Kenney Goodell, one of the hardest charging Northwest Funny Car racers of the late 1960s and 1970s, passed away on Tuesday following complications related to a heart attack he suffered a week before. Goodell was known as “The Action Man” during his heyday and was known as a guy who maintained his equipment meticulously and ran hard everywhere he went. Among other race wins, Goodell won the titanic OCIR Manufacturer’s Meet, and was able to do it without losing one race. A rare feat for the team tournament style race.
Along with Jerry Ruth, Goodell anchored a very strong contingent of nitro racers from the Northwest that included names like Ed McCulloch, Herm Peterson and others. Goodell was involved in a nasty wreck in the late 1970s and was away from the sport for some time. He returned in the 1980s driving a couple Funny Cars, both nitro and alky powered, and ultimately raced an Anglia in 2005 as his last ride.
We found a nice remembrance piece about Goodell that goes into more detail about his career and the impact he had on the drag racing scene in the Northwest. It seems as though there’s another drag racer at the big strip in the sky. Undoubtedly they’re all running 100% pop up there.
Source — Whowon.com — The Passing of Kenney ‘The Action Man” Goodell
