Ken Black, the maestro who began and nurtured KB Titan Racing, passed August 26 at the age of 79. The Las Vegas businessman, who helped launch the careers of six-time Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson and enabled him to be joined by three-time titleholder Jason Line and later by a grouping of some of the finest in the door slammer class, built the team now known as KB Titan Racing.
In announcing their founder’s demise, KB Titan Racing stated: “Ken Black was a giant among men. Throughout his life and in ways that stretched beyond the dragstrip, he was an admired leader, an astute businessman and a gentleman, who saw the potential in others, encouraging them to rise to any challenge and reach for the biggest dreams,” the team extolled.
“Wearing his signature cowboy hat and supporting the team that he and Greg Anderson built together, Ken was the heart and soul of KB Racing and an integral part of NHRA Pro Stock. Across decades of dedication to drag racing, Ken made a positive impact on countless lives.”
Black was inducted into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame in 2014. He first showed an interest in drag racing while in high school. In 1964 he entered his Chevy II Nova SS in a race at Las Vegas’ Stardust International Raceway, winning the first race he entered. From there, turning back was never a choice for Black.
Black built a successful Las Vegas area construction business – along with wife Judy – from the ground up. As his business activities grew in the 1990s, he returned to his love of motor sport and, with partner George Marnell, went into the Pro Stock class with Black’s Las Vegas company, Vegas General Construction, emblazoned on the side of the car.
Anderson secured his first Pro Stock victory in 2001 at Bristol Dragway in the Black/Marnell Pro Stock car, earning victory that same year in the U.S. Nationals. In 2002, Black decided to place Anderson firmly into his Pro Stock program, tabbing the young crew chief and handing him the reins to put together the team that would go on to win – so far – 10 world championships and 205 national event wins in the Pro Stock class.
Black was omnipresent at the tour’s Las Vegas races and traveled to quite a few more events in his heyday; he retired from team ownership at the end of the 2022 season, after ensuring the team could go on as KB Racing. At that time, KB Racing combined with Titan Racing Engines, thereby forming the KB Titan Racing team.
Still, Ken and Judy Black continued to attend as many races as they could, keeping morale high in the team’s pits. Particularly at the start of the KB Titan era, the Black’s presence in the pits helped to keep spirits high. No doubt he was pleased – from afar – to see the direction of KB Titan Racing the past few years as they’ve dominated the standings.
“Ken was like a second father to me,” Greg Anderson stated. “He is 100 percent responsible for me being able to chase my dreams and accomplish all of my life’s wishes. Through his vision and generosity, all of the great employees here at KB – as well as their families – have gone to such great heights. We could never thank him enough for all that he’s done for us for so long.”
The team added, “It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our dear friend, our coach and the man who built KB Racing. His legacy will live on through our racing program, but more importantly, through each of the lives he touched. We are who we are because of him. Rest easy, Ken Black.”
I’ve known Ken since 1969 while we were members of The Southern Nevada Timing Association in Las Vegas. I believe he was a ‘lowly’ framer then 😉 and look what he did! I shot a Polaroid photo of his early Chevy ll Nova in ribbon paint as he took it to the line when we put on the drags on the ‘old’ L.A. highway at Jean, Nevada. We started that NHRA sanctioned track when Stardust closed and closed Jean when the LV Sandrome (Speedrome) opened. 😉 We became NHRA’s charter club of the year that year. I was drafted so lost track of Ken & Judy for a long time while in the Navy, then, after my service, finally caught up with them at the Winters. Always hunted them down when at whatever race I could get to. It was never enough. 🙁
My sincere condolences to Judy, family, friends and crews.
I’m too far away to attend any memorial but be assured I’m there anyway.
Light ‘em up Ken!
Sincerely, Milt SNTA secretary 1972
I don’t see a way to post his Chevy ll photo.