Central)

Antron Brown has move up the ranks in NHRA from
Pro Stock Motorcycle Rider to Top Fuel Dragster.
Lets take a look at Antron's journey.

NHRA Greatest Races - Featuring Antron Brown (Part 1 of 3)
(Courtesy of Al Brown - Antron's Father)

NHRA Greatest Races - Featuring Antron Brown (Part 2 of 3)
(Courtesy of Al Brown - Antron's Father)

NHRA Greatest Races - Featuring Antron Brown (Part 3 of 3)
(Courtesy of Al Brown - Antron's Father)

2/23/11

Black Officials in NHRA & IHRA
Cloy Fitzgerald - NHRA Division 7 Tech Inspector
Sonny Shipmon - IHRA's First African American Official

Cloy Fitzgerald grew up in Hunter’s Point near
San Francisco and started his racing career after graduating high school. As a drag racer, Cloy owned a number of cars a '51 Olds, '54 Buick, and '56 Nomad. Cloy started out as a tech inspector at Half Moon Bay in California. In the early 1960s Cloy was hired as the Division 7 area director. In 1972 he was moved into the top position as NHRA Division 7 Tech Inspector. Cloy held this title until he retired in 1989. In 2000 Cloy received the Lifetime Achievement Award during the ninth annual California Hot Rod Reunion presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California at Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, CA.
(Information for this story was taken from NHRA.com)

Sonny Shipmon's career in drag racing started as a high school student. The principal purchased a rail dragster which Sonny and along with other classmates prepared the car for races at Piedmont Dragway in Greensboro, N.C. From there Sonny went on to drive other cars which included a 1964 DMP Chevy Corvette which took him to the winner's circle 19 weeks in a row at Piedmont Dragway.

Sonny later became the first African American official in the IHRA, serving in various capacities at the IHRA events. In partnership with Tom Parham, Sonny purchased Roxboro Dragway in 1981. Sonny was the first to hold "Big Bucks" races paying upwards to $10,000 to win. One of his proudest accomplishments was being named IHRA Track Of The Year. He sold the track in 1986 and retired from drag racing.

In 1999, Sonny returned to drag racing with his son, Kevin, who raced in IHRA Stock Eliminator. Sonny then built his final race car and campaigned in the IHRA Top Stock division in 2004. Sonny passed away in 2004.

In 2008 Sonny was inducted into the North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame.
(Information for this story was taken from an article in 'Crossroads Journal' February 2008)

(2/16/11)

A Look Back at Black Motorcycle Drag Racers
(Courtesy of Keith Kizer - DragBike.com)
(This article was originally published on DragBike.com on Feb 16, 2010 under
the title of "Biography Black History Month" written by Keith Kizer)

(2/9/11)

A Look at Big Willie Robinson
and the Brotherhood of Street Racers
(QMB would like to extend a special thank you to Fabian for contacting us and for sharing his videos with us.)

Willie Andrew Robinson III better known as Big Willie was the king of
street racing in the late '60s and '70s in East Los Angeles, CA taking the
flag (win) in alot of street races in his 1969 Dodge Dayton Charger.

Big Willie along with his wife Tomiko Smith Robinson organized the Brotherhood of Street Racers. The Brotherhood of Street Racers was created as avenue to bring the gangs of South Central California together; taking crime and violence off the streets -- "peace through racing" as Big Willie put it. Working with local officials and the police department,
Big Willie was the driving force behind the building of Brotherhood Raceway Park
on L.A. harbor's Terminal Island - taking racing off the streets and to the track. Making it a safe environment for young and old; black and white. Bringing a community together.

Big Willie and the Brotherhood of Street Racers were featured
in an American Racing Equipment Ad.

Big Willie is currently in the mid-west; heading back to Southern California
to do some interviews for a major motion picture. We will keep you posted.
His wife Tomiko passed away on April 29, 2007, may she rest in peace.

Super Car Collectibles is schedule to release a 1:18 Scale reproduction of the (3) 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona drag cars owned by Big Willie Robinson in June 2011.

(Photo Taken from Super Car Collectibles Website)

Documentary of Big Willie & His Wife Timoko
(This video was taken from YouTube & Created by Fabian)

Big Willie's Interview with Car Crazy
(This video was taken from YouTube & Created by Car Crazy Central)

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