Celebrating 75 years of speed, power, and the world's fastest motorsport

2001

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2001 PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE WORLD CHAMPION ANGELLE SAMPEY

  • Won second straight world championship
  • Earned seven victories in 14 events
  • Qualified No. 1 six times
  • Became sport’s winningest female racer
  • Compiled 41-7 win-loss record

Top Fuel world champion
Kenny Bernstein

Funny Car world champion
John Force

Pro Stock world champion
Warren Johnson

Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion
Angelle Sampey

Top Alcohol Dragster world champion
Rick Santos

Top Alcohol Funny Car world champion
Frank Manzo

Comp eliminator world champion
Don Stratton

Super Stock world champion
Dan Fletcher

Stock eliminator world champion
Kevin Helms

Super Comp world champion
Rodney Costlow

Super Gas world champion
Ed DeStaute

2001

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

NHRA 50TH ANNIVERSARY

NHRA marked its 50th anniversary, a yearlong celebration filled with special events and remembrances and the unveiling of the “Top 50 Greatest Drivers.” Top Fuel icon Don Garlits was crowned the sport’s No. 1 driver.

BEER WARS BREWING

Kenny Bernstein’s Budweiser King dragster battled Larry Dixon’s Miller Lite team for the Top Fuel crown. Bernstein won eight times en route to his sixth NHRA world championship. Dixon won six events and finished second.

FORCE SHATTERS ANOTHER RECORD

Funny Car hero John Force secured his 11th NHRA world championship, surpassing Pro Stock legend Bob Glidden’s mark of 10 world championships as the most in the sport’s history.

PRO STOCK PARITY

An amazing 15 different drivers took home victories in Pro Stock over the 24-event season, led by world champ Warren Johnson’s six wins. Only three other drivers won more than once.

2001

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

2001 rookie

Darrell Russell

In his first year as retired legend Joe Amato’s first hired driver, former Texas-based Top Alcohol Dragster standout Russell won the NHRA Winternationals in his debut and also won the fall Las Vegas race and notched four runner-ups en route to a sixth-place finish.

Road to the Future award: GT Tonglet

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