Troy Buff BME Top Fuel Dragster Driver

Image: NHRA Communications

Troy Buff is a life-long drag racer. Born in Bay City, Texas in 1963 and growing up in southeast Texas, as a kid, whenever anyone asked, "Hey, Troy...whatcha gonna be when you grow up?" He'd answer confidently, " A Top Fuel driver!"

Troy’s Dad, NHRA Hall of Famer, Willard Buff, started racing in the early 1960s with a classic '40 Willys Gas Coupe. Later he ran an injected-on-nitro dragster against some of the greats of the sport...Dale Armstrong, Ken Veney and Brad Anderson to name a few. Towards the end of his driving career, Buff the elder, raced a Top Alcohol Dragster called the "Golddigger".

Willard Buff felt that the best drivers in the sport not only could drive, but also understood how racecars worked. Troy was about five when Buff the elder began laying a foundation. He started teaching his son about drag racing. Troy has a picture of himself taken back then of he and his Dad rebuilding a race car transmission. This early involvement instilled in Troy the work ethic and passion for racing which remains today.

By junior high Troy wanted into competitive sports and, typical of kids that age, he picked football. It wasn't long before coaches said his small size begged serious injury and suggested he pursue another sport.

In 1975, Troy set his sights on motocross and he turned-out to be a natural on a dirt bike. A fierce competitor, it was no surprise to anyone that he won many races in the 80, 100 and 125cc classes. It was, also, no surprise that, eventually, he'd take a fall. Unfortunately, when he did, it was a horrible accident. His right leg was seriously fractured and almost had be amputated and most of his teeth were knocked out. While hospitalized during 1981, Willard suggested that, after Troy recovered, he quit motocross to drive the family Top Alcohol dragster. Eventually, a pin was installed in his leg. That and lot of dental work and Troy was ready to begin a new motorsport career as a drag racer.

The hook was that the car was in pieces. Troy had to reassemble it and make it race-ready before getting behind the wheel. Troy's dream was starting to come true so he quickly agreed. Shortly afterwards, while his folks vacationed at Lake Tahoe, California, Troy applied the knowledge he’d acquired working alongside his Dad all those years and put the car back together. When Dad returned, Troy led him to the garage and showed him the car.

"It is ready to start?" Willard asked.

"It's ready, Dad."

"Ok. Light the motor."

Surprised his father wasn’t going to check his work, Troy rolled the car out of the shop and fired it.

The next weekend, 18-year old Troy Buff earned his NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster license. Signing him off, was 1981 NHRA Funny Car World Champion, Raymond Beadle and 1981 IHRA champion, Billy Meyer.

On the BME Top Fuel Team, everyone works on the car. Troy Buff has responsibility for the front of the car and the supercharger. Here Troy fills the blower drive mechanism with Red Line 75W80 Gear lubricant. Image: BME Ltd

Even Troy‘s first competitive passes were impressive, coming close to the TAD record. He was nominated NHRA Division 4 Rookie of the Year in 1982. He was nominated for Div 4. Driver of the Year in every season he ran the blown-alcohol car and was voted Div. 4 Driver of the Year in 1998 and 2000.

One of Troy's best qualities is his easy-going, friendly nature, but don't let that fool you--once he's got his "race face" on, he's all business.
Image: BME Ltd

Troy won numerous NHRA National and Divisional Titles throughout his Top Alcohol career. Asked about his most memorable TAD performances, and Troy cites his 1999 Gatornationals win in Gainesville, FL and winning the AutoZone Nationals at Memphis twice. He went his quickest in TAD in 1999 with a 5.400 e.t. which, as Troy says, "...was flying back then."

Troy has earned the respect of his fellow competitors for his driving talent, tuning skills and eagerness to lend a hand to other racers. His beaming smile and friendly personality has made him a crowd pleaser and a favorite to racing fans of all ages.

At the end of 2003, Troy retired the Top Alcohol car and began looking for a Top Fuel ride. His search ended two years later with a call from a former sponsor. In '99, at Memphis, Troy had a chance meeting with Tim and Renee Coghlan, owners of KK Trucking, Inc. out of Carthage, Mississippi. Tim told Troy that his dream was, someday, owning a Top Fuel operation. Troy told Tim that his dream was, someday, driving a Top Fuel car. Following that meeting, Tim and Renee’ sponsored Troy’s Top Alcohol car for a time and continued a friendship with him.

In the Fall of 2005, Troy's phone rang. Tim Coghlan was ready to start his Top Fuel Team and asked if Troy was interested in driving. "Someday" had arrived. By October, Troy inked a deal with the Coghlans.

True to form, during licensing, Troy was impressive. While the licensing process requires an initial, half-track pass, he was more than ready for the real deal. Later in the day, Troy staged the new, Coghlan Motorsports Top Fueler for his first full pass, then went 4.613 at 316.30 mph. Troy came back for his second run on a track that was getting hotter by the minute. The three cars before him blew the tires away, but Crewchief Keith Adams tune-up combined with Troy's driving had the Coghlan car going 4.642/325.30. Licensing in only 2 and a half passes was amazing by itself, but after getting his license signed-off by Top Fuel Champions Larry Dixon and Scott Kalitta, the team was astonished when told that Troy's runs were the quickest and fastest Top Fuel license runs in NHRA history. Our limited research indicates that, today (early 2008), they remain a record.

In June of '06 at the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals, the Coghlan Motorsports team debuted in Powerade Drag Racing competition. Troy qualified and defeated the number one qualifier and winner of the previous week’s race, in his first round of eliminations. Buff ran five other NHRA events that year for the Coghlans. Interestingly, at the last race of 06, the World Finals at Pomona, Troy Buff and the Coghlan team were bumped out of the 16-car T/F field by none other than Alan Bradshaw, driving the BME/Okuma/Red Line Oil car.

Troy Buff came to Bill Miller's attention in early 2005, just before Bobby Lagana Jr. took over driving the BME Dragster. In an act of persistence, Buff cold-called Miller asking to drive the car. Bill told him to go get his T/F license and gain a little experience and then they'd "talk." Two years went by, Bill remembered Buff's "persistence" then offered him the BME ride.

Troy brings some good experience to the BME/Okuma/Red Line Oil Top Fuel Team. He is already "blown-fuel-savvy", having driven the Coghlan Motorsports car and he's worked on Pro Class dragsters for more than 20 years. He also is a lighter driver. That might seem trivial to some but, the rule of thumb in TF is each 15 lbs out of the car is a hundredth off the e.t. In a class were qualifying positions and round wins can depend on a thousandth of a second, 20 pounds less in the driver seat is huge. Lastly, a dragster gearhead since childhood and former Top Fuel engine builder for the Coghlans, Buff is a perfect addition to a team where everyone, even the driver, works on the car. "My job," Troy says, "Will be superchargers and race car prep from the roll cage forward."

"I am very excited about driving for the best independent team in Top Fuel," Troy continues. About the coming '08 season, Buff says, "I would love to win a race or two and get into the count down. I know that is a tough road, racing on a limited schedule as we do, but I believe it is possible."

Besides drag racing, Troy's other hobby is quite unique–he builds high-end, vacuum tube, home audio equipment and the speaker systems to go with it. Troy Buff resides in Spring, Texas.

While Willard Buff no longer drives race cars, Troy tells us, his Dad is, ".... My number one fan and mentor. He keeps me in check and motivated. During the week, we work together at our business, Competition Automotive Machine."