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12. LEE SHEPHERD

For four years (1981-1984), Lee Shepherd and his Texas compatriots, David Reher and "Buddy" Morrison ruled the Pro Stock world, and this dictatorship came right in the middle of the years that Ford all-time great Bob Glidden had been running amok. Shepherd remains the only Pro driver to win back-to-back Winston crowns in two hot rod associations in two consecutive years. Shepherd ruled NHRA and IHRA top 10's in both 1983 and 1984. Just for good measure, Shepherd was the 1979 AHRA World Champion as well.

13. PAT AUSTIN

Not a difficult call here, Austin is Alcohol Funny Car's greatest pure driver, and he hasn't stopped winning to this day. In IHRA competition, Austin won A/Funny Car (Alcohol) at the 1986 Fallnationals at Bristol, 1987 Motorcraft Nationals at Rockingham, and the 1988 Chief Nationals at the Texas Motorplex. Just add three to his seventy-plus win career total and you're bound to think he might deserve a rating higher than 13th.

14. EDDIE HILL

Almost all of Hill's great accomplishments were achieved in his years running the NHRA circuit. A couple of items that were overlooked would be Hill's great 1959 season and one astounding run he made in 1962. In 1959, Hill came out from Wichita Falls, Texas and won the Texas vs. California race at Inyokern, California, beating Jack Chrisman. That same year, Hill won Top Gas at the AHRA National Championships at Great Bend,Kansas. That put him in the Top Eliminator final where he lost to Fuel Eliminator winner Chris Karamesines.

In On May 6, 1962, Hill guided his twin-, side-by-side-mounted Pontiac powered GAS dragster to a 202.70 mph speed. The run was controversial, but whatever, it was the best speed of the year and that included runs by the fuel dragsters. (Photo of Eddie and wife Ercie by Jeff Burk)

15. RONNIE SOX

The Burlington, North Carolina driver and his hustling partner Buddy Martin were the kings of Super Stock along with Don Nicholson in the 1960s and early 1970s. Sox was the first doorslammer driver to win world championships in two different hot rod associations by taking the 1970 NHRA and IHRA Pro Stock crowns. He was also NHRA's first back-to-back doorslammer world champ winning the 1969 Super Stock title and the Pro Stock bauble the next year.

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