Sporting a special 50th anniversary fire suit, Carol “Bunny” Burkett proudly stands in front of Maryland International Raceway’s “Hot Rodz Diner,” which is topped by Burkett’s 1986 IHRA championship-winning Alcohol Funny Car. Complete with original contingency decals, the Dave Uyehara-built Chrysler Laser Funny Car was repainted to its original colors and installed on the roof of the track’s new concession stand when it opened in 2008. Sixteen years later, and four years after Burkett’s passing in April 2020, the “Bunny Burkett” Funny Car remains on the roof of MIR’s concession stand as a reminder of the impact she had on the overall racing community, but also at MIR specifically, where she’s a member of the track’s Hall of Fame.
[Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #189, the Women of Power Issue, in July/August of 2024.]
This story was originally published on September 5, 2024. 
