The Top Alcohol Funny Car double champion who made his mark in Sweden and America joins Paul Lee’s nitro team as crew chief.

There’s a new yet familiar face on the nitro scene this season, with Top Alcohol Funny Car champion Jonnie Lindberg now serving as crew chief and tuner for Paul Lee’s Funny Car team in the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods series. Lee’s operation announced Lindberg’s appointment this past December. John Medlen, who had tuned for top nitro teams for three decades and retired from full-time work after the 2022 season, will serve as a consultant for Lindberg.

Many know Lindberg as the Swedish drag racing star who raced Pro Mods and alcohol Funny Cars in Europe with his brother, Johan, before moving his career as a driver, tuner, and builder to the US. Lindberg drove his first US race in 2013 at the World Finals in Pomona. He won back-to-back NHRA TA/FC World Championships in 2015 and 2016 and made the cover of Drag Illustrated magazine’s “30 Under 30” issue in 2016. 

Lindberg began tuning alcohol Funny Cars when he was 18 and, after his two championships, drove a nitro Funny Car with Jim Head’s Head Contractors team. He also began tuning Brian Hough’s TA/FC in late 2018, and the car finished third in national points in 2020. The same year, Doug Gordon won the 2020 NHRA TA/FC world championship in a car built by Lindberg and his team of fabricators.

“As a former alcohol Funny Car racer, I appreciate the talent and skills that it takes to become a successful racer, and Jonnie has proven he possesses those skills as a former NHRA World Champion,” Lee said in a statement.

Upon returning from a Christmas visit to Sweden, Lindberg shared his thoughts on the move to Lee’s nitro team with PRI.

PRI: What got you started in drag racing?

Lindberg: My dad was building hot rods when I was growing up, so that’s where I got into American cars. Then my brother and I started racing with a blown 1963 Nova. After that, we raced Super Comp with a ’23 T-bucket altered. 

PRI: What is a favorite memory from your involvement in the sport?

Lindberg: Man, that’s a hard question, there are just so many good ones. I guess my top one would be the first championship we won in Europe in 2010. My brother was driving the Pro Mod, and I tuned it. The second one must be when we won Charlotte in 2015 and set the national record in TA/FC—the first one in the 5.30s and 270 mph. 

PRI: What are you most looking forward to working with Paul Lee and John Medlen?

Lindberg: I’m excited working together with John and to learn from one of the greatest tuners in our sport. He has so much knowledge, and he’s just a great guy to be around. Same goes for Paul. We always got along well, and I’m excited to give him the best race car possible.

PRI: With your extensive experience tuning alcohol Funny Cars, do you see any challenges to bringing your skills to the nitro category?

Lindberg: I know the basics on how to run a nitro car thanks to Jim Head and Dave Leahy, but of course I need to learn it and make my own mistakes. Hopefully, I don’t make too many with John watching over my shoulder!

PRI: Is there anything else in your background that you see as an advantage that you bring to the Paul Lee team?

Lindberg: I used to run my own operation, so I know how much work, preparation, and dedication it takes in the shop to be successful at the track. I have experience driving Funny Cars, plus I know how to build one of those from scratch.

PRI: Can you name one mistake you’ve learned from in your professional career?

Lindberg: Yes, sometimes you need to rest and recover and don’t burn the candle at both ends for too long.

PRI: Is there one piece of advice you have received, personally or professionally, that you feel has greatly impacted your life?

Lindberg: Think positive! Positive anything is better than negative nothing. 

PRI: Excluding your cellphone/tablet/computer, what’s one thing you can’t live without? 

Lindberg: On the race track and at the shop, it’s the adjustable wrench in my back pocket, for sure. But then it’s the welder and the lathe…can’t live without them. 

Jonnie Lindberg

TITLE:
Crew Chief

ORGANIZATION:
Paul Lee Racing

HOMETOWN:
Brownsburg, Indiana

FAST FACT:
“Outside of racing, I’m starting to build my own street motorcycle in my shop.”