Gordon Mineo

Gordon Mineo (19 June 1945[1]-3 September 2006), nicknamed "Flash Gordon", was a Top Fuel Funny Car driver.

Mineo was born in Detroit, Michigan, son of Joseph and Lorraine Mineo.[2]

He started racing Funny Cars in the 1960s and continued to race until the 1990s.[3]

Mineo's first national Funny Car event was the 1970 AHRA Winter Nationals at Beeline Dragway in Scottsdale, Arizona; he qualified his Pontiac Firebird funny car #10, but was eliminated in the first round by #7 qualifier Tom "Mongoo$e McEwen.[4] (Mineo earned US$400 for the effort.[5])

At the 1971 AHRA Winter Nationals, Mineo qualified #21 in a and was eliminated in round there by Dick Rosberg, who qualified #17.[6]

In 1972, Mineo attended the AHRA National Challenge at Tulsa Raceway Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He qualified #21 and lost in round one to #5 qualifier Don "The Snake" Prudhomme.[7] (Mineo earned US$500 for this effort.[8])

At the 1973 NHRA Supernationals, at , in Ontario, California, Mineo qualified #9 in his 1973 Dhevrolet Vega; he again lost in round one to Prudhomme, who qualified his 1973 Plymouth Barracuda #1.[9]

Mineo returned to Scottsdale in 1974, qualifying #8 at the 1974 AHRA Winter Nationals.[10] The same year, he attended an ANRA event at Green Valley Raceway in Smithfield, Texas.[11]

He went back to Beeline Dragway for the 1977 AHRA Winter Nationals, qualifying #4; he was eliminated by #12 qualifier Dale Armstrong in the first round.[12] At the 1977 NHRA Springnationals, Mineo qualified #14, only to lose to #6 qualifier (and eventual event class winner) Bob Pickett in the first round.[13]

Mineo never won an NHRA or AHRA national event.[14] He was also featured in a famous photo, being punched by fellow funny car racer Ed "The Ace" McCulloch.[15]

Mineo was killed in a boating accident on Lake Texoma, in Oklahoma, on 3 September 2006, along with his wife, Ann, age 59, Myra Gibson, 51; Amy Lane, 31; and Justin R. Lane, 25. Mineo was 61.[16]

He was buried at Rest Haven Memorial Park, Rockwall, Texas.[17]

Mineo had three children, Gordon, Jr., Jason and Trisha.[18]