Lex Joon, the newest part of the Strutmasters.com racing team, has yet to make a name for himself here in the United States. However, back in Europe, racing fans are quite familiar with the Dutch driver. It has taken Joon and his wife Gerda a few years to settle into life in the United States. Since arriving in 2013, they’ve been building with their community in Brownsburg, Indiana. But now, Lex is back in the driver’s seat and ready to take on the NHRA. Before he revs that Strutmasters.com dragster for the first time in Brainerd at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, we thought we’d take a look at his resume from his days in Europe. Fair warning: it’s a long one. Lex Joon has dominated his sport since the 1980s. The champ has a list of accomplishments that anyone would be proud to own. With the support of Strutmasters.com behind him and a little new tech under the hood, we can’t wait to see what Lex is going to do in Brainerd.
Career Highlights
Career Best Elapsed Time: 3.93 at Las Vegas in November, 2009 Career Best Speed: 317 mph at Hockenheim, Germany, 2008 FIA European Top Fuel Champion 2005 FIA European Top Fuel Runner Up 2007 and 2008 Best Overall European TF driver 2005 - 2009 Best Appearing Crew at Las Vegas, November 2009 2013 • First European driver to be issued a Green Card for "Exceptional Ability." 2011 • Set new 60ft track record, Drachten July 0.834 sec 2010 • Top 10 finish qualifying Friday Pomona, CA 4.12 sec 2009 • No 1 qualifier Main Event, Santa Pod Raceway, England • Winner “Best Appearing Crew” Las Vegas, NV • First Dutchman ever to run a Top Fuel dragster in the USA. We called it “The American Dream Tour.” • New Personal Best, Las Vegas, NV 2008 • Winner Nitro Nationals, Alastaro, Finland • Finalist, Easter Thunderball, Santa Pod Raceway, England • No 1 Qualifier Nitrolympics, Hockenheim, Germany • New track ET record, 4.77 sec, Nitrolympics, Hockenheim • Finalist Nitrolympics, Hockenheim, Germany • First 4 second run ever during the night show at Nitrolympics, Hockenheim, Germany • Finalist European Finals, Santa Pod Raceway, England • Runner up in 2008 FIA Top Fuel Dragster Championship 2007 • Winner Easter Thunderball, Santa Pod Raceway, England • New personal best ET, 4.750 sec, Easter Thunderball, Santa Pod Raceway • Winner Veidec Festival, Mantorp Park, 3rd round of FIA Championship • New track ET record, 4.79 sec, Nitrolympics, Hockenheim, Germany • Runner up in 2007 FIA Top Fuel Dragster Championship 2006 • Winner Explorama Drag Challenge at Amcar Raceway, Gardermoen, Norway • Moved up in the championship from 5th to 3rd in standings • Beat all of the 2006 FIA event winners: Fallstrom–round 1 (Santa Pod), Nataas– round 2 (Finland), and Nilsson–round 3 (Sweden) 2005 • FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion • Winner, Main Event, Santa Pod Raceway, England • First Dutchman to win an FIA drag race title • First Dutchman to break the 5 second ET barrier, May 29, Main Event, Santa Pod, England - 4.920 seconds • First Dutchman to break the 300 mph barrier, September 11, 304.19 mph • Track Record, Airstrip Drachten, July 17, MPM Internationals, Drachten - 3.64 seconds • First Dutchman to break the 4 second barrier, July 16, MPM Internationals, Drachten, 3.67 seconds • Runner Up, Top Fuel Challenge Nitrolympics, Hockenheim, Germany • Quickest Top Fuel Dragster run of the 2005 season, Mantorp Park, Sweden - 4.788 seconds • Quickest side by side run, 4.788, Lex Joon, defeated 4.953, Andy Carter, Mantorp Park, Sweden • Started own Top Fuel Dragster team; MPM Top Fuel Racing 2004 • Finished 7th, FIA Top Fuel European Championship • Semi finals: Mantorp Park (Sweden), European Finals (Santa Pod) • Runner Up, Pro Fuel Shoot Out, Easter Thunderball, Santa Pod • Debut in Top Fuel Dragster class (CBD-team) 2003 • Two races with Top Fuel Funny Car • Immense fire with Top Fuel Funny Car, England • First year with MPM International Oil Company as main sponsor 2002 • Finished 3rd, FIA Top Methanol Funny Car Championship (entered 5 out of 6 races) • Winner, Gardermoen, Norway • First Dutchman to win FIA drag race event • Runner Up, Sko Uno Festival, Mantorp Park, Sweden • European Record holder: European Finals, Santa Pod, 5.778 sec 2001 • Finished 8th, FIA Top Methanol Funny Car Championship 2000 • Finished 7th, FIA Top Methanol Funny Car Championship • Entered NHRA Auto Club Finals event, Pomona Raceway, USA 1999 • Finished 7th, FIA Top Methanol Funny Car Championship • Finished 3rd, MSA British Drag Racing Championship 1998 • Finished 4th, FIA Top Methanol Funny Car Championship • Two Runner Up finishes in FIA European Championship 1997 • Finished 11th, FIA Top Methanol Funny Car/ Dragster Championship (entered 3 out of 5 races) • Winner Nitrolympics, Hockenheim, Germany 1996 • Finished 8th, FIA Top Methanol Funny Car/ Dragster Championship (entered 3 out of 4 races) • Winner, Cannonball, Santa Pod, England – Worlds quickest Funny Car race 1995 • Rookie of the Year, Top Methanol Funny Car Class 1984-1994 • Entered the Pro Street and Competition classes • European Champion, Pro Street 1989 • Dutch Champion 7 times
