Roland Leong, a legendary NHRA drag racing figure who enjoyed success as a racer, tuner and team owner, died on Dec. 29. He was 79 years old.
Leong, who started as a gas dragster driver in his native Hawaii, moved to California during the early 1960s where he gained fame for fielding a winning Top Gas entry wheeled by Danny Ongais.
After an unsuccessful attempt at driving, Leong hired up-and-coming drag racer Don Prudhomme to wheel his Top Fuel machine. The two won the 1965 Winternationals and U.S. Nationals, but their time together was short before they each found success separately.
Leong won those two events again in 1966 with Mike Snively at the controls of his rails. Leong moved to the Funny Car class in 1969 and found success with drivers Larry Reyes and Butch Maas.
Leong’s Funny Cars were known for spectacular paint schemes that featured “The Hawaian” name on the side as a nod to his heritage.
After employing an array of drivers through the years, Leong reunited with Prudhomme during the 1990s to tune Funny Cars driven by Ron Capps.
In recent years, he was a top tuner of Nostalgia Funny Cars. Leong was inducted into the Hawaii Motorsports Hall of Fame.