Dick Harrell or “Mr. Chevrolet” was a Carlsbad racing legend who dominated the national racing scene in the 1960’s and 70’s, and was an instrumental player in the funny car era. He left his mark on racing with his engineering prowess and racing genius.

At age fourteen, he became involved in racing. He started out on a dirt track on the outskirts of Carlsbad, and eventually races all over the Southwest, winning 90% of the races he ran and winning every regional race in a three state area of the Southwest. Through the early 1960s, he went from being an amateur to a national racing icon. Dick became NHRA Point Champion in the Super Stock Class in 1962 and in the next year won the Super Stock Eliminator Title at the AHRA Winter Nationals. He set an AHRA national speed record, along with many other records, and he was a huge player in the battle between the three big automobile manufacturers.

He was nationally admired and respected for staying with Chevrolet’s even after losing factory backing. By 1966, he had traveled a total of 50,000 miles in special appearances. He visited Carlsbad regularly as he became involved in large tier racing gigs and engineering custom cars. He won Driver of the Decade in 1970, and continued racing until 1971, when he died in a tragic racing accident.