Carrying George Poteet's Legacy To The Salt

When George Poteet passed away suddenly in July 2024, the land speed racing community lost one of its most iconic figures. For those closest to him, the shock was profound, and for the team behind the world's fastest piston powered car, it marked the beginning of a new and uncertain chapter.

As soon as the news broke, the Speed Demon Racing Team reached out to George's family to offer their condolences.Funeral arrangements were made, and a few of the crew travelled to pay their respects and support the family during an incredibly difficult time. But even in that moment of loss, there was clarity about one thing: George would have wanted them to keep going.

And so, they did.

Cathy Poteet, George's wife, along with several family members, joined the team at Bonneville for Speed Week 2024. The car ran well. Driver Chris Raschke earned his Black Hat. "The mood in the pits was equal parts celebratory and reflective. Everything came together. It just felt right to be there." Cathy Poteet, George's wife, along with several family members, joined the team at Bonneville for Speed Week 2024. The car ran well. Driver Chris Raschke earned his Black Hat. "The mood in the pits was equal parts celebratory and reflective. Everything came together. It just felt right to be there. "We told Cathy we'd make it happen. We'd take care of the transport, the prep, the paperwork, everything. It was what George wanted, and we were going to do it right."

In the weeks that followed, the team took a respectful step back, giving the Poteet family space to process everything. "We knew the Speed Demon program wasn't going to be the top priority, and that was totally okay.Cathy and Betty (George's sister) had a lot on their plate, so we just cleaned up the car, got it ready, and waited."

Eventually, the conversations began, first with Cathy, then Betty and Jason. That's when George's long-standing wishes came into focus. He had made it clear: when he was done racing, he wanted the gold Speed Demon retired and placed in a museum, along with the motor package and the original orange and white car.

"We told Cathy we'd make it happen. We'd take care of the transport, the prep, the paperwork, everything. It was what George wanted, and we were going to do it right."

In response, the Poteet family made a generous and deeply meaningful decision. As long as the gold car made its way to the museum as George wished, the team would be allowed to carry on with the remaining equipment: engines, transmissions, trailers, trucks, everything needed to continue racing.

It was an incredible gesture. Thanks to them, the Speed Demon Racing Team lives on.

But with the gold car retired, the question became: what now?

The answer, in many ways, had been waiting in the wings for a decade. Back in 2014, after a crash sidelined the original orange and white Speed Demon, the team nearly acquired a car built by master fabricator Tom Hanna. "We seriously considered it. The craftsmanship was beautiful. We knew it could be fast. It just wasn't the right time."

Instead, they built what would become the gold Speed Demon in just nine and a half months.

Now, that very same Tom Hanna car has become the foundation for the team's next chapter thanks to the generosity of Jim Knapp. "We're putting all the same core components into it, motors, wiring harnesses, trans-missions, rear ends, wheels, and tires. It's still Speed Demon at heart."

The plan is to debut the new car at SpeedWeek 2025, starting with the E motor package the team has developed over the last five years. "We haven't gotten the E Record yet," they admit, "but we're chasing it. That'll be the first goal."

As the team gets back into the build process, the energy in the shop has shifted. There's a renewed sense of purpose. Everyone feels it. "It's not just another car, It's George's legacy, and we're building it with the same pride, the same intent, and the same heartbeat."

Making that goal a reality has required help, and the team credits longtime supporters Jim Knapp and Ken Woolley for stepping in when it counted. Knapp offered up his car, Tom Hanna's creation, to help bridge the gap.

Woolley's support made it possible to get fabrication work rolling and bring the crew back together.

As for the gold car, it's heading to the salt one final time.

This year at SpeedWeek, the gold Speed Demon will be on display as a tribute to George. After the event, the Tennessee crew will haul it back to George's ranch in Holly Springs.

The Speed Demon Racing Team name wasn't always part of the program. It became official in 2016, when George took delivery of the gold car. That's when he made it clear, it wasn't about him anymore. It was about the team.

"He always said, "You can't do this with one person.' He was right. It takes all of us."

That's why the name stays. The mission continues. And the next generation of Speed Demon is already being pieced together.

We would also like to thank all our Team partners for their continued support.