Richard Tharp
Colorful is the word used most often describing Richard Tharp’s career, both on track and off. He was as comfortable behind the wheel of a top fueler or funny car as he was Dallas Cowboys locker room or backstage at a Willie Nelson concert. He once said, “Racin might not be much, but workin is nothin”. Tharp’s drag racing career began as a teenager in 1960, driving a gas dragster in his native New Mexico. When he relocated to Dallas in 1963, he drove top fuel cars for such Texas legends as the Carrol Brothers, winning the South-Central Division title prior to his army hitch. In early 1970, he began driving for fellow Hall of Fame member Bob Creitz and was racing Don Garlits in the AHRA Grand American final at Lions Drag Strip when Garlits’ transmission exploded, a large piece of which barely missed Tharp’s head. He spent five years in the 70s behind the wheel of funny cars, winning several major events in AHRA and IHRA competitions along the way. A two-and-a-half-year period with Harry Schmidt helped build the legend of the Blue Max, including the 1971 IHRA Championship. During those golden days of match racing, Tharp ran 106 dates in a six-month period. Other notable rides included Don Schumacher’s Stardust and Mike Burkart’s Satellite. Returning to top fuel, Richard teamed with Hall of Famers Candies & Hughes in 1976, winning NHRA top fuel titles at the Summernationals, the US Nationals, and ultimately the seasons Winston Championship. He nearly repeated in 1977 including a runner-up finish at Indy. Known as a superb pure driver, Tharp’s lightning reflexes made him a natural and, more than once, prevented a major accident at well over 200 mph. Tharp retired, from the the wheel of the 250 mph Kilpatrick and Carnell dragster, in 1983 after winning the IHRA Top Fuel Championship.