Drag racing lost one of its finest on April 19, 2021, as longtime crewmember turned Gasser racer Cynthia Phillips passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Phillips was drag racer turned Gasser promoter Quain Stott’s companion for over 35 years. The two started dating in 1985, and from that point, she worked alongside him until she started campaigning a 1956 Chevy on the South East Gassers Association tour. Her foundation as a driver was laid many years before she began driving.
Phillips was way more than a pretty face that backed up Stott when he raced Pro Modified and eventually won an IHRA championship. She never hesitated to jump in to do what needed to be done, even if it meant getting dirty while wrenching between rounds or sitting in the car during warm-ups.
It was only after Stott sold his popular Willys Gasser that Phillips considered getting behind the wheel. She immersed herself in learning every aspect of the C/Gasser, from driving to tuning.
As a result, Phillips reached multiple final rounds, finishing in the top ten in every season she raced. Phillips raced when she knew she was sick out of her passion for the sport.
On January 20, 2021, Stott made a post on both the South East Gassers Facebook and his page addressing the situation.
“It’s now official that Cynthia’s health conditions are not going to allow her to race the 2021 season,” Stott wrote. “As most know, she has been battling cancer now for over a year. She struggled to finish the 2020 season but pushed herself to do it for her fans. Her wishes are to keep the Flower Power ’56 Chevy on the track as a car owner so her fans can still enjoy watching it.
Stott posted on Facebook shortly after her passing.
“In typical Cynthia Phillips fashion, she passed away very gracefully; she never even whimpered,” Stott wrote. “RIP my Princess, the biggest part of me is gone with you.”
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