Steve Torrence, Larry Dixon Jr., Del Worsham, and brothers Cruz and Tony Pedregon have been named to the NHRA Top 75 Drivers list as part of the sanctioning body’s 75th Anniversary season. Their inclusion completes the modern-era additions to a list that blends the original Top 50 Drivers named in 2001 with 25 drivers selected from the last quarter-century.
The Top 75 Drivers list spans all eras and categories of NHRA competition, recognizing achievements across Professional and Sportsman ranks. The five newest inductees represent championship success, longevity, and influence in Top Fuel and Funny Car competition.
Torrence’s career stands as one of the most dominant in modern Top Fuel history. A survivor of teenage Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Torrence rose from Top Alcohol Dragster champion to a four-time Top Fuel world champion.
Driving for the family-owned Capco team, Torrence claimed consecutive titles from 2018 through 2021. His 2018 season included a perfect Countdown to the Championship sweep, a feat unmatched in Top Fuel.
With 60 career national event victories, Torrence ranks among the most successful drivers in NHRA history. His run combined technical excellence with consistency across multiple seasons.
“That’s extremely cool,” Torrence said. “Especially because it’s the top 75 drivers of the sport all time, all classes. That’s not just the 75 Top Fuel drivers.”
“I greatly appreciate this; it’s a real honor,” he added. “I have dedicated a large portion of my life to that sport, and to be recognized like this is truly an accomplishment for me.”
Torrence credited his success to faith, family, and team chemistry. He emphasized that championships are never earned alone in a sport as demanding as Top Fuel racing.
“I’ve had a great career, but I surely didn’t get there without the help of the Good Lord, the help and support of my family, and some really good crew guys,” Torrence said.
Larry Dixon Jr. followed a different but equally storied path to the Top 75. Raised in drag racing, Dixon evolved from crewmember to one of the most accomplished Top Fuel drivers of all time.
Dixon earned 62 Top Fuel victories and three NHRA world championships during his career. He won two titles with Don Prudhomme’s team before adding another championship with Al-Anabi Racing.
His career reflected adaptability across teams, eras, and rule changes. Dixon remained a title contender well into the latter half of his career.
“I’m flattered and honored,” Dixon said. “I remember when the Top 50 Drivers were announced 25 years ago, and it was really exciting every week to see who was on there.”
“It was all the heroes in drag racing,” he continued. “To be on a list with them is way more than I ever dreamed of.”
Dixon recalled watching legends who shaped the sport long before his own success. Those early inspirations framed his understanding of what a career in drag racing could become.
“They were my idols growing up,” Dixon said. “I’m not sure I belong on the same list with them.”
“I remember watching Garlits and Shirley and ‘Snake’ and ‘Goose’ and Roland,” he added. “If I could ever do that, that would be the neatest thing in the world.”
Dixon emphasized that his place on the list reflects team success as much as individual performance. He credited the organizations that trusted him with championship-caliber equipment.
“Being on this list is a reflection of the teams that I got to drive for,” Dixon said. “Great cars, great crew chiefs, great team owners, great sponsors.”
“I’ve been very blessed,” he added.
Del Worsham’s career bridges generations of NHRA competition. Growing up around Funny Cars, Worsham earned Rookie of the Year honors before becoming one of only three drivers to win championships in both Funny Car and Top Fuel.
With 39 career victories, Worsham later transitioned into a successful crew chief role while remaining a respected mentor. His versatility distinguished him across multiple competitive eras.
“I grew up watching a lot of the guys in the original Top 50,” Worsham said. “I still have this little notebook from when I was a kid running around the pits in the late 1970s.”
Worsham described collecting autographs from legends who now share the same honor. The recognition carried personal significance rooted in childhood memories.
“It’s filled with autographs of people like Prudhomme and Ed McCulloch,” he said. “To be on the same list as them is very flattering.”
Worsham said the Top 75 recognition ranks among the most meaningful of his career. He pointed to the depth of talent represented across all categories.
“I’ve received a lot of great honors over the years, but this is one of the bigger ones I’ve received,” Worsham said. “I really appreciate it.”
“There are some great, great drivers on the list,” he added. “To be listed with the Top 75 is an honor.”
Cruz Pedregon’s career is defined by longevity and sustained competitiveness. Entering his fifth decade in NHRA Funny Car racing, Pedregon holds 705 career starts, the most among active drivers.
The son of pioneer “Flamin’ Frank” Pedregon, Cruz became a two-time Funny Car world champion and a 44-time event winner. He remains competitive, including a victory at the 2025 event in Reading, Pennsylvania.
“This is very humbling,” Pedregon said. “I tell people that I never got into drag racing for any fame or signing autographs.”
“When somebody recognizes what you’ve done,” he added, “it really means a lot.”
Pedregon reflected on the uncertainty that defines professional racing careers. Longevity, he said, is never guaranteed in a sport driven by performance and funding.
“Most of us just started out wanting to drive,” Pedregon said. “You never know from one year to the next if you’re going to be racing.”
“I’ve been very fortunate to have met and worked with some great people over the years,” he added.
Pedregon said honors like the Top 75 endure beyond statistics. Championships fade, but recognition of legacy remains.
“When I’m done with my career, these are the kinds of things that will matter most,” he said. “Something like this will last forever.”
Tony Pedregon’s career followed a parallel but distinct arc. He earned two Funny Car championships, 43 wins, and 76 final-round appearances as both a driver and team owner.
After success driving for John Force and later his own operation, Pedregon transitioned into broadcasting. He became a fixture in NHRA television coverage as a color commentator.
“This is a little emotional for me,” Tony Pedregon said. “Cruz and I were just a couple of kids who were obsessed with drag racing.”
“We were watching guys like Don Prudhomme and Raymond Beadle and Tom McEwen,” he added.
Tony Pedregon credited early mentors for shaping his career. Exposure to experienced racers influenced his development both on and off the track.
“We somehow managed to hang out with the right people,” Pedregon said. “Especially guys like Joe Pisano, who had the right influence.”
Pedregon recalled being welcomed at races despite being young and inexperienced. Those early opportunities proved formative.
“Those guys tolerated us punk kids,” he said.
Pedregon said his breakthrough came through teamwork and chemistry. Strong relationships elevated performance beyond expectations.
“I’m not really supposed to be able to beat a guy like John Force,” Pedregon said. “But we just got so good as a team.”
“When Dickie came along, that really changed everything,” he added. “We went from being a good team to a great team.”
The original Top 50 Drivers remain foundational to the expanded Top 75 list. Icons such as Don Garlits, John Force, Don Prudhomme, and Shirley Muldowney anchor the historical scope of the honor.
The 25 modern-era additions were selected based on sustained excellence over the last 25 years. The final list reflects NHRA’s competitive evolution across generations.
NHRA plans to release a commemorative book celebrating the Top 75 Drivers. The publication will feature photos and profiles honoring each inductee.
