Showtime Racing Announces the Death of Legendary Driver Tom ‘Showtime’ Hoover

Drag Racing Community Mourns the Loss of a Life Well Raced

Tom Hoover's 1966 Fishbowl Dragster
Tom Hoover’s 1966 Fishbowl Dragster

Hoover with friend Steve Anderson (far right) showcasing his 1966 front-end \”fishbowl\” dragster that Hot Rod magazine called most beautiful dragster ever built in the March 2015 issue.

MINNEAPOLIS – October 24, 2022 – (Newswire.com)

Showtime Racing announces the renowned National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) professional drag racer, beloved husband, and father of four, Tom “Showtime” Hoover passed away Friday evening at the age of 81 from natural causes compounded by health complications. Ironically, for a man who raced the loudest automobiles in motorsports, Hoover died peacefully at St. Joseph’s hospital just minutes from his MN home and his hometown racetrack Brainerd International Raceway. 

Hoover was a cornerstone of the NHRA, IHRA and AHRA professional drag racing community for almost four decades, having built a 35-year career of competitive racing achievements while delivering extreme thrills for fans in both of drag racing’s major racing categories: Top Fuel Dragster and predominantly in Funny Car. He raced from the 1960s to the early 2000s, creating a worldwide reputation for showmanship and performance on the track. This reputation earned him the nickname “Showtime”, a nod not only to his track record, but also for the stunning paint jobs on his cars by his painter and lifelong friend, Reed Holmes, as well as his colorful on-camera interviews and his candor with fans.

Hoover is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years Betten Hoover, and his children Trent Hoover (deceased in 2018), Troy Hoover, Leighe “Paige” Steers, and Landon Hoover, as well as 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren

“Anyone who ever met Tom, would certainly remember that very moment,” said his wife Betten Hoover (on left) who penned the book Out of the Groove about living life on the road. “His presence and personality were both larger than life and he could put a smile on anyone’s face with his wit and humor. He was fearless in his racing pursuits and lived for the sport, but it was his family legacy that meant the most to Tom.” 

While Hoover was determinately humble, his notable list of racing accomplishments throughout his career in funny car included the following:

Hoover was one of the first five funny car drivers in drag racing to break the 6-second quarter mile, 5-second quarter mile and 4-second quarter mile and is the only driver to be among the first to break all three milestones over three decades while racing in funny car.

In 1965, Hoover’s first “major” victory came at the American Hot Rod Association (AHRA) Winter Nationals in Phoenix Arizona. At just 24 years old, he was the youngest driver to ever win such a major event.

In the early 1970s, Hoover became one of the first dragster drivers to take on the challenge of driving and owning the then-newest class of drag racing vehicles, the nearly uncontrollable “Funny Car”. Hoover went on to win the AHRA Funny Car Championship three years in a row in 1976-77-78.

In 1977 Hoover won the NHRA Grand Nationals in Montreal, Canada. He followed up that victory in 1979, winning the NHRA Winter Nationals in Pomona, Ca. and went on to rank among the top ten NHRA Funny Car drivers in the nation almost every year through the late 1990s.

In the 1980s, Hoover became the fifth of eight members to the prestigious Cragar Five Second Club with a recorded elapsed time of 5.95 seconds in the quarter mile. The ’80s also saw Hoover bring international prominence to drag racing by racing at Santa Pod Raceway in Podington, England, where he partnered with UK-born funny car driver Bill “Cannonball” Sherratt, who became his closest collaborator and best friend. Tom went on to become an international ambassador of drag racing, bringing his passion for speed and pushing the limits of performance to Canada, Mexico and even earning the title of “World Champion of Australia” in a dragster in 1995.

Throughout the 1990s, Hoover continued to rack up wins, winning the National Race at Phoenix in 1992, the Fram Autolite Nationals in Sonoma, CA, in 1993, and the Pontiac Excitement Nationals in Columbus, Ohio in 1997, which he won just nine weeks after undergoing quadruple by-pass heart surgery, against the better judgment of his doctors.

In 2014, Hoover was awarded drag racing’s highest honor, induction into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame. That was an incredible honor to him given his parents George – who was Tom’s crew chief well into his 80s – and Ruth Hoover were also inducted decades before him. 

Most recently, in 2016, the NHRA presented him with a special “Legend of the Sport” Award.

In recent years, Hoover was quoted as saying, “The greatest thing that I gained by being a professional in this sport was the many friendships that I made both here and abroad and the many memories that now sustain me. Memories anchor our lives on what was and what is still to be as we race into the future.”

Hoover had been in declining health in recent years but would still be seen at a few NHRA races each year most notably the NHRA Brainerd Nationals in his native Minnesota, catching up with old friends and fans alike. In his last years, Hoover could be spotted at Cacklefests with friend Steve Anderson showcasing his 1966 front-end “fishbowl” dragster that Hot Rod magazine called the most beautiful dragster ever built in the March 2015 issue. That car was exhibited as an art sculpture at the Weisman Art Museum in 2017. Tom Hoover’s racing family archive is housed in permanent collection of the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.

To honor and celebrate Hoover’s life, the Hoovers are planning a Cacklefest and celebration of his life in Minneapolis, MN, to be announced shortly.

Media Contact: Paige Hoover-Steers, Cell: 312-402-2289, [email protected]

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Contact Information:

Paige Hoover-Steers

VP, Showtime Racing

[email protected]

312 402 2289

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Showtime Racing Announces the Death of Legendary Driver Tom ‘Showtime’ Hoover

Electric GT’s EV ‘V8’ Crate Motor System Dominates EV Swaps in Display Vehicles at SEMA

Electric GT’s EV ‘V8’ Crate Motor System Dominates EV Swaps in Display Vehicles at SEMAElectric GT, LLC , known for its modular turnkey EV Crate Motor Swap Systems, will have a dominating EV aftermarket presence at SEMA 2022 with a strong showing of its eGT-413 V8 EV Crate Motor Swap System and the eGT-913 Porsche specific system.

Electric GT’s EV ‘V8’ Crate Motor System Dominates EV Swaps in Display Vehicles at SEMA
Electric GT eGT-413 ‘V8’ Swap EV Conversion System

Electric GT’s eGT-413 ‘V8’ EV conversion swap system for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles is powering several marquee builds at the 2022 SEMA Show.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – October 24, 2022 – (Newswire.com)

Electric GT, LLC , known for its modular turnkey EV Crate Motor Swap Systems, will have a dominating EV aftermarket presence at SEMA 2022 with a strong showing of its eGT-413 V8 EV Crate Motor Swap System and the eGT-913 Porsche 911 specific EV conversion system. EGT-equipped Classic Sports Cars, SUVs and Offroad Vehicles will all be on display spread throughout the show, demonstrating broad application of its systems.

Electric GT has doubled its footprint and will have an eGT-413 equipped 1984 Jeep Scrambler on display alongside a fully functional eGT413 System, as well as an eGT-913-equipped black 1986 Porsche 911 presented by Analog Motor Co. A fully functional eGT-913 will also be on display next to the 911. Electric GT’s base of operations at SEMA is Booth 23683 – Performance & Racing Hall, Hot Rod Alley. The eGT-413 & 913 Systems will be on display in Electric GT’s booth in crate form for buyers to see the high image OilStain Lab-influenced end product.

Barrett Jackson phenom, KTL Restorations, will be unveiling a new and exciting custom build featuring an eGT-413 integration with a Roadster Shop chassis platform on Nov. 1 at 3 p.m. in Booth 11268 at SEMA Electrified in the North Hall. Tremec, the company synonymous with high-performance transmissions, will have a stunning eGT-413-powered 5 Speed manual 1963 split-window Corvette that is fully restored by legendary classic Chevy specialists D & P Classics inside the Main Hall Lobby front doors at Booth 20057. Tremec will also have an eGT-413-propelled Land Rover Defender 90 at its trailer in the Race Paddock adjacent to the West and North Halls, just south of the eBay Motors experience (Booth 81280). The eGT-413 System, like all of Electric GT’s offerings, are fully engineered, tested and developed for aftermarket application and are now shipping to dealers, installers, and qualified DIY builders. 

The eGT-413 V8 electric crate motor swap system is designed to fit, literally, millions of vehicles thanks to a comprehensive modular design that has provisions for versatile installation of the ‘motor block’ and a modular battery system. Having a multitude of power and range combinations that are modular and ready for a fab and fit installation is critical for aftermarket applications. This system made its most recent debut on the cover of the September 2022 edition of SEMA News in a stunning Land Rover D110 conversion commissioned by Himalaya.

The eGT-413 is Electric GT’s flagship EV “V8” replacement conversion system and pairs well with domestic and import chassis dating from the early 1900s through the early 2000s. It easily fits within the footprint of LS-equipped internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and can be adapted to traditional transmissions or utilized as a direct-drive propulsion system. It delivers 406 lbs./ft of torque and 275 eHP at 6,500 RPM from a 750V/500A EV system. The “motor block” includes an integrated battery, so that builders can achieve near OEM weights and weight distribution in a vehicle chassis with proper placement of the all battery modules. Learn more about the eGT-413 e-crate EV conversion system here.

About Electric GT
Electric GT designs, engineers and manufactures bolt-in, turnkey Battery Electric Vehicle powertrain replacement systems for ICE 4-, 6- and 8-cylinder vehicles. Electric GT’s systems integrate complete EV ecosystems to ensure a trouble-free conversion experience. Our EV conversion packages blend unmatched aesthetics with the performance you desire so you can repower the past with today’s technology, and experience the ultimate in modern classic driving pleasure. One look under the hood, one time in the seat, and one step on the accelerator pedal, and you’ll understand what it means to be Powered by Electric GT.

Contact Information:

Lawson Mollica

Marketing & PR

[email protected]

714-348-5066

Juan Ossa

Business Development Director

[email protected]

619-717-6009

Eric Hutchison

Principal

[email protected]

619-717-6009

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Electric GT’s EV ‘V8’ Crate Motor System Dominates EV Swaps in Display Vehicles at SEMA