Russell Family

There is a saying that says “racing is in your blood”. This could not be more true than with the Russell Family. Burnell Russell, at the age of 16, didn’t have enough money to go racing. But he saved up enough money to buy an old, used blower. He never used that blower but at least he had one. His passion for racing was born! Throughout his life, his passion for racing would be fueled through his children. Burnell and Gwen Russell had four children. Each of these children; Mickey, Ronnie, Darrell and Chris, were born racers. The passion and desire to race was “in their blood,” passed down from their father. Whether it was bicycles, motorcycles or dragsters, the Russell Family was going racing. From the early 1970’s to present, you could probably find them at a race track.
It wasn’t until 1987, that the family’s passion for racing turned to Drag Racing. Darrell Russell’s high school graduation present was a trip for two to Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School in Gainesville, FL. Less than one month later, Darrell, Chris and Burnell went back to Hawley’s school and all three completed the course. Only this time, Darrell left with his competition license. Later that summer, the Russell Family purchased a Super Comp dragster and began competing at local and divisional events. The Russell Family competed in Super Comp for almost 4 years before deciding to make the jump to Top Alcohol Dragster. It was at this banquet in 1990 that the Russell Family brokered a deal to purchase Tom Conway’s alcohol dragster. In 1991, with the help of Tom Conway and Charlie Durel, the Russell Family entered their first race in Top Alcohol Dragster. Just a few weeks later, Darrell and his family won the Division 4 event in Memphis, TN. With Darrell strongly established as the team’s driver, Chris quickly took up the mechanical side of racing and became crew chief on the car. The combination of brothers Darrell and Chris proved to be a good one. Darrell and Chris won their first national event in 1994 at Atlanta, Ga. From that point forward the Russell’s never looked back.
Chris tuned Darrell to 19 Divisional event wins and 7 national event victories in their career together; they won four Division 4 championships (1994,1996,1998,1999) and the prestigious “All-Star” race in 1995. The highlight of their Alcohol Dragster career was an impressive win at the 1997 US Nationals in Indianapolis. Even more impressive was that the Russell’s only failed to qualify for one event in 129 races. The Russell Family finished in the top-ten nationally five years in a row (1994-1998) with a best of third in both 1996 and 1998. The Russell’s enjoyed another streak, when for three years in a row, (1996 through 1998), Darrell was nominated as Division 4 -Driver of the Year. In 1996, the Russell Family also received Division 4 “Crew Chief of the Year” honors.
At the end of the 1999 season, the Russell Family felt they had achieved all they wanted in the Top Alcohol Dragster class and decided it was time to move up to the professional ranks. The Russell family spent the majority of the 2000 racing season promoting Darrell as a potential “hired” driver and courting sponsorships for their own Top Fuel team. By the end of the 2000 season Darrell had job offers from Joe Amato and Don Prudhomme.
In 2001, Darrell made his debut in Top Fuel driving for the legendary Joe Amato. Darrell’s debut was impressive as he went on to win his first race in Joe Amato’s Top Fuel dragster. Darrell’s impressive stats in Top Fuel didn’t end there; he went on to win one more race in 2001 and won the NHRA Rookie of the Year honors. Darrell won a total of 6 events in his Top Fuel career.
On June 27th , 2004, at Gateway International Raceway in St Louis, Darrell’s illustrious career came to an end.
Bound and determined to carryon, The Russell Family struck a deal with David Powers to build a Top Fuel Team and continue the legacy of Darrell’s name. In 2005, the new team made its’ successful launch in Pomona, Ca. The Russell Family stayed on with the Powers team until the conclusion of the St Louis race.
Since that time, the Russell Family have stayed actively involved in the sport and continue to attend national and divisional events. In 2008 The Russell’s were special guests of Top Fuel Owner, Dexter Tuttle for the St. Louis National Event. At that race Alan Bradshaw drove a special edition Darrell Russell Tribute themed dragster to a first round victory. Tuttle’s team was also awarded Best Appearing Crew for the event.
Regardless of if they are competing as a team, or visiting guests at the track, the Russell’s consider the racetrack home, and their many racing friends as family. The sport of drag racing has brought some sorrow, but also a lot of joy into the Russell’s lives. And the Russell’s have brought something to the sport in return, a legacy and a name that will forever be synonymous with winning.