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.