Jack Beckman, 2 time World Champ (Funny Car World Champ in 2012, breaking up John Force's sequential winning run, and Super Comp), dropped out of high school and joined the Air Force

He got his drivers license in a 68 El Camino, which he drag raced in high school, and still owns. he left it with his mom while he was in the military

He rose through the ranks to Sergeant in the Air Force

He was an elevator tech for 10 years before getting into drag racing professionally

He was an instructor for Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School starting back in 1998

He set the record for the quickest Funny car in NHRA history, and his nickname is Fast Jack

https://gofastjack.com/funny-car-racer-jack-beckman-remains-difficult-to-define-but-we-give-it-our-best-shot/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Force
https://www.facebook.com/pg/FastJackBeckman/about/?ref=page_internal