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| Gordon Mineo | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Born | June 19, 1945 Detroit, Michigan |
| Died | September 3, 2006 (aged 61) Lake Texoma, Oklahoma |
| Related to | Joseph and Lorraine Mineo |
| Wins | 0 |
Gordon Mineo (June 19, 1945 [1] -September 3, 2006), nicknamed "Flash Gordon", was a Top Fuel Funny Car driver.
Mineo was born in Detroit, Michigan, son of Joseph and Lorraine Mineo. [2]
He started racing Funny Cars in the 1960s and continued to race until the 1990s. [3]
Mineo's first national Funny Car event was the 1970 AHRA Winter Nationals at Beeline Dragway in Scottsdale, Arizona; he qualified his Pontiac Firebird funny car #10, but was eliminated in the first round by #7 qualifier Tom "Mongoo$e McEwen. [4] (Mineo earned US$400 for the effort. [5] )
At the 1971 AHRA Winter Nationals, Mineo qualified #21 in a and was eliminated in round there by Dick Rosberg, who qualified #17. [6]
In 1972, Mineo attended the AHRA National Challenge at Tulsa Raceway Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He qualified #21 and lost in round one to #5 qualifier Don "The Snake" Prudhomme. [7] (Mineo earned US$500 for this effort. [8] )
At the 1973 NHRA Supernationals, in Ontario, California, Mineo qualified #9 in his 1973 Dhevrolet Vega; he again lost in round one to Prudhomme, who qualified his 1973 Plymouth Barracuda #1. [9]
Mineo returned to Scottsdale in 1974, qualifying #8 at the 1974 AHRA Winter Nationals. [10] The same year, he attended an ANRA event at Green Valley Raceway in Smithfield, Texas. [11]
He went back to Beeline Dragway for the 1977 AHRA Winter Nationals, qualifying #4; he was eliminated by #12 qualifier Dale Armstrong in the first round. [12] At the 1977 NHRA Springnationals, Mineo qualified #14, only to lose to #6 qualifier (and eventual event class winner) Bob Pickett in the first round. [13]
Mineo never won an NHRA or AHRA national event. [14] He was also featured in a famous photo, being punched by fellow funny car racer Ed "The Ace" McCulloch. [15]
Mineo was killed in a boating accident on Lake Texoma, in Oklahoma, on 3 September 2006, along with his wife, Ann, age 59, Myra Gibson, 51; Amy Lane, 31; and Justin R. Lane, 25. Mineo was 61. [16]
He was buried at Rest Haven Memorial Park, Rockwall, Texas. [17]
Mineo had two children, Jason and Trisha. [18]
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