John Abbott started drag racing in 1954 and graduated to driving Top Fuel Dragsters by 1964. In 1977 he won the Top Fuel Dragster title at the Popular Hot Rod Magazine Championships and in 1978 he won Top Fuel Dragster at the International Hot Rod Association’s Spring Nationals. Abbott then won the American Hot Rod Association’s Winter Nationals in 1979. He was also named Colorado’s Drag Racer of the year in 1978 and 1979.
In 1981, he won the most prestigious drag race in the country, the National Hot Rod Association’s U.S. Nationals, taking the top fuel dragster title, the year before he was runner up at this event. Abbott retired in 1983 after winning hundreds of top fuel races and setting many track records. He now helps his son and daughter-in-law with their drag racing endeavors. John Abbott passed away in 2017.
