An accomplished drag racer and engine builder/tuner, Al Billes has found success on the sport’s biggest stage, recording 50 major drag racing wins at events across North America, including in NHRA competition at Indianapolis. Billes caught the racing bug at a young age, growing up around cars at his dad’s engine shop and building his first car at 15-years-old.

As a driver, Billes got behind-the-wheel for the first time in 1985, starting a long career that included numerous IHRA and NHRA wins in Pro Mod and Alcohol Funny Car competition. He recorded several top-10 championship points finishes in IHRA, where he was voted Most Improved Pro Driver in 2002. His dragster was the best engineered car in 1991 and 2003, while he also set numerous national ET and mph. records over his career.

Billes ultimately took over his family’s business, where he’s found success as a builder. His cars have set approximately 15 national records at NHRA, IHRA and PDRA events, winning two IHRA championships and one PDRA title. He’s managed major international drag racing teams in the U.S., while working for teams nationally in the U.S., Australia and the U.A.E.

Billes’ racing components and technology have been used with national success in drag racing. His time as a driver led to working with multi-time NHRA Funny Car champion Bob Newberry on various projects over the years. He continues to operate Al Billes Racing Ltd., formerly Performance Engineering Ltd., in Barrie, ON. He’s also currently involved in amateur sports car races, where he holds a SCCA competition licence. He was inducted into the Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 2017 and now joins his dad David Billes as a CMHF inductee.