A drag race is over in a matter of seconds but fielding a successful NHRA Top Fuel dragster is a “seven-day-a-week job,” according to John Maddox, chief mechanic for the Gwynn/Steinbrenner Racing New York Yankees Top Fuel dragster.
The name “New York Yankees” evokes many things: tradition, winning and dynasty, to name just a few. Last year, the Yankees’ well-known and often controversial owner, George Steinbrenner, put the Yankees name – and winning tradition – on the line in the world of Top Fuel drag racing when he formed a partnership with former driver Darrell Gwynn to field a Top Fuel dragster bearing the Yankees name. Formed last August, the Gwynn/ Steinbrenner Racing partnership also includes Hank Steinbrenner, George’s son; and Darrell Gwynn’s father, Jerry Gwynn, who serves as team general manager.
Darrell Gwynn, NHRA top alcohol dragster world champion in 1983, was one of drag racing’s top drivers until a 1990 racing accident left him partially paralyzed. He also lost his left arm below the elbow in that accident, but continues to run the team’s day-to-day operations. The Gwynn team won four times on the 1999 NHRA circuit but lost its sponsor for the 2000 season.
In stepped the Steinbrenners, with Hank serving as the family’s point man. In an interview with USA Today just after the partnership was formed last year, the elder Steinbrenner admitted he didn’t know too much about racing but that his son was quite interested in the sport. Hank Steinbrenner also runs his father’s thoroughbred racing operation.
The NHRA Top Fuel season runs from the first week of February to early November and features races at tracks all across the country. Getting the team and its equipment to the track falls to Maddox and Steve Zelem, an engine specialist. Maddox and Zelem also serve as team transport drivers.
Truckers News caught up with Maddox and Zelem at the Pro Racers Truck Wash in Sacramento, Calif., in early August as they were making their way to the Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., for the Fram Autolite Nationals. The previous weekend, the team had raced in the NHRA Northwest Nationals in Kent, Wash. John Cox, owner of Sacramento Theatrical Lighting and a longtime NHRA enthusiast, provided the truck wash for team transporters. Several other team rigs graced the lot, just off a busy industrial area near downtown.
Team chief mechanic John Maddox (left) and engine specialist Steve Zelem do double duty as team transport drivers. “We work seven days a week with hardly any time off,” Maddox says, but he loves his job.
