NHRA Motorsport Museum

Few dragsters dominated early 1960s action in Southern California more than the famed Albertson Oldsmobile-powered dragster campaigned by Gene Adams and Ronnie Scrima and driven by Leonard Harris. From June 4 through July 30, 1960, for instance, Harris won 10 consecutive Top Eliminator races at Lions Dragstrip while also scoring big in Pomona and San Fernando. Harris headed east that year and won the NHRA Nationals at Detroit Dragway, defeating Red Dyer in Raymond Godman's Tennessee Bo Weevil in the final after outlasting 34 entries.

(© 1999 NHRA Photographic Services)

Harris returned to the West Coast and picked up where he had left off by scoring more wins at Lions and Fremont Raceway. He suffered fatal injuries while making a test run in the Firestone Realty fuel dragster for a racing friend. The Albertson Olds went on to reach the winner's circle many more times with Tom McEwen behind the wheel.

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