1985 Cajun Nationals

The 1985 running of the NHRA Cajun Nationals from State Capitol Dragway in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  The fourth race of the 1985 NHRA season.  Ed Bruce, Brock Yates, and Steve Evans, call all the action.  Fans from Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Alabama, got their money's worth at this race, and were cheering on their hometown team, the then defending nitro funny car champions, Candees & Hughes.
 

1987 NHRA Summernationals

From Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey, it is the 1987 edition of the NHRA Summernationals.  Paul Page and Steve Evans call the action for NBC SportsWorld. 

In Memoriam: Bob Glidden

It is not often that there is an extra post, on The Quarter Mile, save from the weekly Friday classic drag race.  But this one, hits home.  A man who was involved in MANY of the classic drag races you've seen on this blog, has passed away.  A true legend of the sport.  We fondly remember, a driver who is perhaps one of if not the most decorated in Pro Stock racing history.  Rest In Peace, Bob Glidden.

Hall of Fame NHRA Pro Stock driver Bob Glidden passes away
https://www.nhra.com/news/2017/hall-fame-nhra-pro-stock-driver-bob-glidden-passes-away

1993 NHRA Gatornationals

1993 NHRA Gatornationals. Fuel Funny Car Driver "Fast Freddie" Neely lives up to his name by resetting the National Speed Recorded twice at this event.  The late, great Scott Kalitta also set a new record.

1993 IHRA President's Cup Nitrous Nationals

The 1993 running of the IHRA President's Cup Nitrous Nationals in Budds Creek, Maryland.  Calling the action, as always, on ESPN SpeedWorld, are Bob Varsha, Ted Jones, and Bret Kepner.   

1990 Winternationals

The opening event of the 1990 NHRA season, the Winternationals at the L.A. County Fairplex in Pomona, California.  1990 was the year that Kenny Bernstein entered top fuel, and Don "The Snake" Prudhomme, rejoined the category.  We join commentators, on NBC Sports, Fred Roggin, Steve Evans, and "Big Daddy" Don Garlits.

1981 NHRA Southern Nationals

Travel back in time to the inaugural NHRA Southern Nationals in Commerce, Ga., just outside of Atlanta. This event was the first sanctioned after the facility made the switch from IHRA sanction to NHRA. The quality is a little rough but good enough to appreciate this blast from the past. In addition to the great racing, there's a glimpse of the nighttime qualifying from the original April 1981 event.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDswyM3JZLI

1993 NHRA Western Auto Nationals

The inaugural running of the NHRA Western Auto Nationals at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kansas saw some great racing, but also a very scary crash during the Friday qualifying session for top fuel pilot Doug Herbert, who, (as bad as the accident was), still came out of it uninjured.

1990 NHRA Cajun Nationals

More action from the 1990 NHRA drag racing season.  Here's the Cajun Nationals, from State Capitol Dragway in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Ingenuity in Action (1959) NHRA Hot Rod Film

Made for hot rod fans; explains how to prepare and enter a car show; also serves as an ethnographic account of the "nomadic tribe of hotrodders".

1994 NHRA Winston Select Finals

Both halves of the last NHRA event of the 1994 season, the Winston Select Finals, as champions were crowned, and a farewell was said to the then retiring drag racing legend Don "The Snake" Prudhomme, at the L.A. County Fairplex in Pomona, California. 

1994 Chief Auto Parts Winternationals

Revisiting the opening event of the 1994 NHRA drag racing season.  The Chief Auto Parts Winternationals at the L.A. County Fairplex drag strip, in Pomona, California.  Calling the action for TNN Motorsports and American Sports Cavalcade, are Steve Evans, Dave McLelland, and Bob Frey.

1993 U.S. Nationals

The 1993 running of the U.S. Nationals from Indianapolis Raceway Park in Clermont, Indiana.  The biggest drag race in the world.  Let's join commentators Brian Hammons, Steve Evans, and Frank Hawley, for all the action.

1991 U.S. Nationals

Back-to-back, consecutive versions of the U.S. Nationals.  Here is the 1991 event.  The audio quality on this recording is just OK, but enjoy the video of what is the greatest, most prestigious drag race of them all, with commentary from Joel Meyers, the late, Steve Evans, and "Big Daddy" Don Garlits.

1990 U.S. Nationals

More classic NHRA drag racing.  Check out the 1990 running of the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Clermont, Indiana.  Let's join our commentators, the late Charlie Jones, the late Steve Evans, and "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, for all the action.

1994 IHRA 3M Snap On Tools Grand America Nationals

More IHRA action from the 1994 season.  This is the inaugural running of the 3M Snap On Tools Grand America Nationals from Tulsa International Raceway in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Bob Varsha, Ted Jones, and Bret Kepner, call the action.  Click the link, and check out the broadcast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzXkuEFGDgQ

1987 IHRA Hurst Pro Stock Shootout

Let's rewind the clock to 30 years ago, and the IHRA Hurst Pro Stock Shootout at Bristol International Dragway in 1987.  We join Bob Jenkins, Ted Jones, and Bret Kepner for the action.  This is the most prestigious pro stock drag race.  Have a look at the contestants.

Bob Olson vs. James Ruth
Terry Adams vs. Gary Hajek
Rickie Smith vs. Tim Nabors
Billy Ewing vs. Jerry Haas

1994 IHRA Snap-On Tools Supernationals

Check out more 1990s IHRA drag racing action.  This is another event from 1994, at the then brand new Alabama International Dragway in Steele, Alabama. 

1993 IHRA Snap-On Tools Spring Nationals

More vintage IHRA action.  This is the middle point of the 1993 International Hot Rod Association season.  The 1993 Snap-On Tools Spring Nationals at Bristol International Dragway in Bristol, Tennessee.  Bob Varsha, Ted Jones, and Bret Kepner, call the action. 

1967 & 1968 US Nationals

Some really vintage drag racing, coming your way.  Here's a documentary film on the greatest drag race of them all, the U.S. Nationals, as it happened in both 1967 and '68.

1995 IHRA All Pro Auto Parts Winter Nationals

The season opening race for IHRA 1995.  This is the start of what was the silver anniversary, the 25th anniversary of the International Hot Rod Association.  The venue is Darlington International Dragway in Darlington, South Carolina.  Bob Varsha, Ted Jones, and Bret Kepner call the action.

1992 IHRA Snap-On Tools Springnationals

Check out the 1992 running of the IHRA Snap-On Tools Springnationals from Bristol International Dragway in Bristol, Tennessee. 

1995 IHRA Presidents Cup Nationals

Check out the 1995 running of the IHRA Presidents Cup Nationals, from the land of blue crab cakes and black eyed Susan's.  The venue for this race is Maryland International Raceway in Budds Creek, Maryland.  Lets join commentators Bob Varsha, Ted Jones and Bret Kepner.  This is a door slammer event, for the Pro Stock and Pro Modified cars. There's also action for alcohol funny cars. 

1990 Chief Auto Parts Nationals

The penultimate event of the 1990 NHRA season, the Chief Auto Parts Nationals from the all concrete super track, the Texas Motorplex in Dallas, Texas.  Pay attention to a monstrous incident for funny car driver Mark Oswald, where the car, literally vaporizes in a spectacular, frightening explosion like a nuclear device is set off inside the motor, because of a process of hydraulic'ing an engine.  There's so much fuel in a cylinder for the nitro funny car, the piston can't compress it, it explodes, and sadly, tears the engine to shreds.  Fortunately, Oswald came out of the incident unhurt.

1989 NHRA Autozone/Castrol GTX Mid South Nationals

From Memphis Motorsports Park in Memphis, Tennessee, check out the 1989 running of the NHRA Autozone/Castrol GTX Mid South Nationals.

1994 IHRA Snap-On Tools Summernationals

More IHRA drag racing from the 1994 season.  This is the Snap-On Tools Summernationals that was held at U.S. 41 International Dragway in Morocco, Indiana.

1994 IHRA All Pro Auto Parts Winternationals

The opening race of the 1994 IHRA season.  The All Pro Auto Parts Winternationals at Darlington International Dragway in Darlington, South Carolina, featuring the return of retro car bodies to the Pro Modified division, and a monstrous tumble by drag racing legend Roy Hill in Pro Stock, and driver Steve Wiliford also had a similar wreck.  Watch the jet car exhibition, too.

more 1970s drag racing

Not sure what year this one is from, but it is a running of the Winternationals, the opening NHRA race of the season, from sometime in the 1970s, covering the Pro Stock, Funny Car, and Top Fuel finals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzkr4F_4Xlo

1970s NHRA divisional racing in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

If you love classic drag racing, then you are going to love this presentation of divisional racing from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. You'll see everything from gear-jamming class racing to nitro competition. If you listen very closely, the host sounds a lot like NHRA VP of Operations Graham Light, who used to run the track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pjj_-zMHYc

1990 IHRA Springnationals

The National Hot Rod Association is not the only drag racing sanctioning body.  We will occasionally delve into the International Hot Rod Association as well, and here is the first of those races.  The 1990 IHRA Springnationals held at Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tennessee.  Calling the action, are Bob Varsha, Ted Jones, and Bret Kepner.  

1989 U.S. Nationals

The biggest drag race in the world, the 1989 running of the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Clermont, Indiana. 

Heart Like A Wheel

A film called "Heart Like A Wheel" chronicling the life and career of one of the most accomplished women to drag race, Shirley Muldowney. 

1993 NHRA Thunder at The Summit

A brief review of the 1993 NHRA Winston Drag Racing season.  This is called Thunder At The Summit.

The Wonder of Drag Racing

A neat look back to drag racing of the early-1970s in the Wonder Bread promo featuring an overall look at NHRA Championship drag Racing. There are plenty of cameos, including the fabulous Wonder Wagon driven by Kelly Brown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=engbfdpbOuo&spfreload=5

1970 U.S. Nationals

Check out the 1970 running of the U.S. Nationals, There are some inaccuracies in the broadcast.  But, this is also the race when Don Prudhomme originally wanted to quit drag racing after seeing Top Fuel rival Jim Nicoll have a horrendous accident. 

1986 Motorcraft Gatornationals

Last week, we looked at the 1985 edition of this race.  Well, fast forward one year, and here is the  1986 edition of the Motorcraft Gatornationals from Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida.

1985 Gatornationals

The 1985 Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida.  The year before, in 1984, Joe Amato in Top Fuel, and Kenny Bernstein in Nitro Funny Car, set speed records at this race, of 260 miles an hour, which was the fastest a nitro powered drag racer had gone, at the time, over 30 years ago.  But, in qualifying, funny car pilot Bob Gottschalk, suffered a horrendous fire when the engine exploded, and the fire extinguishers tried to do their jobs when Gottschalk activated them, however, the trees in the woods beside Gainesville Raceway were also set ablaze by the flaming funny car.

Fortunately, Gottschalk escaped the inferno, spent a night in the hospital for observation, and was OK.

1986 Winternationals

The season opener of the 1986 NHRA campaign, and the comeback of Shirley Muldowney, who raced her longtime rival, and fellow champion racer, "Big Daddy" Don Garlits.  There are a couple different versions of the broadcast.  A highlighted one, and the full race broadcast. 

1986 NHRA Quaker State North Star Nationals

The 1986 edition of the Quaker State North Star Nationals from the home track of yours truly, Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota.

Funny Car Experience

This is "Funny Car Experience", all about the monstrous, nitro methane burning, fiberglass, "floppers", or nitro funny cars.  The most harrowing cars to drive in all of drag racing.  Funny Car Experience presented by Main Event Video created by Dean Papadeas, with announcer Bobby Doerrer.  Click the link, feel the raw power, and enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFhCVg4PQYc

How does a Top Fuel Dragster work?

This isn't "classic" drag racing per se.  It is more modern.  But, this short, informative video clip from a TV show called "How'd They Do That?" explains entirely how a top fuel dragster works, as shown by recent top fuel racer, Australian David Grubnic.  A fascinating watch to be sure. 

1986 NHRA Castrol GTX Nationwise Southern Nationals

Check out another race from the 1986 NHRA drag racing season.  This is the Castrol GTX Nationwise Auto Parts Southern Nationals held at Atlanta Dragway in the Atlanta suburb of Commerce, Georgia.

1988 Budweiser Springnationals

The 1988 running of the NHRA Budweiser Springnationals from National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio.  In nitro funny car round one, there was a very serious incident, involving Tulsa, Oklahoma racer, Ron Dudley, when his funny car smoked the tires, and then... bang!  A major engine explosion, that resulted in a fire.  Another funny car, becomes a four wheeled volcano.  Dudley tried mightily to scrub off speed and get the heck out of the car, but the fiberglass body, stayed on, as we saw earlier with another fire that would happen over a year later, to then funny car rookie, Don Gay Jr.

Ron Dudley swerves the car towards the guardrail and stops the car by nudging the guardrail.  The car was on fire both inside and out, which is very scary for a driver.  Dudley, perhaps was being seriously burned inside that inferno while trying to stop the vehicle and get the heck out of it.  He can't see.  There's flames, and noxious black smoke, billowing from the car.  The NHRA Safety Safari caught up to the burning funny car, and went about the process of rescuing Ron Dudley from this drive through hell he'd just as soon not taken.  Safety Safari fireman Jerry Grice, and paramedic Ronnie Davis, saved Ron Dudley's life. Grice ripped the burning fiberglass away to save Dudley.  Thank God for the safety workers.

They paid a price, though, as four of the medics had to be hospitalized themselves.  Jerry Grice was hospitalized for smoke inhalation and an injured shoulder, Randy Robbins was treated for burns on his hands, Butch Orr for burns on his arms, and Ronnie Davis, the head EMT for the NHRA, was burned on his hands, while resuscitating Ron Dudley.  But, all involved, made a full recovery.  There would be no racing, without the safety crews and paramedics.

After Dudley's frightening fire, and heroic rescue, more great racing ensued at Columbus.   Check it out.

 

1987 NHRA Winston Allstars

The top ten racers from each division (Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Strock), were invited to compete at the all concrete Texas Motorplex in Dallas, Texas, in the 1987 Winston Allstars event.  Check it out. 

Garlits 1 & 2

The two part series taking an in-depth look at the career of perhaps, the greatest drag racer of all time.  "Big Daddy" Don Garlits.

Garlits!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlrWFwk4t1E

Garlits II. - The Legend Lives On

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i3U9YQ7LoE

1991 Motorcraft Gatornationals

The 1991 NHRA Motorcraft Gatornationals from Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida.

1988 NHRA Winston Allstars

The best of the best in the three professional categories, race each other in the 1988 edition of the NHRA Winston Allstars at Atlanta Dragway in the Atlanta suburb of Commerce, Georgia.  No points.  Just a whole lot of cash.

1992 Slick 50 Nationals

The third race of the 1992 NHRA drag racing season.  The Slick 50 Nationals at Houston Raceway Park in Houston, Texas.

1992 Motorcraft Ford Nationals

The second race of the 1992 NHRA season.  The Motorcraft Ford Nationals, from Firebird International Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona.

NHRA Funny Cars Big Bud Shooutout 1983-'86

Four editions of the non points race for nitro funny cars during the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day weekend at Indianapolis Raceway Park in the Indianapolis suburb of Clermont, Indiana, from 1983 to 1986.  $25,000 goes to the winner.  Through the season, cars competed for qualifying points, to race in this event.

For each edition, we will list the contenders.  Eight cars, faced off against each other in the running order.  1983 was the second annual race, and we run up to the fifth edition, in 1986.  Here are the fields, and each race broadcast is posted below the qualifying order per year.

1983:

1. Mark Oswald
2. Ken Veney
3. Frank Hawley
4. Don "The Snake" Prudhomme
5. Tom Anderson
6. John Force
7. Kenny Bernstein
8. Al Segrini

1984

The pairings include:

Mark Oswald vs. Raymond Beadle
Billy Meyer vs. Frank Hawley
Kenny Bernstein vs. Dale Pulde
Tim Grose vs. Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen                     

1985:

The pairings for the 1985 event (#4 vs. #8, #3 vs. #7, #2 vs. #6, and #1 vs. #5) are:

Rick Johnson vs. Tim Grose
Dale Pulde vs. Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen
Ed "The Ace" McCulloch vs. John Lombardo
Kenny Bernstein vs. John Force

1986:

The pairings for the 1986 running of the Big Bud Shootout at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Billy Meyer vs. Tim Grose
Ed "The Ace" McCulloch vs. Mark Oswald
John Force vs. Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen
Kenny Bernstein vs. Johnny West

                                                                                     

Decade of Thrills 1 & 2

The ultimate look at the history of drag racing.  Both volumes of Diamond P Sports' "Decade of Thrills".  Steve Evans, and Don "The Snake" Prudhomme will take you on a wild, unforgettable ride through the great moments in the classic eras of drag racing in the 1970s and '80s.  Check it out!

1991 Winternationals

The opening race of the 1991 NHRA season.  The Winternationals from the Los Angeles County Fairplex in Pomona, California.  At the beginning of the program, keep your eye on the Top Fuel qualifying highlights.  Driver Russ Collins finds out firsthand, what a top fuel blowover is like when the front wheels of his dragster come off the racing surface, and the car, corkscrews through the air!  Thankfully, Collins was unhurt.  On the positive side, Top Fuel pilot Frank Bradley, also wins his first Winternationals in 15 years, since also doing so in 1976. One more bonus factoid.  At this race, in '91, Tom "The Mongoose" McEwan, after two years away, made his return to Top Fuel racing, with car owner, and baseball player at the time, Jack Clark. 

1992 Champion Auto Stores Nationals

Returning to the home track of yours truly.  We revisit the 1992 Champion Auto Stores Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota.