![]() ![]() Hoover's fans came from around the globe as he became an international draw with frequent appearances in England, where he partnered on a car with Bill “Cannonball” Sherratt, and went on to become an international ambassador of drag racing, bringing his passion for speed and pushing the limits of performance to Canada, Mexico, and even earning the title of “World Champion of Australia” in a dragster in 1995. While Don Prudhomme was dominating the NHRA Funny Car series in the mid-1970s, Hoover was doing the same on the AHRA circuit, winning three titles. He was a member of both the five-second and four-second Funny Car performance clubs, joining the exclusive fraternities, respectively, in 19. Hoover won five NHRA national events in Funny Car – his first came at Le Grandnational in 1977 and his last 20 years later at the NHRA Springnationals in Columbus. He switched from Top Fuel to Funny Car in 1970, and his immaculately painted cars and strong performance made him a popular draw at match races across the country. The Hoovers soon gained enough respect that they were among the few handpicked by Ford factory officials to run one of the new SOHC Ford Hemi engines, joining the ranks of Pete Robinson, Connie Kalitta, and the Lou Baney/Don Prudhomme team. “All of us were learning by trial and error back then,” said Hoover, “so, that AHRA victory was very important because it showed we were heading in the right direction.” Hoover’s first big win came in Top Fuel at the 1965 AHRA Winternationals in Arizona. Hoover burst onto the scene in the 1960s in Top Fuel with a family-run team that included his father, George, and mother Ruth, who became known to legions of fans simply as “Ma and Pa Hoover.” George tuned on his son’s Funny Cars well into his '90s before passing away. ![]() Tom Hoover, whose beautiful Showtime Funny Cars were marquee performers on the NHRA Drag Racing circuit for decades, passed away Oct. ![]()
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