It was John Force's world, and we were all thrilled to be living in it
The Joyce of Drag Racing Photography
Two legends: 'Big' and Bakersfield
When did we start doing that? Tracking some of the biggest changes in our sport
From 10-time dominators to one-time winners, a history of Indy Top Fuel champs
Legend to legend: Don Prudhomme on Don Garlits, Indy, and other great takes
NHRA Rookies of the Year: A look back at where some fabulous careers began
NHRA national event history: A look at the tracks and stories that drove the sport
The Northwest Nationals has historically put the 'great' in Great Northwest
Larry Minor was a major player
How the early 1980s shaped NHRA's future
A Memorial Day salute to armed services sponsorships in NHRA history
Top Fuel A to Z: The quest to compile a list of every driver to compete in NHRA
Top Fuel, A to Z: The complete list
Thinking Pink: Remembering 'the Old Master,' nitro engine legend Ed Pink
Where's my three-second Funny Car field?
Top Fuel's 1,000th race: A look at the names and milestones that got us there
Remembering Bernie Fedderly
When the Hall calls
So long, 'Wild Bill'
John Force Racing: Next stop, 300 FC wins
Remembering Al Hanna
More Funny Cars that time forgot
Funny Cars that time forgot (but not us)
50 years ago: A look back at the highlights from the 1975 NHRA season
Funny Car history: The almighty Monza ruled the class in the mid-1970s
Giving thanks
Ode to my best friend
Who's on Funny Car's Mount Rushmore?
Top Fuel 'on the fours': A look back at six NHRA Top Fuel championship years
It was John Force's world, and we were all thrilled to be living in it
Last week, John Force announced his retirement from driving after 50 years, 16 championships, and 157 race wins. In this retrospective, NHRA National Dragster Editor Phil Burgess recounts some of the many memorable Force moments he witnessed.
Like almost everything John Force has done in his life, his announcement last Thursday of his retirement from driving was largely unexpected and unscripted. To hear those around him tell it, he made the decision just minutes before an NHRA press…
The Joyce of Drag Racing Photography
In the 1970s, Midwest-based photographer Jim Joyce was one of a hearty breed of Nikon nomads who roamed the country in search of nitromethane-fueled fun and photos, and shares with us here some of his favorite images.
Growing up as a young drag racing fan in the early 1970s, the monthly magazines were my window to the quarter-mile world outside of Southern California, and it was through the lenses of the many great photographers of the era that my love and…
Two legends: 'Big' and Bakersfield
The big news earlier this month was that “Big Daddy” Don Garlits was coming west from Florida to Bakersfield for the California Hot Rod Reunion, retracing in a way one of the seminal moments of his career. Here's a look at the legend's long love affair with the Famoso Dragstrip.
The big news earlier this month was that “Big Daddy” Don Garlits was coming west from Florida to Bakersfield for the California Hot Rod Reunion, retracing in a way one of the seminal moments of his career.It was 1959, and Garlits had been making big…
When did we start doing that? Tracking some of the biggest changes in our sport
When did we shorten the speed traps? When did the first scheduled qualifying sessions take place? When did we end push starts? When did the alternate process end? We’ve got the answers!
As NHRA approaches its 75th anniversary next season, it’s easy to forget that the many, many things that we take for granted in today’s highly refined events — timing systems, safety rules, points scoring, track layout, and so much more — are all…
From 10-time dominators to one-time winners, a history of Indy Top Fuel champs
The NHRA U.S. Nationals is always a magical event, and, for many, there’s no bigger Indy win than a Top Fuel Indy win. This year, Justin Ashley became just the 32nd Top Fuel driver to win in the 67 times Top Fuel has run there. Here's a look back at the history of Top Fuel at the U.S. Nationals.
The NHRA U.S. Nationals is always a magical event, and, for many old-timers like me, there’s no bigger Indy win than a Top Fuel Indy win, and this year was no different as Justin Ashley became just the 32nd Top Fuel driver to win in the 67 times Top…
Legend to legend: Don Prudhomme on Don Garlits, Indy, and other great takes
It’s one thing for fans to idolize Don Garlits for all he’s brought to our sport, but it's a whole other thing to listen to fellow legend Don Prudhomme tell us why "Big Daddy" is the greatest drag racer of all time and to share stories about their time together among his other stories of the road.
It’s one thing for people like me and you to idolize Don Garlits. Hell, he’s “Big Daddy,” an icon whom we all admire, respect, and love for all he’s brought to our sport.However, it’s another thing entirely when one of his fellow legends — one…
NHRA Rookies of the Year: A look back at where some fabulous careers began
NHRA annually presents the NHRA Rookie of the Year award to the top first-year racer in its Professional classes, and way more often than not, the recipient proved more than worthy of the honor that served as a launch pad for a future great career.
For every Patrick Mahomes, LeBron James, or Ken Griffey Jr. who went from first-round draft pick to superstardom, there’s a Ryan Leaf, a Greg Oden, or a Brien Taylor. You just never know. Sometimes it's like inviting everyone for filet mignon and…
NHRA national event history: A look at the tracks and stories that drove the sport
The fabled dragstrip in Pomona has hosted 106 NHRA national events in its long history, or almost one-tenth of the NHRA's 1,082 races. Here's a look at its history of events as well as those of other fabled venues, including Indy, Gainesville, and many more.
In my last column celebrating the Seattle national event, I mentioned its 42-year, five-decade run as among the longest of NHRA national…
The Northwest Nationals has historically put the 'great' in Great Northwest
When Seattle returned to the NHRA national event schedule in 1988 after an eight-year hiatus, it didn't take long for the event to secure its place in history. In the first 10 years of its return, the event produced history by the bushel.
Pacific Raceways (aka Seattle International Raceway) remains one of the great legacy tracks in NHRA history and one of just a handful that has hosted NHRA national events in six decades, from the 1975-80 NHRA FallNationals through the current…
Larry Minor was a major player
Larry Minor was a team owner for NHRA world champions Gary Beck, Dick LaHaie, and Cruz Pedregon, as well as nitro legends Ed McCulloch, Shirley Muldowney, and Frank Hawley and played key roles in the careers of Larry Dixon Sr. and Jr., Tony Pedregon, Cory McClenathan, and Mike Neff.
Larry Minor was a racing success long before he became known to NHRA fans as a team owner for world champions Gary Beck, Dick LaHaie, and Cruz Pedregon, as well as nitro legends Ed McCulloch, Shirley Muldowney, and Frank Hawley in the 1980s and ‘90s…
How the early 1980s shaped NHRA's future
NHRA Drag Racing changed immensely between 1982 and '87, with game-changing changes in all four Pro classes. Don Garlits made a celebrated comeback to "save" Top Fuel, John Force became a winner, and new "stadium-style" tracks like the Texas Motorplex helped reshape the fan experience.
The old adages say, "The first five years lay the foundation for the next 50" and "Every great career begins with five gritty, hungry, curious years."
When I look back at my time at NHRA — just starting my 44th year — I sometimes think back…
A Memorial Day salute to armed services sponsorships in NHRA history
As we approach this Memorial Day weekend, here's a look back at some of the many armed forces sponsorships we’ve seen on the NHRA dragstrip over the last 50 years.
As we approach this Memorial Day weekend, where we pause to honor and remember military personnel who died in service to their country, I started thinking back about the many armed forces sponsorships we’ve seen over the last 50 years and thought it…
Top Fuel A to Z: The quest to compile a list of every driver to compete in NHRA
If you had to guess how many different Top Fuel drivers have competed in an NHRA national event, what would your guess be? From Johnny Abbott to T.J. Zizzo, we have the list, thanks to research by NHRA historian Bob Frey.
Two weeks ago, we celebrated the 1,000th Top Fuel race in NHRA national event history at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, and that’s an awful lot of burned nitro since the 1963 NHRA Winternationals formally introduced the class to NHRA competition.
If…
Top Fuel, A to Z: The complete list
The following is a list compiled by NHRA historian Bob Frey of every driver who competed in an NHRA national event in Top Fuel.
It is believed to be the most comprehensive ever constructed. Error or commissions? Please let us know by…
Thinking Pink: Remembering 'the Old Master,' nitro engine legend Ed Pink
If you were a nitro-racing fan back in the 1970s, the term “Think Pink” was probably familiar to you, and it was omnipresent in the Top Fuel and Funny Car ranks on the fleet of race cars whose prowess began with an Ed Pink powerplant. We lost Ed last Sunday, April 27, at age 94, and a lot of us are Thinking Pink this week.
If you were a nitro-racing fan back in the 1970s, the term “Think Pink” was probably familiar to you, and it was omnipresent in the Top Fuel and Funny Car ranks on the fleet of race cars whose prowess began with an Ed Pink powerplant.…
Where's my three-second Funny Car field?
It has been more than 13 years and 300-plus events since Matt Hagan made the first three-second Funny Car pass, and despite recent near-misses, the all-three-second Funny Car continues to elude us, an oddity that did not happen with previous class barriers.
In my life, I've been promised a lot of things. I'm beginning to doubt whether I'm ever going to get the flying car that The Jetsons promised me more than 60 years ago or, for that matter, even the point-to-point transporter from my late-…
Top Fuel's 1,000th race: A look at the names and milestones that got us there
In a few weeks, we’ll be celebrating an incredible milestone in the history of our sport, the 1,000th Top Fuel race, which will take place during the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte in late April. Here's a look at the drivers and milestones that got us there.
In a few weeks, we’ll be celebrating an incredible milestone in the history of our sport, the 1,000th Top Fuel race, which will take place during the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte in late April.
It will be a celebration of the class’ history…
Remembering Bernie Fedderly
Wherever he went and for whomever he tuned, the world was a better place with Bernie Fedderly in it. The multi-world championship-winning crew chief passed away March 15 and is remembered by his friends and family.
Henry Walther, a prominent member of the championship-winning Larry Minor Racing Top Fuel team of the 1980s, perhaps said it best: “If you can’t get along with Bernie Fedderly, you have a problem.”
Fedderly, Minor, Gary Beck, Ed McCulloch,…
When the Hall calls
NHRA National Dragster Editor Phil Burgess was among 10 people recently inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, an honor he never expected would come his way. Enjoy his descent into madness ...
When my phone rang last September, right after the NHRA U.S. Nationals, and the caller ID said it was Don Garlits, I immediately answered, because, as I wrote here a few months ago, one of the first rules is that…
So long, 'Wild Bill'
Bill Shrewsberry didn’t stand in many winner’s circles and never climbed the stage to be celebrated as a world champion, but “Wild Bill” is still remembered as one of the sport’s best wheelstander drivers and as a beloved member of our drag racing world.
Bill Shrewsberry didn’t stand in many winner’s circles and never climbed the stage to be celebrated as a world champion, but “Wild Bill” is still remembered as one of the sport’s finest at what he did and as a beloved member of our drag racing world…
John Force Racing: Next stop, 300 FC wins
When Austin Prock or Jack Beckman next reaches the winner’s circle, it will mark the 300th Funny Car win for John Force Racing, an incredible accomplishment in such a competitive class. Here's a look at the drivers and wins that have carried them to the edge of this milestone.
There have been a lot of great multicar Funny Car teams over the ages from Don Schumacher to Barry Setzer to “Jungle Jim” Liberman, but when it comes to sheer numbers of success in event wins and championships, it’s all about John Force Racing,…
Remembering Al Hanna
It’s one thing to make an impression in one form of drag racing and quite another to make it in two distinctly different areas, as was the case with Al Hanna of Eastern Raider nitro and jet Funny Car fame, who passed away Feb. 8 at age 82.
It’s one thing to make an impression in one form of drag racing and quite another to make it in two distinctly different areas, as was the case with Al Hanna, who passed away Feb. 8 at age 82.
The Connecticut-based racer was an early adopter…
More Funny Cars that time forgot
In the long history of Funny Cars, there have been plenty that became world-famous and well-renowned, and then there are those that toiled sometimes outside the national limelight, but are still fondly remembered. Here's Part 2 of our collection.
Two weeks ago, I blasted this column with a huge collection of photos from our files of Funny Cars that didn’t always make it to the national scene but were fondly remembered…
Funny Cars that time forgot (but not us)
In the sport’s earlier years, Funny Cars were everywhere, and some of them were seldom seen outside of their region. Here’s a look back at a collection of Funny Cars from our archives that you might only have seen at your local track.
Today’s Funny Car fans root for maybe three-dozen nitro burners across the country, but back in the sport’s earlier years, Funny Cars were everywhere, and some of them were seldom seen outside of their region.
Here’s a look back at a collection…
50 years ago: A look back at the highlights from the 1975 NHRA season
It’s time for our annual deep dive into the drag racing season 50 years ago, a semi-tradition we started a few years ago that gives us all a chance to either remember what it was like or, for our younger fans, to get a glimpse of the roads we traveled to get to today.
It’s time for my annual deep dive into the drag racing season 50 years ago, a semi-tradition I started a few years ago that gives us all a chance to either remember what it was like or, for our younger fans, to get a glimpse of the roads we traveled…
Funny Car history: The almighty Monza ruled the class in the mid-1970s
The Chevrolet Monza of the mid-1970s remains one of the immortal early Funny Car body designs in drag racing history with a rich legacy of performance and famous owners, including Don Prudhomme, “Jungle Jim” Liberman, Roland Leong, and some guy named John Force.
The Chevrolet Monza remains one of the immortal early Funny Car body designs in drag racing history, alongside other popular models such as the Vega, Mustang, and Barracuda. When it was introduced in 1975, Chevy flopper stalwarts who had been…
Giving thanks
It’s the season of mindfulness and thankfulness and, despite a turkey tryptophan hangover, National Dragster Editor Phil Burgess carved out these succulent heapings of thankfulness for the year.
It’s the season of mindfulness and thankfulness, so I want in on the moment, too. Despite a turkey tryptophan hangover, I was able to pull myself to ol’ Lappy after dinner and carve out these succulent heapings of thankfulness.
I’m…
Ode to my best friend
I never had a biological brother, a familial sidekick to share life’s experiences, its ups and downs, its discoveries and surprises, its joys and its heartaches, another guy who was always there as your “ride or die” through thick and thin.…
Who's on Funny Car's Mount Rushmore?
A few weeks ago, we mused about which four racers would occupy the places of honor on a Top Fuel Mount Rushmore monument. Now it's Funny Car's turn. Which drivers or owners over the class' 60 years deserve to be immortalized? Caution: This is not as easy as it seems.
A few weeks ago in this space, I mused about which four racers would occupy the places of honor on a Top Fuel Mount Rushmore monument. I asked for and received input from…
Top Fuel 'on the fours': A look back at six NHRA Top Fuel championship years
In just a few weeks, we’ll be crowning 2024's Top Fuel world champion in Pomona, so here's a look back at the champions from 1964, ’74, ’84, ’94, ’04, and ’14, which, as it turns out, provided not only some very interesting title tales but also pocket glimpses of those eras.
In just a few weeks, we’ll be crowning world champions in Pomona, as we have for the last 40 years since the season finale moved to the track in 1984, and when it comes to Top Fuel, it will be the 60th year that we’ve crowned a Top Fuel world champ…