Joe Amato (dragster driver)

Amato relaxing in his pit area as an owner at the 2001 Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Georgia, 2001
Joe Amato
Amato after winning the 1979 Gatornationals

Joe Amato (born June 13, 1944) is an American dragster driver, who won the National Hot Rod Association's Top Fuel championship five occasions and scored 52 event victories, most of them with crew chief Tim Richards. He was the first driver to exceed 260 mph (420 km/h) and 280 mph (450 km/h) in competition.