In old Dutch, the name Gerda means “protector” and “spear of strength.” It would be difficult to find better words to describe her role in tuning one of the fastest accelerating vehicles on the planet for her husband/driver, Lex Joon. A smart, sassy, and bombshell blonde whose not afraid to speak her mind, one might say Gerda Joon is “drag racing’s Mae West.”Growing up the adopted daughter of Depression Era parents in Friesland area of Netherlands, Gerda learned early in life how to do more with less. To pursue a passion for animals, she worked a wide variety of jobs to fund her accomplishments as a riding instructor and multi-award-winning equestrian dressage rider on her horse “Okido.”While working for a local track a friend suggested they attend a “real drag race,” a major FIA event in Germany. “The difference was night and day compared to races I had attended in the Netherlands. I was lucky enough to meet Lex who was building his success in European drag racing at the time,” Gerda recalls. “I was hooked on professional drag and I guess on Lex as well. It didn’t take long before I was handling every aspect of team operations, including travel, public relations and everything in between for Lex Joon Racing-Europe.” Married in 2006, Gerda and Lex blazed new drag racing trails, winning races and setting records throughout Europe, eventually earning the Netherland’s Greatest Drag Racing Driver title. Gerda and Lex immigrated to the US in 2013 to make their American Dreams a reality … becoming US citizens and winning a NHRA Top Fuel Championship. Their first priority as new citizens was establishing the Lex Joon Racing operation in America’s “Capital of Drag Racing,” Brownsburg Indiana. The 2019 NHRA season was a game changer for Gerda's team role. Under the tutelage of championship tuners Lance Larson, Rob Flynn and close family friend and NHRA Hall of Fame member, Lee Beard, she stepped into the challenging role of Co-Crew chief in 2020, becoming the NHRA’s only active female Top Fuel tuner. An observant student of American culture, Gerda’s grit, determination and “sassiness” are exemplified through inspiring quotes of two of America’s most famous entertainment icons. "If you can visualize it, if you can dream it, there's some way to do it." - Walt Disney “Behind every great man, is an even greater woman.” - Mae West