NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The International Drag Racing Hall of Fame honored its 2018 inductees Thursday in Gainesville, Fla., adding Jeb Allen, Kelly Brown, Gary Densham, Roy Fjastad, Jim Oddy, and Ollie Riley, and Greg Sharp to its roll call of honorees.

Both Allen and Brown are former NHRA Top Fuel champions while Densham has been competing in Funny Car competition since the early 1970s. Fjastad, who passed away earlier this month, was a prolific race car builder in the 1960s and ‘70s while Oddy is a legend among supercharged doorslammer racers. Sharp is the curator for the NHRA Motorsports Museum and Riley the genius behind the Chrondek timing system that was so important in drag racing’s infancy.

The Patricia Garlits Memorial Award, presented by Mopar and Don Garlits, went to the late Terry Chandler, for her support of the Infinite Hero and Make-A-Wish Funny Car teams and drag racing in general.

Jeb Allen, second from right, won the 1981 NHRA Top Fuel championship and nine national events. He remains the youngest driver to ever win an NHRA Top Fuel race.

Kelly Brown, second from right, who won the 1978 NHRA Top Fuel championship, won eight events in his long career.

Gary Densham remains the longest-running active racer in the Funny Car class. Along his eight career wins is an Indy victory in 2004.

The late Roy Fjastad was represented by his daughter, Kathy, and son-in-law, former NHRA Top Fuel winner Carl Olson. Olson also accepted the award on behalf of Greg Sharp, who could not attend.

Jim Oddy has been racing blown doorslammers since the 1960s and won Comp at the 1972 U.S. Nationals.

Photos courtesy of Auto Imagery