NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Reactions from the NHRA community on Twitter to the passing of NHRA legend Tom "the Mongoose" McEwen.

#RIP to one of the guys I looked up to legendary Top Fuel and Funny Car racer Tom "the Mongoose" McEwen. pic.twitter.com/X3VfebX6KI

— Cruz Pedregon (@CruzPedregon) June 11, 2018

Sad day in all of racing. We've lost a true "game changer" and a legend. #RIPMongoose https://t.co/Yl2X5cIVdP

— Bob Wilber (@BobWilber5) June 11, 2018

Very sad news from @NHRA. Keeping the McEwen family in our thoughts. https://t.co/QCvKMVQ0Vy

— Don Schumacher Racing (@shoeracing) June 11, 2018

Ugh... Just landed and got this news that Tom "the Mongoose" McEwen has passed away.
One of a kind and gonna miss those frequent phone calls, especially the ones with him chewing my rearend...
RIP Goose 🏁 https://t.co/WPKDhNIXao

— Ron Capps (@RonCapps28) June 11, 2018

A great loss to the racing community. Our thoughts are with the family & friends of Tom McEwen. Rest in peace, Mongoose. ❤ https://t.co/mZz7AkjsP4

— Kalitta Motorsports (@TeamKalitta) June 11, 2018

Race in peace, Goo$e. https://t.co/ezL0SGj20d

— Brad Littlefield (@LittleBradfield) June 11, 2018

#RIPMongoose 🏁🇺🇸Thank you for the great memories #Legend https://t.co/pAiawzlDCW

— Alan Johnson Racing (@AJRtopfuel) June 11, 2018

Absolutely nothing better than this... Snake and Mongoose talking @NHRA drag racing memories in Indy. #asgoodasitgets pic.twitter.com/u7jenucZVw

— John H. (@MayorNHRA) August 30, 2014

I don't even know where to begin to say what McEwen's friendship has meant to me over the years. I was blessed to have a legend of the sport befriend me early in my career. He always watched out for me, calling me with the latest behind-the-scenes news Thanks 'Goose. I'll miss ya pic.twitter.com/lVQbQ8I9s2

— Phil Burgess (@nhraphil) June 11, 2018

Sad day in drag racing when you lose a legend like the "Mongoose". Glad Gage got to meet him & get a pic. #RIPMongoose pic.twitter.com/794GyQZH8t

— Tommy Johnson Jr. (@TommyJohnson_Jr) June 11, 2018

RIP to legendary #NHRA funny car driver Tom "the Mongoose" McEwen. #funnycarroyalty pic.twitter.com/2wAbLWJWT2

— Mark J. Rebilas (@rebilasphoto) June 11, 2018

My earliest exposure to drag racing was a Snake/Mongoose coloring book in 1970 at age 5 ... they still hang out in my office! #RIPMongoose @NHRA #NHRAonFOX pic.twitter.com/svi3jYoFP4

— Erik Arneson (@EBASports) June 11, 2018

RIP "Mongoose" and thank you for your contributions and the immeasurable impact you made on the sport of @NHRA drag racing. https://t.co/igz7tiwXEm

— Houston Raceway (@HoustonRaceway) June 11, 2018

 

The racing community lost a very special man... A pioneer, a champion, a legend! I feel very grateful to have met “The Mongoose” and talked racing and rivalries. He wasn’t always impressed with my rebel ways during my racing career...☺️ But we had a mutual respect. He will be missed and right now he’s racing a golden Funny Car in heaven I assure you... #tommcewen #themongoose #legend #funnycar #nhra #restinracingparadise

A post shared by Alexis DeJoria (@alexisdejoria) on Jun 12, 2018 at 10:08am PDT

Drag racing lost a legend this week. Our thoughts and prayers this weekend will be with Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen. #NHRA #ThunderValleyNats #ThunderValley pic.twitter.com/ijygPHDlJ1

— Bristol Dragway (@BristolDragway) June 12, 2018

Sorry to hear that @NHRA Drag Racing lost a legend yesterday. I had the pleasure of doing a few autograph sessions with the guy everyone called the Mongoose. His will be missed by many. R.i.p Tom "Mongoose" McEwen pic.twitter.com/6BQ0axbAxp

— Eddie Krawiec (@EddieKrawiec) June 12, 2018

Tom and I developed a nice relationship over the years, and I am very moved with his passing. Aside from his “Mongoose” legend and his funny car career, I don’t know how many people know what a Titan he was to the sport. What a loss... #RIPMongoose

— Jack Beckman (@FastJackBeckman) June 12, 2018

Thank You Mongoose for sending chills to a kid when you beat Snake in 78 Indy final. May you rest with the other Legends of our sport. There will be a helluva race where that is! Great racer, Showman and Person. #RIPMongoose pic.twitter.com/aaKYYo2060

— Tony Pedregon (@TonyPedregon) June 12, 2018

Thank you for paving the way for racers like me. Your words of encouragement will never be forgotten. Always in our hearts Tom “the Mongoose” McEwen. pic.twitter.com/MTpo8gPohz

— Steve Torrence (@SteveTorrence) June 12, 2018

We lost a legendary funny car driver today. I grew up watching him; one of my heroes in the sport. Deepest condolences to the McEwen family. #RIPMongoose

— Jim Campbell (@JimCampbellFC) June 12, 2018

Thoughts and prayers to the McEwen family!! A true legend of our sport. https://t.co/KnvMPAfrOv

— Antron Brown (@AntronBrown) June 12, 2018

Our sport lost one of its legends. I’m glad I got the opportunity to spend a little time with him earlier this year and hear some really cool things. RIP Goose #Mongoose #NHRA pic.twitter.com/7e8gHqpiPk

— J.R. Todd (@JRTodd373) June 11, 2018

Very sad to hear about the passing of a legend, Tom “the Mongoose” McEwen. I had the pleasure of meeting him during an autograph session in Pomona at the Finals last year. His stories were amazing and his advice I will never forget! He will definitely be missed! pic.twitter.com/4MuJyhP3lH

— Scotty Pollacheck (@ScottPollacheck) June 12, 2018

Great moment with Snake and Mongoose in Pomona. So happy I had the opportunity. #RIPMongoose #NHRA #dragracing pic.twitter.com/YWXQpL3i7J

— Joe (@WFOJoe) June 12, 2018

 

He will be missed. #TomMcEwen #DragRacingLegend @nhra

A post shared by @ autoclubdragway on Jun 12, 2018 at 10:55am PDT

Really a tough year for @nhra and the loss of some of the superstars like Tom McEwen who made such a great contribution to our sport. #RIPMongoose https://t.co/fIPioyz7QY

— dkantonelli (@dkantonelli) June 12, 2018

Barrett-Jackson was saddened to learn of the passing of Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen, one of drag racing’s most iconic drivers. We were honored to have him visit our event, and will remember the 16-time Funny Car champion’s legendary @NHRA achievements with fondness. pic.twitter.com/exwIX0GpzK

— Barrett-Jackson (@Barrett_Jackson) June 12, 2018

If you're of a certain age and enjoyed drag racing, you will instantly recognize the Snake and Mongoose Funny Cars, which #NASCARHall inductee Rick Hendrick purchased at @Barrett_Jackson in 2014. Truly iconic race cars. #RIPMongoose pic.twitter.com/ioE7JkKWYg

— Tom Jensen (@tomjensen100) June 11, 2018