Minnesota’s drag racing superstar, Tom “Showtime” Hoover died Friday, October 21 of natural causes. He was 81 years old. The father of four had health complications that had slowed him considerably, but the former Funny Car and Top Fuel standout still attended races at his hometown track, Brainerd International Raceway when he could. He was one of many extraordinary racers attending last year’s Nitro Revival at Irwindale Event Center in California.
Hoover’s 35-year career in NHRA, IHRA and AHRA delivered plenty of exemplary on-track results, but it was his showmanship that set Hoover apart from many of his competitors – and likely influenced some of today’s racers that take their exploits beyond the simplicity of staging and racing. Competing from the 1960s through to the early parts of this century, he set marks at many tracks, but his ability to engage fans made him one of the most beloved racers in the sport.
Hoover’s reputation for being competitive was somewhat overshadowed by his propensity for showmanship. The stunning paint jobs on his cars by lifelong friend Reed Holmes brought added attention to the driver, as did his unedited on-camera interviews and his propensity for enjoying time with his many fans.
Tom Hoover’s driving capabilities always shined brighter than the fancy paint jobs on his cars, despite the fan approval of the latter. One of the first five Funny Car racers to break three of the most coveted barriers: turning a 6-, 5- and 4-second quarter-mile passes, Hoover was one of the few to do so over three decades.
One of the first Top Fuel racers to accept the challenge of driving the more-difficult Funny Car, he won the AHRA Flopper class championship from 1976 through 1978 and ranked among the top ten NHRA Funny Car racers nearly every year of his career in that class, through to the late 1990s.
In 2014, Hoover was inducted to the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, joining his parents George (Tom’s crew chief through much of his career) and mother Ruth, both inducted decades before their son. NHRA presented Hoover with a special “Legend of the Sport” award in 2016.
Tom Hoover leaves behind his wife Betten, to whom he was married for nearly 50 years, four children (one deceased), together with 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Racing Junk extends its sympathy and condolences to the Hoover family and his large family of friends.
By Anne Proffit
Mr. Hoover and his parents were some of the nicest professional racers I had met in over 50 years at the track. I always enjoyed watching the Hoover team race. My condolences.