John Abbott, a Top Fuel driver who was a member of the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame, and NHRA Division V Hall of Fame, passed away May 21 in Denver after a short battle with cancer. He was 79.

Abbott’s most memorable NHRA accomplishment came when he won the Top Fuel title at the 1981 U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.

“A lot of posts we have been getting on Facebook and text messages were people saying they thought he was an icon and role model, and that’s how I would like him to be remembered,” said Johnny Abbott Jr. about his father.

Abbott started drag racing in 1954 and graduated to driving Top Fuel dragsters by 1964. In 1977, he won the Top Fuel title at the Popular Hot Rod Magazine Championships and in 1978 he was the Top Fuel champion at the International Hot Rod Association’s Spring Nationals. Abbott then won the American Hot Rod Association’s Winter Nationals in 1979. He also was named Colorado’s Drag Racer of the Year in 1978 and 1979.

In 1981, Abbott beat Jeb Allen, Billy Williams, Terry Capp and David Pace to claim the prestigious Indy crown. Abbott also was participant in the 2014 War Stories Showdown presented by Competition Plus where he talked about his memorable U.S. Nationals victory.