After more than 15 years of starting the countdown to 14,000 plus horsepower thundering down the quarter mile, Rick "The Iceman" Stewart is hanging up his hat as NHRA Official Starter. Rick's nickname arose not from his calm demeanor and good sense of humor, but from when he used to drive top fuel slingshot dragsters. Rick was known to ice his opponents with a hole shot off the starting line. Rick drag raced years before turning his experience behind the wheel into a stout run as the man on the starting line at NHRA national events.

Rick was also the focus of one of the best 52 minutes of drag racing documentary ever made in 1965. Written by Bob Abel, shot by Les Blank, and with a soundtrack from Canned Heat, 7 Second Love Affair followed Rick and crew around the drag strips of '60s Southern California in a journey through the apex of SoCal top fuel drag racing. We spoke with Rick a few years back about the time and the movie, and he confirmed that drag racing was in fact the hot setup then.

"A typical weekend would be Friday night down at Carlsbad, Saturday night at Lions Drag Strip, Sunday from 11-3 p.m. at San Fernando, Sunday afternoon at Fontana. Eighty top fuel cars would show up to qualify for eight spots and $1,000 to win. We were just thrilled we were getting $25 or $50 a round."

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