Jess Tyree

Jess Tyree's first race car, a 1938 Chevrolet, captured at Santa Ana Airport Drags in 1950. Handwritten on the photo is the note: “1950 Santa Ana Airport – My 1st Race Car 1938 Chev.” The image shows a young Tyree staging his ’38 Chevy at the historic Santa Ana Airport Drags, surrounded by spectators leaning against a simple chain-link fence, a pure snapshot of early Southern California drag racing before it became big business. This photograph, along with trophies and other memorabilia from Tyree’s career, surfaced decades later at a Pasadena flea market, where Dave Wright discovered a vendor selling items that had once belonged to Tyree. Recognizing their historical value, Dave rescued several trophies and photographs and generously shared them with Kustomrama so the story could be preserved and enjoyed by a new generation. Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

San Fernando Drag Strip – Track Record Certificate, 1956. This original “Certification of Racing Achievement” was issued to Jess Tyree at San Fernando Drag Strip in 1956, recognizing a certified track record performance of 90.09 mph in D/Stock classification. Signed by track officials and issued by the San Fernando Drag Strip and Airport Corporation in San Fernando, California, the certificate marks Tyree’s rise from early airport drags competitor to established record-holder in organized drag racing. Worn, torn, and missing pieces from decades of storage, the document carries the honest scars of history. It resurfaced years later at a Pasadena flea market, where Dave Wright discovered a collection of Tyree’s trophies and memorabilia. Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Art Deco–style trophy awarded at San Gabriel Drags in 1958, featuring a brass car mounted on a stepped base. The engraved plate simply reads “San Gabriel Drags – 1958,” marking another early milestone in Tyree’s rise through the Southern California drag racing ranks. Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

A tall wooden trophy topped with a gold coupe, awarded at San Gabriel Drags in 1958. The engraved plate confirms the event and year, representing one of Jess Tyree’s early Southern California drag racing achievements. Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

In 1962, driving a Pontiac Catalina associated with Thompson’s program, Tyree captured Super Stock class honors at the NHRA Winternationals and at the Bakersfield March Meet. He also set a land-speed record for his class at Bonneville that same year, reinforcing his growing reputation within the Pontiac camp. Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Jess Tyree campaigns his Bill Barry Pontiac–backed 1963 Pontiac in Factory Experimental competition. Lettered “Tyree Header Co., 117 E. Chapman, Fullerton,” the car reflects Tyree’s deep connection to Pontiac performance and his growing business presence in Southern California. Running in the highly competitive FX ranks, Tyree bridged the gap between Super Stock and the emerging Funny Car era. The aggressive stance, raised front end, and lightweight body panels signal the rapid evolution of drag machinery in the early 1960s, when factory-backed combinations pushed the limits of what was still technically “stock-based” racing. This period marked Tyree’s transformation from respected Super Stock record-holder to one of Pontiac’s most visible West Coast competitors, a reputation that would soon carry him into the groundbreaking Funny Car class. Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

One of Tyree’s Pontiacs parked outside the Tyree Mufflers & Headers shop in Santa Ana, California. Lettered with both dealership backing and “Tyree Headers,” the car represents Tyree’s peak Factory Experimental period, when Pontiac power and performance business went hand in hand. Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

When the Funny Car revolution began in late 1965 and early 1966, Tyree was among the drivers who helped define the new class. While many competitors switched brands or combinations, Tyree remained loyal to Pontiac. He debuted an all-fiberglass Pontiac Firebird Funny Car and became widely known as “Mr. Pontiac,” a nickname that reflected both his branding and his consistent use of Pontiac powerplants. Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

A Season’s Greetings card featuring Tyree’s flame-painted Pontiac Firebird Funny Car, promoting Tyree Headers, 1817 Raymond, Anaheim, California. A period piece showing how racing and business branding went hand in hand during the Funny Car era. Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Tyree’s Pontiac Firebird Funny Car during his Coca-Cola Cavalcade of Stars touring years. Lettered “Mr. Pontiac,” the car represents his peak match-race period in the late 1960s and early ’70s, when showmanship and horsepower defined the Funny Car era. Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Photo from The Dave Wright Collection.

Jess Tyree was an American drag racer and early pioneer of the Funny Car class, best known as the West Coast favorite “Mr. Pontiac.” A ground-floor competitor in the emerging Funny Car scene of 1966, Tyree built a reputation for loyalty to Pontiac power, high-speed showmanship, and a long career that bridged Super Stock, Factory Experimental (FX), and Funny Car competition.

Early Life and Move to California

Born in Grove, Oklahoma, Tyree moved to California in the mid-1940s. Like many postwar hot rodders, he gravitated toward the growing speed culture of Southern California. In Orange County’s wide-open landscape, he became part of the fast crowd and developed a lifelong friendship with Mickey Thompson.

By 1950, Tyree was racing at the famed Airport Drags events in Santa Ana, campaigning Chevrolets and Plymouths before finding his true allegiance with Pontiac later in the decade.

From Super Stock to Factory Backing

Tyree’s first significant Pontiac was a 1957 Pontiac Chieftain Super Stock car. Strong performances brought him attention within Pontiac circles, and he soon found himself aligned with factory-supported efforts.

In 1962, driving a Pontiac Catalina associated with Thompson’s program, Tyree captured Super Stock class honors at the NHRA Winternationals and at the Bakersfield March Meet. He also set a land-speed record for his class at Bonneville that same year, reinforcing his growing reputation within the Pontiac camp.

Pontiac Racing Director John DeLorean commissioned a special Tempest for Tyree in 1963 through Santa Ana dealer Bill Barry. This move placed Tyree squarely in the highly competitive Factory Experimental ranks. At the same time, he continued to campaign a 1962 Catalina in Stock classes, setting multiple NHRA records and collecting class wins.

The Birth of Funny Car – “Mr. Pontiac”

When the Funny Car revolution began in late 1965 and early 1966, Tyree was among the drivers who helped define the new class. While many competitors switched brands or combinations, Tyree remained loyal to Pontiac.

He debuted an all-fiberglass Pontiac Firebird Funny Car and became widely known as “Mr. Pontiac,” a nickname that reflected both his branding and his consistent use of Pontiac powerplants.

In November 1967, at Tucson Dragway, Tyree’s Firebird went airborne at over 170 mph following a massive supercharger explosion near the finish line. The violent incident destroyed the car and left Tyree with burns and minor injuries. He rebuilt for 1968 with another Firebird and returned to competition.

Coca-Cola Cavalcade of Stars

Tyree gained national recognition as part of the traveling Coca-Cola Cavalcade of Funny Car Stars tour. During this era, match racing was as much about spectacle as it was about elapsed times. Drivers coordinated burnouts, launch theatrics, and showmanship to keep booking value high and entertain packed grandstands.

Tyree toured extensively through 1972. After hiring David Ray to drive for the 1973 season, he stepped away from active Funny Car competition at the end of that year.

Tyree Headers and Industry Involvement

In the late 1950s, Tyree founded Tyree Headers, a performance exhaust business that served both local racers and nationally known teams. Customers included the famed Farkonas, Coil & Minick “Chi-Town Hustler” team. Though he sold the company to Thompson in 1969, Tyree continued assisting Pontiac racers and friends for years afterward.

Outside of racing, he remained active in the automotive field, working as a service manager at local dealerships while maintaining deep ties to the drag racing community.

Nostalgia Racing and Later Years

After nearly two decades away from active competition, Tyree’s original 1963 Pontiac B/FX Tempest resurfaced in 1989. He reacquired the car and restored it for nostalgia racing.

Competing in ANRA’s B/Gas category on an 8.60 index, Tyree claimed championships in 2005 and 2006. In a rare and meaningful reunion, he brought back members of his original crew to work on the car, a testament to the tight bonds forged in early drag racing.

Tyree remained active in the nostalgia scene into his 80s, earning admiration for continuing to drive despite declining health. He served as grand marshal of the California Hot Rod Reunion in 2009 and was widely respected as one of the original Santa Ana pioneers of the 1950s.