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12 June 2018
Vale Tom McEwen, a drag racing & sports marketing pioneer
By 
Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen passed away the other day at the age of 81 having survived racing in one of the most dangerous eras of motorsport.
An NHRA Champion in both Funny Cars and Top Fuel, the fastest classes of drag racing, he raced for over 30 years at the top echelon of the sport.
The Mongoose’s real legacy is felt across sports marketing, having teamed up with his fierce rival Don “The Snake” Prudhomme in 1969. McEwen pitched to toy maker Mattel that the Snake versus Mongoose show would draw huge crowds if they sponsored both racers in contrasting yellow and red teams. It was a huge success and it changed how companies sponsored athletes in all professional sports. The cultural impact was so great it led to a 2013 movie about the racers and their amazing battles.
McEwen will be sadly missed by many drag racing fans.
Iain Kelly is the revhead behind The Creators Online.
What's your standout moment of The Mongoose's career? Let us know in the comments.
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