Darrell Russell
1968 - 2004
2001 NHRA Rookie of the Year, 6 Top Fuel Event Wins, 17 Final-Round Appearances, 81 Events - 0 DNQ
2001: Only the third driver in NHRA history to win in his first professional start.
Three-time Division 4 Top Alcohol Dragster Champion | Three-time Division 4 Driver of the Year
Six-time Top Alcohol All-Star Representative
Tributes: Russell Family Official Site Photos Video (Direct WMPlayer Link)
NHRA Photos: Racers Edge | Chris Graves
03.23.09
Darrell Russell Tribute Party at Houston Raceway Park open to drivers, crew, and fans The top teams in drag racing will get together for a special party Friday night at Houston Raceway Park("HRP") to remember local Texas hero Darrell Russell and raise money for The Eric Medlen Project and Racers For Christ(Founded 1978 - fla). Fans are welcome to join in the fun and hang out with their favorite drivers in a casual atmosphere. "We've been working with the Russell family and Rob Geiger to put together a fun party where racers and fans can just hang out and enjoy each other's company," said Seth Angel, general manager of HRP. "The main idea is to remember Darrell and the others who have lost their lives doing what they love, like Eric Medlen, Scott Kalitta, and Blaine Johnson, just to name a few, and celebrate their lives."
At the conclusion of Friday's second round of professional qualifying at this weekend's 22nd annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil, the party will begin with a massive fireworks display. As soon as the smoke clears, the rock-n-roll sounds of The Slags will fill the night and Houston-based Lupe Tortilla Mexican Restaurants will begin serving their famous sizzling fajitas and margaritas. Superstars like 13-time Funny Car champion John Force, six-time Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher, Funny Car points leader Ron Capps, four-time FIA European champion Urs Erbacher, Houston's own Erica Enders, Rookie of the Year candidate and back-to-back Super Comp world champion Shawn Langdon and his teammate Morgan Lucas, as well as U.S. Nationals winner Steve Johnson already have committed to the event along with their entire crews. Many more are expected to join in the fun as the evening approaches.
The party is free to attend. Food and beverages will be sold at a nominal cost with all proceeds going to The Eric Medlen Project, which funds research and safety initiatives for drag racers, and Racers For Christ.
Brothers Greg and Gary Angel, who own HRP, already have pledged $2,000 to the cause. Erbacher crewman Johnny Bang, who also owns Johnny Bang's Bang and Bump Shop in Tomball, Texas, has committed $500. "We encourage everyone to come over to the Corporate Hospitality area on the north end of the pit-side grandstands and join the party," Angel said. "The main objective is to have fun and remember our friends. If we can raise a good amount of money for charity at the same time then all the better. "The sportsman guys have been throwing a pit party during this race for the last few years and we're just expanding on their idea and inviting a few more people. We're using the same band they've used in the past that everyone really enjoyed and having Stan Holt and his group from Lupe Tortilla there will give people the option of eating and getting a cold drink if they so desire."
A photo booth where fans can get their picture taken with a life-sized cutout of Darrell Russell will be used to raise donations. Rob Geiger, author of Darrell Russell: Broad Smiles, Quarter-Miles(1), also will be on hand selling and signing copies of his book. - Credit: HRP
(1) The book Darrell Russell: Broad Smiles, Quarter-Miles can be purchased online at Jegs.com for $24.95. All proceeds are donated in Darrells name to the Drag Racing Association of Women (DRAW).
09.26.07: SpeedTV's Book Review.
Darrell was an outstanding fellow Houstonian, Texan, and drag racer who I still greatly miss. ~ fla
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John Medlen Bio
Great News! - fla
03.24.09: John Force Racing's John Medlen Returns - Will Be At Spring Nationals
Recovered From Heart Issues, Medlen Is Houston Bound - - Pulling double duty is a challenge that sophomore Funny Car driver Mike Neff didnt shy away from, however a return to his original role of driving only wont require much coercion. This weekend in Baytown, Texas., at the NHRA OReilly Springnationals, Neffs crewchief, John Medlen, will return following a medical leave of absence to correct coronary issues. Medlen missed two events while he recuperated at home in Indianapolis from a heart procedure. Prior to the event in Phoenix Medlen checked himself into an Indianapolis hospital with chest discomfort and eventually spent five days in the hospital as a number of tests and procedures were conducted to regulate his heart rate.
While Medlin was out, Neff was a trooper pulling double duty, driving and handling all the on-site tuning responsibilities. He got plenty of input from Medlen via cell phone and text messages but it was not the same as having his crew chief a few feet away. For his efforts Neff raced to a runner-up finish in Phoenix but an aggressive tune-up in the first round of the Gatornationals in Gainesville ended his day early. The conditions were a little better (on race day) and we tried to get more aggressive. We gave it a little bit too much. It went up in smoke as it went past the tree. I am just kicking myself for that. We gave it our best shot. All in all it wasnt the best weekend but it certainly wasnt the worst either. We are still learning and trying to get some things figured out, said Neff. Few driver and tuner combinations could have pulled off this kind of arrangement, but considering both Neff and Medlen are championship winning tuners, the challenge wasnt that overwhelming.
John Medlen won his crown tuning Tony Pedregon to the championship in 2003 and Mike Neff steered Gary Scelzi to his lone Funny Car championship in 2005. Both men have a tremendous amount of respect for each other and it was Medlen who championed Neff to fill the drivers seat formerly occupied by his son, Eric, who passed away just over two years ago following a testing accident in Florida. Theres only one Eric Medlen and no ones ever going to take his place, but to fill that spot and carry on where he left off is a real honor. John Medlen was one of the main reasons I came over here to work with him, said Neff. I have high expectations. I know the performance of the car will be there plus we should be better just because we have a year of experience behind us. I know that if I do my job, we should be in the hunt for the Full Throttle Funny Car championship. The experience of running the Funny Car almost solo for two races is believed to have given Neff a leg up when it comes to understanding where the car needs to be in qualifying as well as race day. It is an advantage that Neff hopes to exploit when he and Medlen get back on the track together again. I think we will be better now that I have been able to learn more about the car. I think Ill be able to give Medlen a better perspective since Im now a lot more aware how it is all working, summed up Neff. - Credit: CP
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John Medlen, 1982 Pomona