At drag strips across America in the 1960s, crowds roared when Norm “Stormin’ Normin” Weekly sent the Frantic Four dragster skyward, its front wheels lifting as fans cheered. Norman wasn’t just racing—he was creating memories that would last generations.
“On January 21st, 1963, four Southern California kids — Ron Rivero and Norm Weekly of La Verne, and Jim Fox and Dennis Holding from Pomona joined forces. The team soon became known as ‘The Frantic Four,’ a name that was derived from the team’s incredible performances with a small block Chrysler engine (354 cu.in.) and their ‘never say die’ attitude in the pits and on the track. In 1963 alone the team established track records from Arlington, Washington, throughout California to Henderson, Nevada. Before they were done, the ‘Frantic Four’ moniker was a catchphrase throughout the United States,” penned Norm in one of his “Stormin’ Stories.”
“While the other ‘heavy hitters’ of the time were running the bigger, more powerful 392 hemi, the Frantic Four stuck with the ‘little’ 354 hemi and showed everyone that size didn’t really matter. The team’s accomplishments became legendary, including top speed of the meet at the 1964 U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis (202.24 MPH). They also held the Drag News No. 1 Fuel Spot with victories over such legends as Don Garlits, Don Prudhomme and Chris Karamesines,” Norm continued.
More than six decades later, Norm’s granddaughter, Jewel Johnson, alongside co-founder Jodi Taylor, is keeping those memories alive, one jar of pickles at a time.
“Growing up, I had the great privilege of having my Grandpa Norm in my life and being able to tag along to some of those incredible nostalgia events as a kid,” Jewel said. “My mom, siblings and I spent a lot of time in the garden with him, and one of my favorite things to do was spend time with him in the kitchen canning pickles or making his equally as famous peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.”
In 2001, Norm and his team brought back a replica of the iconic 1962 dragster after discovering the original car had long been lost. For over a decade, Norm toured with the replica, thrilling fans nationwide with static fire-ups and tire-smoking burnouts. Alongside him was his granddaughter, Jewel, who joined him at countless shows, helping share the dragster’s history—and something else just as memorable: Norm’s homemade Stormin’ Normin’s Nitro Pickles.
After Norm passed away in 2014, Jewel sought a way to reconnect with her grandfather’s legacy. During the early days of 2020, Jewel rediscovered his handwritten pickle recipes and began pickling again. It started as a heartfelt Mother’s Day gift but quickly reignited a passion.
With the encouragement and partnership of her best friend Jodi, who brings a professional background in holistic healthcare and wellness, Stormin’ Normin’s Nitro Pickles was officially reborn. The pickles, carefully crafted with the same meticulous care Norm taught Jewel as a child, have quickly gained acclaim at drag racing events and beyond.
Stormin’ Normin’s Nitro Pickles proudly debuted at the 2023 Nitro Revival at Irwindale Dragstrip, reconnecting long-time fans with the memory of Norm and introducing new generations to his legacy.
“I got in contact with Cindy Gibbs, and she backed our idea wholeheartedly, happily making room for us at their event and being one of our biggest supporters along the way,” Jewel shared. “The support from everyone there was overwhelmingly positive, and that event gave us the confidence to take the leap into making this dream a full-time reality. It brought me so much joy to be able to share my grandfather’s recipes and his legacy with everyone.”
Today, Stormin’ Normin’s Nitro Pickles features two flagship flavors: the “Classic Dill” and the daring “Nitro Dill,” both packaged traditionally in glass jars, free from artificial preservatives, colors, or additives—a tribute to the authenticity and spirit of Norm himself.
“The traditional methods we use allow us to keep our products shelf-stable and delicious as ever without the use of any artificial preservatives or dyes. This is an area in which Jodi Taylor, my cofounder, is passionate about,” Jewel explained. “Thousands of jars have been enjoyed, and the pickles have quickly become as beloved as Norm’s iconic wheelstands.”
“With my most recent position being in holistic and integrative oncology, I have seen first-hand how much the foods we eat affect our overall health,” Jodi said. “I also personally know how difficult finding quality foods can be. From reading every label in the grocery store to researching ingredients you can barely pronounce, it can quickly become overwhelming as a consumer. It shouldn’t feel like guesswork when it comes to knowing exactly what you are consuming, and belief is something that was considered before making every decision while building our business.
“Transparency from start to finish is something we pride ourselves on. We have seven ingredients in our two flagship flavors, and you don’t have to do any research to know exactly what they are. But using the cleanest ingredients is only the start. Most other brands fall into one of two categories: shelf-stable (which do not have to be refrigerated but usually contain artificial preservatives) or refrigerator pickles (that typically do not contain artificial preservatives but are packaged in plastic). We have achieved the best of both worlds. Packaging only in glass jars and using traditional canning methods, we have a shelf-stable pickle without artificial preservatives or the risk of plastic contamination from our packaging,” Jodi added.
From their launch in late 2024, Stormin’ Normin’s Nitro Pickles has grown rapidly, now stocked by over 30 Arizona retailers and showcased at events nationwide, including NHRA national events.
“What a full circle journey this has all been. The pride and honor I feel in bringing my grandfather’s legacy back to the very drag strips where it was born, in a new and meaningful way, is something I will never take for granted,” Jewel said.
Stormin’ Normin’s Nitro Pickles is more than a business—it’s a living tribute to a legend who embodied the thrill, passion, and heart of drag racing’s golden era.
To learn more and purchase Stormin’ Normin’s Nitro Pickles, visit www.storminnorminsnitropickles.com.
This story was originally published on March 28, 2025. 
