The first time Hank Steinbrenner called Darrell Gwynn, the former Top Fuel team owner thought it was one of his friends pulling a prank on him.

Steinbrenner was calling Gwynn because the iconic major league baseball team New York Yankees were interested in using the Top Fuel team as part of a multi-year marketing program.

Steinbrenner had one of his buddies call, and he said that 'Hank Steinbrenner wants to talk to you guys,'" Gwynn recalled. "I actually didn't believe it."

For Gwynn, whose team was on the sidelines due to lack of sponsorship, it was a matter of the dog chasing the car and finally catching it.

Steinbrenner, Yankees co-owner, was the one who helped Gwynn catch the car. He passed away at the age of 63 following a lengthy illness, Steinbrenner Racing announced.

Steinbrenner's passing caught Gwynn off guard.

"It was a surprise to me because we texted back and forth every couple of months or so," Gwynn said. "I guess he kept [his sickness] from me, whatever was going on with him. He always sounded good, and he was promising to go the Gatornationals. He couldn't make it last year.

"Last year he said, 'If I can't make it, I'll come next year."

Gwynn said he's sad to lose a friend; a friend with whom he shared a monumental moment.

"Our sponsorship deal was a really big deal at the time in many ways," Gwynn recalled. "It kind of was one of those shocker moments, at least for the first year or so, it certainly had the money behind it to be the premier team of the NHRA, and it actually was."

Some stories are worth telling again. Case in point, this classic tale written by Todd Veney of the final year of Indy's 32-car fields. - https://t.co/uvLtymp7Gr pic.twitter.com/WC0v6QLZ72

— Competition Plus (@competitionplus) April 9, 2020