One race after NHRA national events first received backing from Winston, two other historic firsts marked the rain-delayed 1975 Summernationals.

Jim Bucher became the first to win in Top Fuel at an NHRA national event with a big-block Chevy-powered dragster, and the legendary "Jungle Jim" Liberman further cemented his notorious reputation with his only national event victory.

Russ Collins won the short-lived Top Fuel Motorcycle eliminator with his triple-engined Honda-powered bike. He ran an 8.28 at 170 mph en route to the win.

Bucher's upset win was his first and only national event victory. Bucher, who had been runner-up in 1973 at the Gatornationals and Summernationals, put himself back in contention for the first Winston Top Fuel championship.

In another first, former Blue Max Funny Car driver Richard Tharp, in his first start in the Carroll Brothers Top Fueler, ran Old Bridge Township Raceway Park's first five second e.t., a 5.97, to qualify No. 1. Don Garlits, who would win not only the first Winston Top Fuel championship, but his first NHRA world championship, qualified No. 3 with a 6.11 and top speed of the event at 237.46 mph. Bucher qualified No. 8 in the 16-car field with a 6.20 at only 211.26 mph.

After intermittent rain showers Saturday and Sunday, eliminations finally commenced at 7 p.m. Monday. Bucher got past a troubled Marvin Schwartz, 6.61 to 14.57, a shutting-off Dale Funk, 6.81 to 7.04, an off-pace Grant Stoms, 6.35 to 6.77, and 1974 NHRA world champion Gary Beck in the final. An oil leak caused Beck to spin the tires just off the line, and Bucher won with a 6.57 as the event finally concluded at 1 a.m. Tuesday.

Liberman not only won the event closest to his Pennsylvania home surrounded by his most loyal fans, but in qualifying No. 4, he unintentionally showed everybody why he was so revered — "Jungle Jim" carried the front wheels to half-track on a 6.37, 218.44-mph run. Don Prudhomme, who would win the first of four straight Winston Funny Car championships in 1975, qualified No. 1 with an early-shutoff 6.22. Gary Burgin was No. 2 at 6.29, and Kosty Ivanof was No. 3 at 6.34 with his Boston Shaker.

After No.9 qualifier Tom McEwen upset Prudhomme in round one, the race was wide open. Liberman began eliminations with a tire-spinning win over Raymond Beadle in the Blue Max entry, 7.02 to 7.02. Liberman then defeated Paul Smith — current tuner of Bob Gilbertson — with a 6.51 after Smith crossed the centerline. He made it to his second straight Summernationals finals by outrunning Ed McCulloch, 6.42 to 6.67. Waiting in the money round this time was Tom Prock — father of Jimmy Prock, who now tunes Gary Densham's Funny Car. Prock got a little out of shape after a small wheelie and allowed Liberman to score a popular win with a 6.49, 220.04-mph blast.

Making the 1975 Summernationals equally memorable was famous Funny Car racer "Jungle Jim" Liberman's only career NHRA national event victory.

Wayne Gapp and partner Jack Roush took advantage of the various weight breaks in force in Pro Stock at the time to defeat Bill Jenkins in the final, which ended Jenkin's three-year win streak at the Summernationals. Gapp qualified No. 1 with an 8.89 and after changing engines between the second and third rounds went even quicker. He defeated Roy Hill, 8.96 to 8.99, Bert Straus, 9.03 to 9.18, and the Richard Maskin and Dave Kanners Hornet X, 8.84 to 8.97, before defeating Jenkins, 8.80 to 8.93. Jenkins had top speed of the event in the final at 154.90 mph. Richie Zul was credited with the first big-block Chevy Pro Stock eight-second e.t. when he qualified No. 7 with an 8.98.

Ken Veney's Pro Comp win was his first NHRA national event triumph. Having recently switched to a Keith Black Hemi from a Chevy engine, Veney qualified No. 1 with a 6.78 at 207.85 mph. His second 6.76 in the final over Glenn Lazzar and his Funny Farmer Pinto was the best Pro Comp e.t. ever. Mike Dunn's current tuner also had top speed at 207.85 mph.

Russ Collins won the eight-bike Top Fuel Bike eliminator with his triple-engine Honda, tying T.C. Christenson's twin-engined Norton for low e.t. at 8.28. Collins best speed was 170.45 mph. The Gardena, Calif., racer defeated a fouling Bob Mauriello in the final.

Leon Tapp won Comp with his C/Dragster after Anthony Terenzio fouled in the final with his BB/Altered. Bob Seibert won Modified with his N/Gas Vega with a sub-record 11.70 to defeat David Hutchens D/Gas Vega. Bernie Agaman won Super Stock with his SS/CA Corvette with a 10.42 after Jack Mullins fouled in the final with his SS/U Pontiac station wagon.

Dave LeBrun won the Stock title with his mid-11-second A/SA '69 Camaro after Tom Reider broke in the final with his mid-16-second X/S Pinto.