Dan Horan began his racing career in 1987. Before that, he helped his father, Dan Sr , race Top Fuel Dragsters. Dan was always watching, helping, and learning. In 1987, Dan bought an ex-Top Fuel Dragster and competed in the Alcohol Dragster Class. It never won a race, but it was a success - because it was an invaluable learning experience. In 1990 he climbed in the cockpit of his fathers Top Fuel Dragster and had a most stellar season winning seven out of nine races and setting a class record of 6.50 ET at 213 mph.

He won the NDRA Top Fuel Championship in 1991; he repeated the feat by winning a second NDRA Top Fuel championship - the only driver to date to have done that. At the close of 1991, Dan felt it was time to go Nitro Funny Car racing. With a lot of help from "Friend" Rahn Tobler , 3-Time World Champion Crew Chief for Shirley Muldowney , this was possible. Rahn helped Dan learn all the tricks of Fuel Funny Cars, and it was Shirley Muldowney that signed Dan's NHRA License and said, "He (Dan) is a Natural!" However, with the cost of professional Drag Racing - too high for an electrical contractor, Dan was forced to sell the car.

In 1994 he returned to the cockpit of his father Top Fuel Dragster and set the world of fire by running an all time records of 6.17 ET at 228 mph. This record stood all year until he broke it himself, at the last race of the year with a 6.15 ET @ 239 mph. However, Dan felt it time again to return to his first love - a nitro funny car. After various bodies cloaking, a state of the art Murf McKinney Funny Car Chassis, he put together a hand made 66 Mustang Body and teamed up with none other than the most winning IHRA Nitro Funny Car Driver and Tuner Dale Pulde . Pulde taught Dan the magic combination and the Mustang won more than his father's dragster. The team of Dan Horan Racing learned more from Mr. Pulde than all their experience put together.

At the Completion of the 2004 season Dan and Dale Pulde split up. Danand his team of Brain Surgeon's started the 2005 season with Dan himself driving and tuning. At the seasons opening race Dan's Team was #1 Qualifier. At the 2nd race they where #2 Qualifier and set the class record for Et at 6.14 seconds and won the event at the 3rd event. They again repeated with #1 Qualifier, at the 4 th Race the culmination of the Brain trust repeated again #1 Qualifier and record-breaking performances. When the was race over The Dan Horan Racing Team reset the record with a 6.01 ET and won the event. Shirely Muldowney said it best, when describing Dan's Racing Style, "He's A Natural!".