2017 Hall of Fame
Pete Nebel
Pete Nebel has been
working at MDIR since
1974. He also did a fair
share of racing in
between! Tod Mack and
Larry Clayton hired Pete
after meeting him
through the dealership
where he worked -- owned
by former MDIR track
owner Bill Cairns. Pete
started in the water box
and soon moved up to the
role of tech inspector.
Pete next took on his
longest continuous role
-- that of drag strip
starter. Pete was the
MDIR starter for about
12 to 15 years, his
longest tenure in any
one position. Pete Nebel
"floated" from one job
to another at MDIR to
ensure that everything
was covered. He did
whatever could be done.
When Royce Miller took
over operation of MDIR,
he asked Pete to sell
parts and continue
taking care of needed
positions as required.
One of Pete's special
memories was the first
Midnight Madness race --
Pete and the team were
still checking cars into
the track at 4:30 in the
morning! They were still
coming in the gate. This
was one of Tod's clever
ideas because the track
insurance policy 24
hours at a time. So Tod
was able to get two race
days in for one
insurance fee. Back then
the Midnight Madness
competitors were true
street cars. Competitors
drove their cars through
the gate and trailers
were unheard of.
Pete Nebel went through
the entire evolution of
MIR since it started.
His wife Cora took care
of things inside the
tower and Pete took care
of things outside the
tower. He first came to
the track in 1966 back
when it was St. Mary's
Dragway. As far as his
racing career, Pete
started helping other
racers but then got a
1966 Chevelle race car.
The Chevelle ran 12.50
ETs at the time. Pete
soon moved to a street
legal Vega with a V8
conversion small block.
And then he built a big
block Vega for Super Gas
racing, followed by a
1983 Camaro. Pete had
about 10 cars over the
years, right up to his
current Top Dragster.
Pete's son Todd drives
that car now. In fact,
Pete would just as soon
work on cars as drive
them. Pete did once race
for a two Datsun 240Z as
the prize. He and three
others got to the final
four. None of the racers
wanted the car, so they
split the money four
ways! Another time, Pete
ran for a Corvette. But
at this race, he lost in
the first round to none
other than Royce Miller!
Pete did win Super Pro
at one of the Mountain
Motor Nationals events
-- scoring a great $1300
purse! When he arrived
home, Cora asked him why
he was so late. Pete
just tossed the winnings
on the table and said
there you go!
Pete adds, "The reason
I've worked here all
these years is for the
racers. I know what they
went through and I
wanted to help change
things for the better. I
don't see myself
stopping anytime soon."
I think most would agree
that Pete Nebel has
absolutely changed MIR
for the better with his
involvement over several
decades, And we look
forward to Pete's
contributions for years
to come. He is truly a
Legend of Budds Creek.
As Pete says, "There's
no end in sight!"
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