NHRA Motorsport Museum

Top Gas dragsters enjoyed almost a decade of popularity following the lifting of the NHRA fuel ban in 1963, and among the most dominant examples of this breed were the Freight Train entries campaigned by John and Beverly Peters. Powered by a pair of supercharged small-block Chevrolet engines, the Freight Trains were driven primarily by Bob Muravez, who raced under the pseudonym of Floyd Lippencott Jr. to keep his racing exploits a secret from his parents, who had forbidden him to engage in such activities.

(© 1999 NHRA Photographic Services)

Muravez drove the Freight Trains to wins at the 1963 Winternationals and 1967 and 1969 Springnationals. During the 1967 season, the Freight Train was among the first dragsters to employ the slipper clutch to eliminate tire spin off the starting line, a move that resulted in impressive 7.3-second clockings that were well ahead of the pace of the competition.

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