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Drag Racing
1962 Top Fuel Dragster

236 Wins, 7 Losses — Best in drag racing History!

Team: Greer, Black & Prudhomme
Driver: Don Prudhomme
Chassis: Kent Fuller
Engine: Blown 392 Chrysler Hemi V8
Horsepower: 830 @ 7,000 RPM
Torque: 795 ft lbs @4,000 RPM
Top Speed: 191 MPH
Quarter Mile Time: 7.77 seconds

Winner — Top Fuel, Pomona 1962

This car launched the career of Don “the Snake” Prudhomme and is also the most successful in quarter-mile history with a staggering win-loss record of 236 to 7. From its Top Fuel-winning debut in Pomona on June 17, 1962 through 1964, this Keith Black-tuned entry was consistently in the high sevens at more than 190 MPH. It became Prudhomme’s stepping stone to his renowned rides in Roland Leong's Hawaiian, which “the Snake” drove in 1965 to then unprecedented Winternationals and U.S. Nationals wins.

With a Kent Fuller chassis, body by Tom Hanna and 392 Chrysler Hemi engine from the mind of Keith Black, the Greer, Black & Prudhomme dragster cranked out some of the best times of the era, including an unbelievable 7.77 second elapsed time at over 191 miles per hour in 1964. Then, at the end of their remarkable three-year run, the team disbanded, with Tommy Greer going into drag boats, while Keith Black opened his now famous racing engine company.

Don “The Snake” Prudhomme was a young car painter in the late 1950’s when he joined the Road Kings car club from the Los Angeles area and began attending drag races as a crewmember for “T.V.” Tommy Ivo. Prudhomme’s remarkable driving career began in 1962 with his first Top Fuel victory at the “Smokers March Meet” in Bakersfield, California. From mid 1962 through 1964 Prudhomme teamed up with Tom Greer and Keith Black and was unbeatable. In the mid to late 1970’s, Prudhomme was a nearly unstoppable force in Funny Car action, winning four straight NHRA Funny Car World Championships (1975, 1976, 1977, & 1978). “The Snake” has won the prestigious NHRA U.S. Nationals an incredible seven times as a driver.

The Keith Black name has been synonymous with drag racing for many decades. He introduced his aluminum version of Chrysler’s 426 Hemi in 1974. Between 1975 and 1984, all national records in the Top Fuel category were held by Keith Black engines. The growth of Keith Black Racing Engines paralleled that of NHRA Drag Racing. Hot Rod Magazine included Black as one of their Top 100 Hot Rodders of all time.

Kent Fuller, was the premier dragster chassis builder of the early 1960’s. His shop has built over 250 dragsters for the sport’s biggest legends including Don Prudhomme, Tommy Ivo, Roland Leong, Chris Karamesines and Tony Nancy.