Gordon Mineo

{{Short description|American racing driver}}

{{Infobox racing driver

| name = Gordon Mineo

| image =

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| nationality = American

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| birth_date = {{Birth date|1945|06|19}}

| birth_place = Detroit, Michigan

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2006|09|03|1945|06|19}}

| death_place = Lake Texoma, Oklahoma

| retired =

| related to = Joseph and Lorraine Mineo

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| wins = 0

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Gordon Mineo (June 19, 1945[http://obits.dallasnews.com/obituaries/dallasmorningnews/obituary.aspx?n=gordon-and-ann-mineo&pid=19130543&fhid=2529 Dallasnews.com] (retrieved 3 October 2018)-September 3, 2006), nicknamed "Flash Gordon", was a Top Fuel Funny Car driver.

Mineo was born in Detroit, Michigan, son of Joseph and Lorraine Mineo.[http://obits.dallasnews.com/obituaries/dallasmorningnews/obituary.aspx?n=gordon-and-ann-mineo&pid=19130543&fhid=2529 Dallasnews.com] (retrieved 3 October 2018)

He started racing Funny Cars in the 1960s and continued to race until the 1990s.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/03/AR2006090300097_pf.html?noredirect=on Washington Post online] (retrieved 3 October 2018)

Mineo's first national Funny Car event was the 1970 AHRA Winter Nationals at Beeline Dragway in Scottsdale, Arizona; he qualified his Pontiac Firebird funny car #10, but was eliminated in the first round by #7 qualifier Tom "Mongoo$e McEwen.[http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/racelist2.php?uniqid=46730 Ultimateracinghistory] (retrieved 3 October 2018) (Mineo earned US$400 for the effort.[http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/racelist2.php?uniqid=46730 Ultimateracinghistory] (retrieved 3 October 2018))

At the 1971 AHRA Winter Nationals, Mineo qualified #21 in a and was eliminated in round there by Dick Rosberg, who qualified #17.[http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/racelist2.php?uniqid=37821 Ultimateracinghistory] (retrieved 3 October 2018)

In 1972, Mineo attended the AHRA National Challenge at Tulsa Raceway Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He qualified #21 and lost in round one to #5 qualifier Don "The Snake" Prudhomme.[http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/racelist2.php?uniqid=37914 Ultimateracinghistory] (retrieved 3 October 2018) (Mineo earned US$500 for this effort.[http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/racelist2.php?uniqid=37914 Ultimateracinghistory] (retrieved 3 October 2018))

At the 1973 NHRA Supernationals, in Ontario, California, Mineo qualified #9 in his 1973 Dhevrolet Vega; he again lost in round one to Prudhomme, who qualified his 1973 Plymouth Barracuda #1.[http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/racelist2.php?uniqid=38101 Ultimateracinghistory] (retrieved 3 October 2018)

Mineo returned to Scottsdale in 1974, qualifying #8 at the 1974 AHRA Winter Nationals.[http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/racelist2.php?uniqid=38122 Ultimateracinghistory] (retrieved 3 October 2018) The same year, he attended an ANRA event at Green Valley Raceway in Smithfield, Texas.[http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/racelist2.php?uniqid=38122 Ultimateracinghistory] (retrieved 3 October 2018)

He went back to Beeline Dragway for the 1977 AHRA Winter Nationals, qualifying #4; he was eliminated by #12 qualifier Dale Armstrong in the first round.[http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/racelist2.php?uniqid=38324 Ultimateracinghistory] (retrieved 3 October 2018) At the 1977 NHRA Springnationals, Mineo qualified #14, only to lose to #6 qualifier (and eventual event class winner) Bob Pickett in the first round.[http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/racelist2.php?uniqid=38324 Ultimateracinghistory] (retrieved 3 October 2018)

Mineo never won an NHRA or AHRA national event.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/03/AR2006090300097_pf.html?noredirect=on Washington Post online] (retrieved 3 October 2018) He was also featured in a famous photo, being punched by fellow funny car racer Ed "The Ace" McCulloch.Burgess, Phil, National Dragster editor. "Ed McCulloch: Roaring down Memory Lane", written 8 September 2017, at [https://www.nhra.com/news/2017/ed-mcculloch-roaring-down-memory-lane NHRA.com] (retrieved 3 October 2018)

Mineo was killed in a boating accident on Lake Texoma, in Oklahoma, on 3 September 2006, along with his wife, Ann, age 59, Myra Gibson, 51; Amy Lane, 31; and Justin R. Lane, 25. Mineo was 61.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/03/AR2006090300097_pf.html?noredirect=on Washington Post online] (retrieved 3 October 2018)

He was buried at Rest Haven Memorial Park, Rockwall, Texas.[http://obits.dallasnews.com/obituaries/dallasmorningnews/obituary.aspx?n=gordon-and-ann-mineo&pid=19130543&fhid=2529 Dallasnews.com] (retrieved 3 October 2018)

Mineo had two children, Jason and Trisha.[http://obits.dallasnews.com/obituaries/dallasmorningnews/obituary.aspx?n=gordon-and-ann-mineo&pid=19130543&fhid=2529 Dallasnews.com] (retrieved 3 October 2018)