In Memoriam: Carol “Bunny” Burkett


In Memoriam: Carol “Bunny” Burkett

Over fifty years of racing that kicked off in 1965. 1986 IHRA Funny Car World Champion. NHRA Division Champion. Super Stock Hall of Fame. East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame. Little Guys Nationals Hall of Fame. Maryland International Raceway Hall of Fame. York US 30 Legions of Honor. A career that saw a wide array of cars, from a 1955 Mercury that the man she wound up married to first let her wheel, to Pro Stock to Funny Cars. A crash in September, 1995 that just about ended a long and storied career and saw three flatlines before the hospital. Sounds like a veteran of the sport, a heavy-hitter from back in the day that was going to drive until they died, the kind that has methanol in their veins, the smell of burnt rubber permamently ingrained into their skin, and who flare nitrous out of their nostrils when their temper is up, right?

Yeah, what if we were to tell you that all of the above is tied to a blonde lady who worked in a Playboy Club to fund her racing habit at one point? A lady notorious for her pink race cars and her ability to wheel just about everything, from a Mustang II flopper that had some of the worst handling characteristics known to a racer, to a Junior Dragster that was ran once just so that she could say that she raced every single year, even though she was still in recovery from the 1995 accident that saw her race car go over the guardrail and through trees. She’s also endured a few rounds of cancer, which she beat back, just in case all of the above wasn’t good enough for you.

We may have lost Bunny Burkett yesterday, at the ripe age of 74, but what was gained from her time was plentiful. She was pioneering yet humble, refusing the title of “First Lady of Drag Racing”, insisting that Shirley Muldowney own that title. She didn’t go out of her way to irritate the boys at the track…instead, she managed to gain acceptance, even if the occasional helmet was thrown after a pink car put them onto the trailer. She was a flame that beckoned other female racers to give it a shot, to take on a role that wasn’t normally the proper place for a young mother raising a family.

A common theme among the tributes for Bunny was her friendships, her encouragements, her care and her desire to see everyone around her succeed. She treated everyone she came across as a friend, always with as much time as necessary for an autograph or a quick meet-and-greet. Given everything she endured, from stark poverty in childhood to the years of racing in her system, that never wavered. It would be easy to grow tired, to be gruff every now and then, to back off after the beatings take their toll. In Bunny’s case, that just never happened. Sure, the physical stuff was going to be an issue, but the kindness never dimmed.

Rest easy, Bunny. Heaven truly gained an angel.


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24 thoughts on “In Memoriam: Carol “Bunny” Burkett

  1. David Amrine

    Approx 20 years ago she came to Coastal Plain Racway to match race another FC. Well that guy broke, and being the class act she was. She refused to make single passes. She went to the tower, got on the PA and said she was going to make a test hit and get her Dial-in. She jumped into the bracket racing because she said the fans came to watch her race.

    1. Matthew Cormier

      That would have been a race day of a lifetime! Door slammers and stocks against a funny car in brackets….did she win?

  2. Lisa Dodson-Newton

    Wonderful story! However, BB was not 80. She would have been 75 in May. So, she was was actually 74. God rest her sweet soul. We will miss our hero terribly.

  3. Happy Motoring

    Got to see her race several times being out here on the east coast. Such a sweet lady and a kick ass racer. The world could use a lot more women like that today….

  4. jerry z

    Saw her race in the 70’s and 80’s. Always had top notch equipment, at least everything was clean and we’ll organized. Always put a smile on your face.

  5. Dana R

    I met her at New England Dragway in the early 80s. I asked if she would pose with her car so I could take a photo of her. Not only did she oblige, but she kept asking if I would take another; I did. And did. And did… No clue what happened to all the pics i took, but i still have 2 or 3 tucked away in a photo album. She wanted to stay and talk with me and my friend, but I noticed someone from her crew was trying to get her attention. I had to get her to respond! Such a kind and giving person

    1. George Brown

      Bunny Burkett and Shirley Muldowney were in a class by themselves! The were fun to watch on the track, and perfessional towards there fans! I commend both of them! Bunny will be missed! My Brother met Shirley at a track in Maryland! He still talk about it till this day! R.I.P Bunny!

  6. Larry O’Donohue

    What a great friend and competitor! I always felt very comfortable with her and loved to spend time. She became part of our radio show crew and she and Johnny Rocca would have some incredible conversations. Heaven has gained an Angel. May she always make us all smile she. We hear her name. Sincere condolences to Mo and “Rhe Boys”

  7. Steve

    Saw her race all over the mid-Atlantic. Cecil County, Atco, Maple Grove, Delmar and the list goes on. What a great person and competitor. Cars were always good looking – just like BB.

  8. Bobby Leigh

    Saw her at Richmond in the 70s. I was riding thru the pits and she had gotten out of her car and was peeling out of her driving suit. I ran over somebody’s stirofoam cooler. If it was yours, sorry. I hope you understand.

  9. Don Gann

    Godspeed and rest in eternal peace sweet lady. I was fortunate to have met you at The Rock back in the day. You were always a fan favorite. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with all the family, friends, and fans of which I was one.

    1. Jimmy Wray

      Saw her many times at BSD. Witnessed her crash. Was horrible. She was a bad ass competitor. I know she is watching over us all. I will miss her….

  10. Tom wielepski

    I saw here in Maryland at Capitol raceway I was racing super pro at the time she took time for pics very nice lady will e missed.

  11. William Mornhinweg

    May God bless her, I saw her at Raceway Park, Englishtown N.J., a beautiful woman, fierce competitor, and wonderful burnouts with her alcohol funny car, she will be missed.

  12. Thomas Hall

    I saw Bunny @ a match race @ E.S.T.A. Safety Park in Cicero, NY in the \’70s.
    She & Paula Murphy (Miss STP) Bobby LaGonna (Twilight Zone FC on their ramp truck) & a few others that I do not recall. She & her team were the class of the field in the way she presented the car & her crew, what a great ambassador for our sport.
    If you got hooked on drag racing & Nitro like I did in \’60s you would totally understand. R.I.P. Bunny

  13. Dave Mcquilkin

    My Son And Myself Will Miss You. You Always New How To Keep A Crowd Happy, When Racing Had To Stop Because Oil On Track Or So.You Kept The Crowd Happy!!!!! God Bless You And Your Family. Dave&KC

  14. Thomas Lyons

    I met bunny( carol) many times at MIR at Capitol at Englishtown. She was ALWAYS gracious and kind. She loved her fans especially the kids. She was a pioneer and a class act. She had a humble confidence about her. She was a fierce competitor and a true sportsman. I truly enjoyed watching her race. God speed carol you will be missed

  15. Bill and Pat Biggs

    We so blessed to know her and to have pictures with her and really enjoyed watching her race she loved racing but most of all she loved her fans You we’ll be greatly missed Rest In Peace.

  16. Chuck

    Bunny RIP you will be missed by me dearly and missed by a lot of fans. I have known bunny sence I was 7 yrs old and have raced agents her many time starting at the age of 16 with my chevy move as called bad news and had a lot of fun knowing you just about all my life. I will never forget it and never forget you. The last time I seen you was at the md state fare where we talk for hrs catching up on old times. Enjoyed everbit of that time we spent together. Love you miss you see you at the next race up in the big sky.

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