Legendary Funny Car drag racer, Jim Dunn, has been inducted into the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame’s 2026 Pioneers of Speed.
A native of Southern California, Dunn has been a fixture in drag racing for more than 70 years. He has campaigned some of the most iconic Funny Cars in history, winning some of the most significant races. He’s provided driving opportunities for some of the biggest names in the sport and currently has NHRA veteran Jeff Arend piloting his 12,000-horsepower Funny Car.
Dunn’s love of drag racing began when he was 15 years old, when he asked for parts for his birthday to get his race team off the ground. He was behind one of the West Coast’s most feared cars in the mid-1960s, but most significantly, he won the Funny Car title at the 1972 World Finals in the first and only rear-engine Funny Car. As the NHRA celebrates its landmark 75th season in 2026, Jim Dunn Racing is celebrating 76 years of success in drag racing. Adding to his accolades, Dunn received the NHRA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.
“I’m honored to be inducted into the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame’s 2026 Pioneers of Speed along with many other motorsports legends,” said Dunn. “I fell in love with drag racing very young, and I never wanted to do anything else. I started drag racing when I was 15 years old, and I have loved every day at the track and in the shop since. I’m 92 now, and I will keep going as long as the good Lord lets me.”
Joining Dunn as the 2026 Pioneers of Speed are Clint Brawner, Jimmy Bryan, Al Dean, Bill Deschamps, Vic Edelbrock Sr., Joe and Walt James, The Morales Brothers, Ed Pink, and George and Harold (Hal) Robson.
Inductions will be held on October 1 in Las Vegas, Nevada. More information for each inductee can be found at www.
This story was originally published on September 29, 2026.
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