The headlines in National DRAGSTER described the 1982 U.S. Nationals as the race that "set the standard for the '80s" and the site of the "greatest Funny Car race ever held," and today, almost 20 years later, it would still be difficult to argue against it.

In the minds of many, the 1982 U.S. Nationals superseded the 1975 World Finals as the greatest event in NHRA history, and the incredible numbers set at the event, many of which remained intact for years, support that claim.

Frank Hawley claimed the first Big Bud Shootout title and its $25,000 prize when he drove the Chi-Town Hustler to a 5.85 to 5.92 win over Prudhomme in the final.

Gary Beck's 5.48 in Top Fuel was the first run in the 5.4-second zone — nearly a tenth quicker than the existing NHRA elapsed-time record — and fuel racing rookie Ken Veney, in just his fourth race with a nitro car, blew away the Funny Car speed record by four mph with a 254.23 blast.

However, the real star of the show was Don Prudhomme, who turned in an incredible string of runs with his Pepsi Challenger Firebird, including a 5.637 blast that was nearly two-tenths quicker than the existing Funny Car record.

Early in qualifying, Tom Anderson provided the first hint that the 1982 U.S. Nationals was going to be a special event by driving Jim Wemett's Ford EXP to a 5.79 — the first-ever 5.7-second Funny Car run.

But Anderson's glory was short-lived; Prudhomme unloaded a 5.73 less than a half-hour later and ran a crowd-stunning 5.637 the following day, which would have placed him fifth in the Top Fuel field.

Amazingly, Prudhomme ran just 223 mph during his 5.73 run, and his 5.63 blast came with a top speed of just 244 mph — insinuating that the possibility existed for him to score Funny Car's first 5.5-second run a full three years before Rick Johnson accomplished the feat.

Prudhomme's extraordinary performances were apparently achieved by plumbing nitrous oxide, which was then legal, directly into the fuel pump, but the record numbers came with a steep price tag. His Pepsi Challenger destroyed several engines during the event because of wrist-pin failures, and he ultimately lost on a holeshot in the semi's against Billy Meyer, who would win the event by defeating Gary Burgin's tire-smoking Orange Baron Mustang in the final.

Prudhomme, Meyer, Veney, and the rest of the Funny Car contingent weren't the only stars of the 1982 U.S. Nationals; Beck ventured into the twilight zone with Larry Minor's Top Fuel dragster and recorded a previously unheard-of 5.48 in the opening round of eliminations.

Only two other drivers, Connie Kalitta and Shirley Muldowney, ran in the 5.5s during the event, but like Prudhomme, Beck was unable to finish the job and bowed out in the semi's. Muldowney scored the most memorable win of her career when she downed her former crew chief and rival, Kalitta, in the final, 5.57 to 5.66.

Frank Hawley, who was later crowned the 1982 Winston Funny Car champ, drove the Austin Coil-tuned Chi-Town Hustler to a $25,000 win in the inaugural Big Bud Shootout. Prudhomme had the quickest car in the field once again, but he hazed the tires in the final and slowed to a 5.92 against Hawley's 5.85. Ironically, Hawley, then a resident of London, Ont., nearly missed the U.S. Nationals after Immigration and Naturalization Service officials threatened to revoke his green card. Hawley eventually received clearance to race and scored one of the biggest wins of his career.

Gary Beck scored drag racing's first 5.4-second run when he drove Larry Minor's Top Fueler to a 5.48 in the opening round of eliminations. The next-quickest driver at the event was eventual Top Fuel winner Shirley Muldowney with a 5.56.

In the first year of NHRA's 500-cid rules, more than 40 racers attempted to qualify for the 16-car Pro Stock field. As a result, the event featured the class' first seven-second bump spot, which engine builder Sam Gianino held with a 7.96.

For the first time in 16 races, Shepherd failed to reach the final, losing a close 7.81 to 7.81 battle in the semi's against Frank Iaconio, who won another close race, 7.803 to 7.809, against Bob Glidden's EXP in the final round.

In 1982, Alcohol Dragsters and Funny Cars got separate eliminators, but the winners of each class met to decide the Pro Comp title. For just the second time that season, a Funny Car prevailed when Bob Gottschalk downed Alcohol Dragster champ Galen Roggie, 6.53 to 6.62.

Gottschalk, who went on to win the 1982 Winston Alcohol Funny Car title, used a string of 6.4-second runs from his flamed Chevy Citation to overpower the Alcohol Funny Car field and final-round opponent Brad Anderson.

A pair of future Pro Stock racers met in the Comp final. Georgia Chevy dealer Gary Brown drove his A/FX '81 Camaro to a win over David Nickens, who was driving "Big John" Jones' F/Gas Datsun 240-Z.

Other champions at the 1982 U.S. Nationals were Roland Stewart (Top Fuel Bike), Greg Tabler (Super Stock), S.E. Buchanan (Stock), and Stan Strzala, who won the first official Super Gas title in Indy with a 10.00 to 10.00 victory against Bob Phillips in the final.