Photo: NHRA/National Dragster

Bernie Fedderly, one of the sport’s most distinguished nitro crew chiefs and one half of the most dominant team in the history of the sport, passed away last week at the age of 76.  

Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Fedderly’s passion for automobiles began early. He attended St. Joseph’s High School, where he took automotive classes, and spent weekends working on hot rods as a member of the Capitol City Hot Rod Association. After graduating, he pursued further education at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, earning credentials as an engine technician. His professional career started as a fleet mechanic for a Canadian dairy company.  

Fedderly’s racing career took off alongside his high school friend, Terry Capp. The duo began with gas coupes and dragsters before moving up to the Top Fuel category in the late 1960s, partnering with Wes Van Dusen. Primarily competing in Western Canada, they occasionally ventured into the U.S. to race. A crowning achievement to that point in his career came in 1980 when the pair won the prestigious U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, which motivated them to participate in the entire NHRA tour the following year.

In 1982, Bernie Fedderly joined Larry Minor Racing as crew chief for Top Fuel driver Gary Beck. Over three seasons, he guided Beck to seven wins and five runner-up finishes in 30 starts. Notably, they were the first in Top Fuel to break the 5.50 and 5.40-second barriers, leading to their recognition as Car Craft Magazine’s Persons of the Year in 1983.  

Fedderly’s pairing with driver Ed “the Ace” McCulloch beginning in 1985 resulted in 12 wins with Minor’s Funny Cars. In mid-1992, he teamed up with Austin Coil at John Force Racing, forming a partnership that led to a decade of dominance in the Funny Car category. Referred to by John Force as his “brain trust,” this historic alliance contributed to Force securing his third season championship that first year. In doing so, Fedderly became the second crew chief, after Leonard Hughes, to win NHRA championships in both the Top Fuel and Funny Car divisions.

From 1992 to 2012, the Coil-Fedderly duo tuned Force to a staggering 109 national event wins, 13 season championships (including 10 in a row), five NHRA Funny Car bonus race wins, four Winston Invitational wins, and a victory at the inaugural Funny Car vs. Top Fuel Winston Showdown in 1999. Fedderly retired from drag racing prior to the 2013 season.

Fedderly’s contributions to motorsport were recognized with inductions into both the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame and the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame. He resided in Indiana during his later years with his wife of 58 years, Mary.