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Darrell Gwynn Foundation, NHRA best drivers, top fuel

Meet NHRA Drag Racing Champion, Spokesperson, and Leader Darrell Gwynn This Weekend at Goodguys North Carolina Nationals

For those attending the Goodguys 6th Griot’s Garage North Carolina Nationals event this weekend in Raleigh, NC we have an added bonus for you. This weekend will be your opportunity to meet one of NHRA’s “50 Greatest Drivers of All Time” – Darrell Gwynn!

Darrell Gwynn is a second-generation drag racer and he and his father, Jerry, wrote NHRA history when Darrell became the 1983 NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster World Champion making Jerry and Darrell the first father/son NHRA World Champions. In 1985 at the ripe age of just 23, Darrell advanced into the Top Fuel ranks and by 1986 he was the talk of the class mixed in with names like Garlits, Muldowney, Ormsby, Amato, Hill, and more.

Darrell Gwynn Foundation, NHRA best drivers, top fuel


Darrell Gwynn Foundation, NHRA best drivers, top fuelEarly in the 1990 season while running an exhibition race in Santa Pod Raceway in England, his dragster broke in half at approximately 240 MPH and the crash caused major life-altering injuries to the 28-year-old driver. He fought a terrific battle to survive the ordeal, but he was left paralyzed and lost his left arm.

Darrell Gwynn remained in the NHRA scene as a Top Fuel team owner and crew chief. In 2002 he and his wife, Lisa, launched the Darrell Gwynn Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing support for people living with paralysis and programs targeted towards the prevention of spinal cord injuries. The foundation’s primary support program was its national Wheelchair Donation Program, which has donated hundreds of custom wheelchairs to individuals facing medical and financial hardships.

Darrell Gwynn Foundation, NHRA best drivers, top fuel

Darrell Gwynn Foundation, NHRA best drivers, top fuelDarrell and his Darrell Gwynn Foundation will be at the Goodguys 6th Griot’s Garage North Carolina Nationals with a booth setup on display in the upper outdoor vendor midway. Darrell will be meeting with fans, signing autographs, and selling merchandise. Proceeds from all Darrell Gwynn Foundation merchandise sales will go to paralysis research.

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A lifelong car kid, Steven grew up around drag strips – his name may sound familiar because his grandfather is Bob Bunker, a Pro Mod pioneer who piloted the “Folsom Flash” ’55 Chevy from the ’70s through the ’90s. Steven’s father, Bob Bunker Jr., heads up Bunker Motorsports and is a regular in the West Coast racing scene, building chassis and race cars for more than 30 years. With genetics like that, it’s no wonder Steven has a passion for both cars and motorsports. In addition to helping his father and honing his fabrication skills at Bunker Motorsports, Steven began shooting photos at the drag strip and capturing the action with his Canon camera. He is now artfully crafting stories around the awesome machines at the shows, as well as the men and women behind them. When he's is not on the road covering events, he spends his downtime out on the water fishing, building his 1962 Chevy Nova, or cruising his 1987 GMC Suburban.

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