The Final Round: Donnie Huffman 1962 – 2025
The Final Round: Donnie Huffman 1962 – 2025
During the early evening hours of Friday, 18 July 2025, motorcycle drag racer Donnie Huffman, formerly of Lakeland Florida, crossed the finish line of life, ending his time with us as an active participating racer.
His legend lives on from his close to four decades in the sport, including at least 33 national championships and countless accolades, he so richly deserved.
It’s important to note that Donnie’s championships were all in the Sportsman and ET racing classes, where racers must survive multiple rounds of racing on Saturday and Sunday just to get to the final round. Exactly how many rounds of racing Donnie won in his lifetime is not known. But to those he raced and beat, they remember.
It was not uncommon to see Donnie make over a dozen passes, to twice that number, racing two different bikes, in the same weekend. His beloved Harley-Davidson motorcycles took quite a beating each race weekend, as did his body. For decades, this Lion was the king in his jungle.
What Donnie accomplished in motorcycle drag racing is particularly amazing when you consider he began his victories long ago, before delay-boxes and air clutches were even thought of. The old warrior won his rounds of racing the good old-fashioned way: he drove his drag bikes to their potential. No gimmicks needed. It’s the racer, not the equipment, that wins races.
Donnie Huffman always came to win!
While Donnie is best known as a drag bike legend, a Sportsman, and an E.T. racer, his greatest accomplishment was how he made others feel.
Anyone who was skilled enough to beat Donnie Huffman in a drag race knew they were both fortunate and lucky to earn a win against Donnie. He made opponents work for it! A four-digit finish was the norm while racing Donnie “MF” Huffman. He studied opponents carefully and would push the tree when needed, or take the strip and cause a breakout. The cagey old veteran could trailer an opponent anywhere, anytime, a number of different ways.
Mr. Huffman was also extremely generous with friends and the racing family. No one went hungry or without drinks at the Huffman Compound in the pits. Friday night, Donnie-oke songs filled the night skies. Many flocked to sing Karaoke and be merry with Donnie, who was always up for a good time. His smile was as contagious as his positive attitude.
The joy, laughter, and accomplishment Donnie shared with us will long be remembered by all who were lucky enough to know him. Donnie was as quick with his advice and mechanical skills as he was with his clutch hand.
When Donnie saw the need by his favourite racing sanction for a proper Tech Director, he rolled up his sleeves and took on the challenge himself. Donnie knew exactly what he was looking at while inspecting drag bikes that he had built for close to four decades. The AMRA drag racing sanction had its best, most experienced Tech director when Donnie Huffman embraced the position.
A few years back, Donnie was fortunate enough to meet an Angel of a woman named Lisa Atkinson, who was indeed an R.N. and a motorcyclist in her own right at that time. They perfectly loved one another and were married on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, 2025, fully knowing their time together would be short. True love endures; life simply does not.
During Donnie’s later years, Cancer had come for the great man and medical technology can only do so much. Nevertheless, their love was genuine, and as man & wife they embraced as hundreds of racers, from across the USA, attended the happy couple’s big day.
Donnie accomplished many great things during his life. He was a father, a friend, a fierce competitor, and a generous helper to anyone in need.
Perhaps his greatest accomplishment was that he showed us how to live. His life style was loud and clear, “live each day like it’s your last. Never stop living, until you don’t.”
God Speed Donnie “MF” Huffman. 1962 to 2025. And for the record, that MF people will frequently see attached to his name – that’s: my friend, Donnie Huffman.
– Tom McCarthy
Senior Editor Dragbike.com
| Until Next time…
– Tom McCarthy |
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