1995

Rich joins the Auto Palace team with his father Al. 

1996

New paint scheme for the two Auto Palace cars. 

1992

New body for Jet FC - Auto Palace Stores sponsored ‘Eastern Raider’ Pontiac Firebird. Winniest Jet FC. 5’60’s @ 280 MPH ++.

 

1991

Invented - through research - Extended Bell Mouth for Jet Funny Cars. First 5.70 in Jet Funny Car history.

 

1987-1988

‘New ‘Eastern Raider’ Thunderbird. Lot of work aerodynamically and weight wise. Performance picking up - running low 6’s @ 250 MPH. Car is truly beautiful.

 

1989

‘Eastern Raider’ Top Fuel Dragster. Partner - Don Marshall - - Mike Kase Chassis - Ran several events - Best et - 5.15@ 280 MPH. Car sold to Kenny Koretsky.

 

1983-1986

New look to Jet FC. Match races increase to over 40 appearances in one season. Running mid 6’s @ 240 MPH.

 

1982

New Jet FC. Ford EXP - Licensed late 1982 - minimum match races with jet FC. Few match races with Nitro Mustang FC.

 

1980

New ‘Eastern Raider’ Mustang. Beautiful car. Best Appearing - NHRA Gatornationals. Again, a fiercely competitive match racecar running low 6’s @ 240 MPH++.

 

1981


New Jet Funny Car Arrives. Time to learn about jet engines and fuel systems. This is quite an educational challenge.

 

1976

‘Eastern Raider’ Pinto and Mustang. Toured as member of ‘Coke Cavalcade of Stars’. Ran 66 events across nation and Canada.

 

1977

'Eastern Raider' top fuel dragster was driven by Bob Beaulieu in 1977.

 

1977

‘Eastern Raider’ Mustang. New Partner - Gary Richards. One of the fastest and quickest match race cars in the nation. 6.40’s @ 240 MPH.

 

1978-1979

Next car - ‘Eastern Raider’ Dodge. Gary Richards and Al Hanna ran half the season and split. Strong match race season. New company is formed - Pro-Race, Inc. Al and Ellen Hanna are principles. Purchased former ‘Eastern Raider’ Mustang for match racing and ordered new Mustang for 1980 season.

 

1975

Hanna Pinto. Brought back prior Pinto for match racing. Mundet moved on. Match raced throughout east.

 

1974

First ‘Eastern Raider’ Mustang. Next Revell Team Car. This car was a feature in ‘Cream’ Magazine with rock groups.

 

1973

More Hanna/Mundet Pinto’s. First year as part of Revell All Star Team. Toured entire nation.

 

1972

Added partner Joe Mundet for 1972. Converted the 1971 chassis to blower. Debuted at NHRA - Indy - #12 qualifier - 6.60’s @ 220 MPH.

 

1970

The first ‘Eastern Raider’. This was the 2nd year of the Dodge Charger built by Lindblad. Al drove and tuned.

 

1971

A new ‘Eastern Raider’ Pinto was built. This was a Lindblad chassis and featured an injected nitro motor. This machine ran in the 7’s as well. Featured in ‘East Coast’ Nitro F/C Circuit.

 

1969

The 1969 ‘Yankee Peddler’ was built by Rollie Lindblad. Al drove and Bill Flynn was the tuner. The east’s first true flip top - ran mid-low 7’s @ 200 MPH.

 

1968

The ‘Phantom Charger’ was added in 1968. This was the first tube-chassied nitro funny car for the Hanna’s. Mid-8’s @ 160+ MPH.

 

1967

The first nitro funny car for the Hanna’s was the ‘Phantom ‘Cuda’. The car ran in the low 9’s to high 8’s @ 150 MPH.

 

1966

The first professional race car for Al and Ellen Hanna was the 1966 Ford Fairlane running in the Super Stock B class.

 

History of Hanna Motorsports

2011

Team debuts second generation "Top Secret". BIC Lighter renews sponsorship and adds the Funny Cars to the program. Lighter sales flourish. Strong schedule both seasons.

 

2008-2010

Jill Canuso named new BIC Lighter "Queen of Diamonds" Driver by Hanna Motorsports. BIC Lighter continues sponsorship with the team as well as Daigle's Truck Master.

 

1997

The racing team gets a new sponsor and a new look from AutoWorks.  

1993

New car built - Bob Jenkins Chassis - Center-driver location - First in Jet FC history. Car is recognized as highest tech in jet fc history. Featured on ‘NHRA Today’ - Machine Design Magazine - and more.

 

1994

New Paint scheme for Firebird - Rich Hanna starts driving - Car called ‘First Strike’ Firebird. Rick’s Auto Body sponsors Rich’s car. Rich is instant performer - winner of many fc events - 5’6’s @ 280 MPH.

 

1989

Added Performance Centers of America as sponsorship. Ran 35 races nationally. 

1990

New Sponsorship - ADAP - New body - ‘Eastern Raider’ Thunderbird. Aerodynamic to the max - light weight - running in the 5’s @ 270 MPH.

 

1998

Pro-Race dba’s Hanna Motorsports and fields three cars for season.

 

1998

Dragster receives new driver and new name - The "Queen of Diamonds". A sponsorship agreement is formed with Bicycle Playing Cards. The car runs a best of 5.08 at nearly 307 MPH.

 

1997

Pro-Race adds third car - ‘Eastern Raider’ Jet dragster. This car runs in the low 5’s @ 300 MPH.

 

2005

BIC Lighter is signed as title sponsor for the "Queen of Diamonds" jet dragster. BIC introduces an 8 lighter series featuring all three Hanna Motorsports Jet Cars and drivers.

 

2006-2007

Team debuts second generation "Top Secret". BIC Lighter renews sponsorship and adds the Funny Cars to the program. Lighter sales flourish. Strong schedule both seasons.

 

2019

Hanna Motorsports builds new dragster and brings back the Iconic name: The Eastern Raider. With a new car came a new driver, 26 year old Josh Graham.

2015

Queen of Diamonds 2 becomes the first jet powered drag racing vehicle ever tested in a wind tunnel at A2 in Moorseville, NC.

2016

24 year old Sarah Edwards becomes the 5th female Queen of Diamonds jet dragster pilot.

2013

XLerator Hand Dryer signs on as major sponsor for The Top Secret Jet Funny Car driven by Ken Hall. Gojo and BIC Lighter continue on with their support.

 

2013

Hanna Motorsports debuts new revolutionary side-driver jet dragster.

 

2012

Both BIC Lighter and GOJO Industries renew sponsorship of Hanna Motorsports Jets for 2012.

 

2002

Hanna Motorsports debuts "Top Secret" with new driver - Ken Hall. AJK Engineering and East Coast Aerotech sponsorship continues with 82 race dates for team.

 

2000

Over 70 race dates with three car team sponsored by AJK Engineering.

 

2001

Rich Hanna sets new World Speed and ET Record for Jet Funny Cars - 5.42 @ 295.08 MPH.

 

2003-2004

New driver for the "Queen of Diamonds" debuts at the IHRA "Jet Warz" event in May. Team runs 75 race date schedule both years.