NHRA's 1981 Top Fuel champion Jeb Allen wanted to repay a favor to his longtime friend Don Schumacher for extending an opportunity for his son to work for the motorsport giant.

Instead of accepting any monetary reimbursement for himself, Schumacher encouraged Allen to donate to one of the charities Don Schumacher Racing promotes, the Make A Wish Foundation.

Allen made a $10,000 donation, and $490,000 later, he's still repaying the favor.

"Don was the first person to really pay attention to me when I was 18-years-old," Allen explained. "Helped me through some bad times when I was 21, he let us stay in his mom and dad’s motorhome because we couldn’t afford a hotel room. Our relationship and bond has been a long time."

Allen's life story of a prodigy fuel racer to decorated world champion to the shame of falling into the lure of substance abuse which led to homelessness is one which eventually showed the resolve of the kid who grew up at the drag strip. He then became a poster boy for rehabilitation as he turned his troubled life into one of healing which led to a thriving business as a San Francisco Bay Area house builder.

Not long after delivering the initial "make good" donation, Allen became more involved in the Make-A-Wish program and built his first donation house.

The experience was an eye-opener as well as a life-changer.

Allen's initial investment inspired over $200,000 in additional donations. Little did Allen know his investment would create a fiery passion which would provide the same gratification he drew from racing and winning almost five decades ago.

"Initially it was a tactical move to try to get attention from the local media and to bring attention to our new subdivision," Allen admitted. "One of the Make A Wish kids started talking, and I looked over, and the city counselors and the city manager and the mayor were all in tears, and it just gave me a feeling I’ve never felt before and believe me I’ve cried a lot in my life, but I’ve never had that feeling. I still have it today."

The next go round, Allen decided he wanted to keep his efforts on the down low, going as far as to request the Make-A-Wish executives keep his generosity out of the media.

"I didn’t want them to; I just wanted to do our thing," Allen said. "Of course, they wouldn't do that and called the media. We didn’t care anymore about the recognition; we just wanted to help the kids. In our garage model home, we have a picture of all the 50 kids; they’re like 11x14, they’re hanging in our model home, it’s almost like a living room."

Palomar Builders, the construction company owned and operated by Allen, was the primary sponsor on the dragster driven by Leah Pritchett at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals, and for Allen, it was an opportunity be involved with nitro racing. The last time Allen competed was 1982, his title-defense season.

Allen smiles when he recalls how it was a call from Schumacher wishing him a Merry Christmas when the two friends ended up reaching a deal to sponsor Pritchett.

While he thoroughly enjoyed the weekend, Allen admits he didn't live vicariously through Pritchett nor does he have a desire ever to drag race again.

In fact, Allen who left the sport over two decades ago on bad terms has found a gratifying return as a legend; a legendary status many feels he earned for his exploits on the drag strip.

"This could be the door that closes the chapter in my life after getting inducted into the hall of fame this year," Allen admitted. 

"You never give up on life. We have good days, and we have bad days. Me and my wife could retire, but we say, 'What are we going to do?”

Spending more time at the drag strip is an option, some feel.