Wally Parks founder of the NHRA started this exciting racing league in 1955 with only one class of racing, He called it the “Top Eliminator Class“. This class of racing is known today as the very fast and powerful “Top Fuel Class“. The not widely known Racer (driver) most don’t remember by the name of Calvin Rice, brought in the first Mac Tools U.S. Nationals win at a speed of only 143.95 mph and an elapsed time of 10.30.
August 28, 2009 at 2:23 pm
It wasn’t until 1958 that the NHRA began to add other classes to their league, which created more variety, more fun, more excitement, more power and some pretty incredible Racers (drivers) showing us, the racing fans their talents of quickness and fast speeds.
Racers most remembered like “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, Don Prudhomme, Bob Glidden, Kenny Bernstein, Joe Amato, John Force, Connie Kalitta, Larry Dixon, Tony Schumacher and Shirley Muldowney are known for their quickness off the Pro Tree, their speed, elapsed time, number of wins, how they won or even why they won throughout their careers.
Ladies first with Shirley Muldowney, she was known for her one Mac Tools U.S. Nationals win in 1982 in the Top Fuel Class and for being the first and do date the only female to do so. Her speed was 251.39 with an elapsed time of 5.57. Later in her career Shirley suffered a horrible crash, thankfully recovering and showing America Women are Competitors and can win.
Next and one of the most famous Racer’s remembered is “Big Daddy” Don Garlits who’s Mac Tools U.S. Nationals career consisted of 8 wins in the Top Fuel Class starting in 1964 with a speed of 198.22 and an elapsed time of 7.67, He went on to win again in 1967 with a speed of 220.58, elapsed time 6.77, and continued with a win in 1968 with a speed of 226.58, elapsed time 5.93, 1975 with a speed of 242.58, elapsed time 5.93, 1978 with a speed of 241.28, elapsed time 5.90, 1984 with a speed of 259.36, elapsed time 5.52, 1985 with a speed of 260.56, elapsed time 5.57 and in his last win in 1986 with a speed of 266.66 with an elapsed time of 5.39.
Don Prudhomme never got that 8th win but was a seven time winner in two NHRA classes, starting with his first Mac Tools U.S. Nationals career win in 1965 in the Top Fuel Class with a speed of 207.35 and an elapsed time of 7.50, followed by a win in the year 1969 with a speed of 223.34, elapsed time 6.51 and in 1970 with a speed of 230.76, elapsed time 6.45. He then switched over into the Funny Car Class with his first win in 1973 with a speed of 243.90, elapsed time 6.04, then again in 1974 with a speed of 222.32, elapsed time 6.33, 1977 with a speed of 236.22, elapsed time 6.24 and bringing in his last win in 1989 with a speed of 270.59 with an elapsed time of 5.27.
Then came along another 8 time winner Bob Glidden. Glidden made his Mac Tools U.S. Nationals winning career in the Pro Stock Class with his first win in 1973 with a speed of 151.26 and an elapsed time of 9.08. He continued to win again in 1974 with a speed of 151.26, elapsed time 9.01, 1978 with a speed of 146.81, elapsed time of 8.61, 1979 with a speed of 143.50, elapsed time 8.61, 1983 with a speed of 180.36, elapsed 7.68, 1985 with a speed of 182.11, elapsed time 7.62, 1986 with a speed of 188.63, elapsed time of 7.43 with his last win coming in 1988 with a speed of 188.56 and an elapsed time of 7.34.
And who could forget Kenny Bernstein. Bernstein began his Mac Tools U.S. Nationals career wins in both the Top Fuel and Funny Car Classes. His first win was in the Funny Car Class in 1983 with a speed of 246.57 and an elapsed time of 5.93, winning again in 1987 with a speed of 269.29. His next win came in the Top Fuel Class in 1991 with the slowest speed in Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Top Fuel history of only 77.25 and an elapsed time of 13.52. Not a great speed or elapsed time for Bernstein but is was a career win.
Another Racer well remembered is Joe Amato. Amato received his Mac Tools U.S. Nationals first win in the 1987 Top Fuel Class with a speed of 279.15 and an elapsed time of 5.26 followed by two more wins in 1988 with a speed of 202.79 with an elapsed time of 6.81, then again in 1990 with a speed of 270.83 with an elapsed time of 5.04.
The 1990’s brought in a great and well remembered (even today) Funny Car Racer John Force. Force started his Mac Tools U.S. Nationals winning career in 1993 with a speed of 289.29 and an elapsed time of 5.10. Going on to win again in 1996 with a speed of 301.10 with an elapsed time of 5.13, 1998 with a speed of 306.43, elapsed time of 4.99, then winning his next but maybe not last race in 2002 with a speed of 280.02 and an elapsed time of 5.02. Force currently is racing the 2008 NHRA series.
Another One time Mac Tools U.S. Nationals winner Connie Kalitta is well remembered for breaking the 300 mph speed in the Top Fuel Class in 1994 with a winning speed of 301.60 with an elapsed time of only 4.80. Kalitta brought in the new era of fast speeds to the drag strip.
Current and well known three time Mac Tools U.S. Nationals winner Top Fuel Racer Larry Dixon started his career wins in 1995 with a speed of 293.25 and an elapsed time of 4.93, winning again in 2001 with a speed of 315.93 with an elapsed time of 4.60, with his next and probably not last win in 2005 with a speed of 326.71 and an elapsed time of 4.52.
Saving the fastest and most powerful Racer for last and more than likely the most remembered is Tony Schumacher. Schumacher has won 7 of the 9 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Top Fuel Drag races in the 2000’s with Larry Dixon winning the other two.
Schumacher started his winning career in 2000 with a speed of 316.90 and an elapsed time of 4.64, then onto 2002 winning with a speed of 315.93 and an elapsed time of 4.66, winning again in 2003 with a speed of 328.54 elapsed time of 4.49, with another win in 2004 with a speed of 323.66 with an elapsed time of 4.59, 2006 with a speed of 325.22 with an elapsed time of 4.50, 2007 with the speed of 331.94 with an elapsed time of 4.57. And winning this years 2008 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals with a speed of 309.13 and an elapsed time of 3.91. Schumacher broke his record with that 3.91 elapsed time.
With Schumacher’s 2008 win, he sure made it a hard act to follow for whoever is NEXT.
By Judy Worley