The drag racing community was saddened to hear the news of the passing of Ken Black earlier this week.
An icon of motorsports, Ken was a racer, team owner, and a friend to many of us in the Summit Racing and Team Summit families.
Wearing his trademark cowboy hat and ultra-wide smile, Ken was always easy to spot at NHRA events—and he was even easier to talk to, eager and willing to shake hands and chat about all-things drag racing.
Ken Black and Greg Anderson enjoy a Pro Stock victory at the 2017 NHRA Arizona Nationals. (Image/Auto Imagery)
Ken got his start in the 1960s, piloting his own race-prepped Chevy II/Nova at the now-defunct Stardust International Speedway near his hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada—eventually grabbing the track championship in 1968 that punched his ticket to the 1969 NHRA Winternationals.
Needing a “Day Job” to fund his racing, Ken started a construction business that, thanks to the Las Vegas real estate boom, enjoyed incredible success as the 1980s dawned.
But despite the growth his company, Ken never strayed too far from the track and by the mid-1990s, he formed Marnell-Black Racing with his partner and fellow racer, George Marnell.
Ken stands with Jason Line and Greg Anderson to celebrate KB Racing’s 100th NHRA Pro Stock win back in 2012. Now, the team owns over 200 victories and 10 Pro Stock World Championships. (Image/Auto Imagery)
In perhaps his most important business decision, Ken hired a new crew chief for the freshly-minted Marnell-Black Racing—an aspiring driver named Greg Anderson.
Anderson soon found himself in the cockpit of a Marnell-Black Racing Pro Stock car, and a handful of Wally trophies followed. By 2002, Ken had formed KB Racing, with Anderson behind the wheel.
“Ken was like a second father to me. He is 100% responsible for me being able to chase my dreams and accomplish all of my life’s wishes, and through his vision and generosity, all of the great employees here at KB—as well as their families—have gone to such great heights. We could never thank him enough for all that he’s done for us for so long.”
Greg Anderson, winningest driver in the history of NHRA Pro Stock
Pretty soon after that, another skilled racer joined the KB Racing team: Jason Line
The rest, as they say, is history.
Ken and a former KB Racing driver, Bo Butner, celebrate a Pro Stock win at the 2017 Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona. (Image/Auto Imagery)
Two decades of incredible success followed and, after the 2022 season, Ken retired from team ownership. KB Racing then merged with Titan Racing Engines to form KB Titan Racing.
Yet even out of the spotlight, Ken and his wife Judy were still common sights at the track.
(Image/Auto Imagery)
Racer, owner, leader…Ken Black wore many hats.
But none bigger than friend.
He will be missed.
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