Gordie Bonin, Gordon Jenner, Ron Hodgson
Motorsport Team- Special Legends Class of 2025
Arguably the most successful funny car team in Canadian motorsport history, Gordie Bonin, Ron Hodgson, and Gordon Jenner made their mark on drag racing with innovation, speed, and record-setting performances. The trio surprised the drag racing world with a runner-up finish at the prestigious U.S. Nationals in 1972, their first year competing together. The highlight of their collaboration came in 1979 at the silver anniversary of the NHRA U.S. Nationals, where they became the fourth members of the Cragar 5-Second Club. Though the team parted ways later that year when the Bubble Up sponsorship ended, they reunited in 1989. In recognition of their achievements, they were inducted into the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2000, with Bonin entering the Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 2015, followed by Hodgson in 2016 and Jenner in 2017.
Gordie Bonin
Born in Saskatchewan and raised in Red Deer, Alberta, Bonin earned the nickname “240 Gordie” for being one of the first drivers to exceed 240 mph in the standing quarter mile—and for maintaining that speed while most competitors were still accelerating. Racing across western Canada, the United States, and Europe in NHRA, IHRA, and FIA professional drag racing, Bonin won nine NHRA Nitro Funny Car national events, the AHRA Top Fuel World Championship in 1989, and numerous other competitions. He also served as NHRA Director of Marketing for six years and won the FIA European Top Fuel Championship in 1999. In 2008, Bonin was inducted into the Northwest Motorsports Hall of Fame (USA).
Ron Hodgson
Born in Edmonton, Hodgson built what is widely considered Canada’s first Funny Car, the “Rebel”, and became a key figure in North American drag racing. Over nearly six decades, he sponsored hundreds of racers, supported major engineering developments, and led multiple winning Funny Car teams. Hodgson has excelled as a car builder, driver, team owner, and track owner, co-owning Castrol Raceway from 2004 to 2019 and operating Edmonton International Speedway Park from 1974 to 1979. His teams have won six NHRA Funny Car national events, two AHRA Top Fuel World Championships, and the NHRA World Championship in 2017, while setting numerous speed and elapsed time records that remain benchmarks today.
Gordon Jenner
Born in Saskatchewan, Jenner moved to Calgary in 1958 and began drag racing at age 15. He has served as driver, crew chief, car owner, car builder, and track manager, contributing to a number of successful drag racing teams over the years. Jenner was the crew chief for the Bonin/Hodgson team, overseeing many of their victories and record-breaking performances. In 1988, he worked with driver Terry Capp to win the AHRA Top Fuel World Championship and rejoined Bonin and Hodgson in 1989 to claim the AHRA Top Fuel World Championship. He also managed both the Edmonton International Speedway and the Calgary International Raceway for several years, further cementing his legacy in Canadian motorsport.
Together, Bonin, Hodgson, and Jenner set new standards in funny car racing, leaving an enduring legacy of speed, technical excellence, and Canadian pride in drag racing history.
