Rick Stewart
Rick Stewart was a typical young man growing up in the Bakersfield area of Southern California. His first car was a 1946 Ford Coupe with a flathead V-8 under the hood and like most of his peers, his first racing experience was on the streets of Bakersfield.
1958 was Rick’s change over year, going from street racing to his first trip down the infamous Formosa drag strip in his flathead V-8 powered ‘46 Ford Coupe. This experience soon led him to the ‘big time’ and in 1961 he slid into the seat of Gene Adams Supercharged Chrysler powered AA/Fuel dragster and an even greater love of the sport. However, this ride ended for Rick when a sever engine explosion led to the car leaving the racetrack and being destroyed.
In 1962 Rick took over driving chores for the Adams, Warner & Stewart in their supercharged Chrysler powered AA/Fuel dragster on nitro. Unfortunately, this ride experienced the same engine failure, but the resulting crash was so spectacular that it was recreated in the documentary movie, Seven Second Love Affair.
After recovering from his injuries suffered in that crash, in 1963 Rick joined forces with Gene Adams and John Rasmussen to successfully campaign another AA/Fuel Dragster. At one point in time, Rick was able to become part of the highly touted Dick Clark American Bandstand race “experience” with some impressive performances. Unfortunately, the past was repeated in this car when he made his last run down the track, and another sever engine explosion occurred. This time when Rick pulled the chute, the chassis came apart and he completed the run with just the seat staying with him for the rest of the run. In 1971 Rick announced his retirement from driving and went back to his regular job as an X-Ray technician.
Still loving the sport, in 1965 Rick became the backup starter for NHRA and in 1996, when Buster Couch retired, he accepted the job as NHRA’s official, full-time starter. This is a position he held until his own retirement at the end of the 2011 racing season.
Rick still enjoys the sport but now as a spectator. However, Rick notched a respectable success record posting wins at the various Southern California tracks.
Rich was named the Grand Marshal for the 2021 NHRA Hot Rod Reunion.