1966, 1968 NHRA Nationals. Drag Racing Memories.

from all parts of the nation they come as they have been doing for the past twelve years over Labor Day weekend at Indianapolis Indiana they're called the drag racers and they devote their lives to a sport which sends them flashing down a quarter-mile track at better than 200 miles an hour - a race that lasts just a handful of second the place Indianapolis Raceway Park the event the NHRA national drag racing's top challenge in the race against time [Applause] [Music] representing the Hearst Armed Forces Club the Hearst girls start the festivities for the big goal out of 1300 participants from Maine to Hawaii just 89 winners tough odds classes reserved for production cars have through the years become the most popular division of competition and drag racing with by far the greatest number of participants stock entries are factory built cars with few modifications permitted to either engine or chassis to become a front runner in stock car classes where everyone starts more or less even takes the utmost precision in engine tuning and driving skills the fans know it when they see it the total controlled horsepower charging through this quarter-mile course totals more than five million that's a lot of horses and it took a lot to get here amateurs semi-pro or professional racers like Ronda Strickler Montgomery Merkel all have made tremendous investments in their equipment in time and money just to get into the field the Hearst hospitality Center helped to relax some of the tension and the Hearst safety center directed by George Hearst stood by to help participants protect their investment and make the Nationals the safest as well as the most competitive field ever assembled for a drag racing championship a substantial number of car driver combinations made the field because of this service all without charge services range from seat bracket welding and engine relocation to Hurst shifter installations a staff of over 30 experts and engineers worked around the clock making corrections on the spot before anyone can run on the track NHRA safety and technical inspectors examine every detail of a car's construction more than four hundred cars had problems minor and major and they were quickly and expertly corrected by the Hurst safety center specialists first of all in drag racing a car has to be classified it must be assigned to a specific category and checked and rechecked for strict adherence to NHRA rules for safety the Nationals is not only the biggest but sets the standards of all other leading drag needs during the five-day event at the Nationals a hundred and thirty thousand fans are on hand to see what the best can do drag racing today is big business and serious business it isn't just a bunch of wild kids tearing up and down a highway drivers and mechanics are automotive engineers test everything a car can do in just four hundred and forty yards speed is essential but control is the most important element of all fire the rules so strict because there are always some who will try just a little too hard [Music] [Applause] for the capacity crowd it's a chance to cheer American automotive ingenuity on parade a chance to get our close look at mechanics wizardry and driver skill all to the sound of ear-splitting sensation this quarter-mile strip challenges everything a car can do in thousands of a second the word is go go go the starter button at the head of the road was punched almost 2400 times run by run the fight against the clock goes on if you can't qualify get beat or fall out you can pack up and go home for those who stay in the fight the goal is the same to cover the quarter-mile in the quickest possible time call ET or elapsed time at the fastest possible speed Oh top speed the competition's they follow away from production stocks the kind that you and I draw the most exotic combinations of engines bodies chassis x' and running gear that ingenuity can design [Music] [Applause] the kings of the quarter-mile are the dragster invented for super acceleration inventiveness in drag racing takes many shapes and form the big goal means a big stop and many of the hot or competition cars depend on parachutes to slow them down [Music] after the quarter-mile run there's only three-quarters of a mile to get back down to earth after that you're on your own the margin of victory was sometimes very slight often only one thousandth of a second almost a third of the field had to break all previous records to stay in competition [Music] [Applause] for those who survive the runoffs and bumping and made their way to victory lane to pick up their class trophies it was a tremendous achievement for car builder driver and equipment [Applause] [Music] finals day at the National when drag racing's annual Eliminator champions are decided the state more than $100,000 in cash and merchandise awards and the glory of being the best in the world again fan Jam spectator areas to see the top stock Top Fuel and five other Eliminator champions crown speed - trying for the top speed of the need in the gas burning dragster this is not competition but a speed - he's trying for the best elapsed time and the high speed in the gas burner [Music] California he's quick he may have it the freight train to share my engine slashing at 193 oi goop tellers exciting run the crowd settles back for the competition Eliminator semifinal petition where the the fuel-injected non-standard cars in this racket are the end of the line for production bodies the hot rodders is free to develop and test any new ideas in chassis and equipment providing they need rigid safety regulation at the starting line we'll set them Jean stove Fort Worth Texas the rambunctious a 65 times dirt and a lot of stories about this car [Music] notice our carefully a white slip and then they go thundering away [Music] with jean snow fort worth texas is back to the trailer for bill lock as jean snow waits out the other summer final run PhD in mechanical engineering moving up in his faltered roaster his own fuel injection engine here at revel a base burns gas [Music] Chevy powered rail I'll call on Peter Epson Chevy powered rail is the whether it'll be Jean snow and Bret Gibson in the competition final it looks as if records are going to fall today here is Steve Evans of NHRA our top speed of the event thus far as 218 miles per hour and that's turned in just 7.31 seconds over a standing quarter mile and actually we're not really into the fierce competition for the cash money so we expect the speed still much higher and now the competition Eliminator final tation Eliminator jesus knows a bunch of dirt up over Texas a supercharged gas dragster Greg Gibson White Plains New York the dragster has been handicapped about it the big question catching snow captain yes he can't cut it [Music] next up the jr. stock final the top stalkers run about ten miles an hour faster but crews of jr. stock Eliminator cars work just as hard for a shot at their title it is national drag racing championship we go to a new category the junior stunt competition the tires an exhaust system about the only difference on these cars from the vehicles as you will see on the street using gasoline for fuel they've kept them now Arcadia County flashing down can he catch him close so close let's take another look at this run and why electronic equipment accurate to the millisecond is a must in drag racing today it couldn't be much closer seed captain is the winner the new jr. stock eliminator champion our great run in a tough battle here at Raceway Park Indianapolis Indiana next up after a bitter clouding to ease the tension the street Eliminator semifinals the top of the line self starts drive them on the street type of cars are ready to go headlights and more that type of equipment now we knew that into the semi-finals Richard Marcel and Ronny hassle also driving the the modified Corvette had the advantage of a handicap it'll be closed and the English one semi-final round of a straight eliminator and now here is Joel Lunati from Memphis Tennessee driving a hybrid sports car required to make the run solo people on the vehicles so in the finals industry and the pressure mounts Nick Marshall with a top speed so far of 218 is not satisfied we're gonna try we hit it shut it off early yesterday we lost the valet cover gasket and got sideways the light so we trying for 223 or tomorrow what goes through your mind when you're in trouble out there Nick well it is pretty busy don't think too much is just trying to you know survive and keep it straight so there's not a whole lot you can do you are you still making adjustments to find the answers we're gonna kill little bottom in horsepower other cars get a little bit too much in the line and we're gonna better run a little faster on the other end otherwise you're satisfied right real satisfied and now we go to the Sprint denominator final jovanotti memphis tennessee in this hybrid sports car dick Moroso in his Corvette from Old Greenwich Connecticut the knotted machine that's some kind of creation it we're also on the line the question is will and I to be able to catch it at the top end of the stretch not a wedding speed one of the 36 this year a super eliminator bracket has been added to the separate supercharged class winners from those behind supercharged Eliminator division any types of supercharged automobile semi-finals Memphis Tennessee Bureau of restaurants all over New Jersey innocent yes he did [Applause] let's stop the action on the finish line to see just how really close it was tea napkins just winning a final second semi-final on the troop Eliminator Emma how to farm Ohio gasps Dexter Joe Davis Campbell [Music] this young lady has her favorite yes Dexter come splashing down and Baxter wins in the and now the super eliminator final in the near Lane gym Muhammad in a drag strip earning guests in the parlay and Eugene Atkins in a dragster burning nitro methane number two [Music] the game is transportation gasps Eliminator competition gym many and Bobby a buttnik competing for the right to beat John Reed and the winner Jim on hand for the action is one of the racing giants AJ point Indianapolis winner hey J how would you contrast oval track and drag racing well the biggest thing our type of racing you run to our mall are down straight when you have to go field car around 150 or 60 so you do have a I think a few more problems but it's awful hard to get one of these cars to run 200 straight to imagine they put in too much work on their cars we do or maybe not for and now for the top gas eliminator these slingshots share top billing with their nitro-burning counterparts gen medic in the near Lane from nitro West Virginia John Reed of Decatur Georgia in the Far Lane this is for the championship to the top gas eliminators and these foes will be way up in there speeds really gentle and Jim Minich is the top gas eliminator champion putting on a great show for the fans this is my first but I'm for this one Oh [Music] you can't sing and you can't dance so it's a fast car come to a drag and they do from 49 states for the semi-finals in this 66 82 for speech [Music] is competition the air Oklahoma City 66 but also for speed a winner bill Jenkins better 118 miles an hour [Applause] semi-finals dearest all in the white plymouth 66 force be Richard Charbonneau st. Paul Minnesota 66 Plymouth automatic transmission [Applause] and your stove and your invention Oh [Music] major stall and Bill chickens almost every factory was represented in this competition Ford's Chevy's dodges Plymouth final Jairus doll on the white flemeth York Pennsylvania their chicken Shetty to Berlin Pennsylvania this Jerry Stahl scores an impressive win for top stock eliminator feed a hundred and nineteen point six eight the twelfth nationals marches on with more records and more post contests than ever before [Music] and now here come the big boys the top Fuel eliminators the wind up be back in the national drag racing championships in the Far Lane Don Western AO Ferndale Michigan near Lane Danny and I stomp at California and Don West er Dale's dragster did not start he's out of it they roll him away it's a tough sport you come to that line fired and ready to go or else you're out west a veil is up so on Caius moves into the semi-finals Don Prudhomme and John Mulligan move up for the semi final run here contesting for the semi final position through Tom in the Far Lane Mulligan closest to us they're ready to go [Applause] [Music] and it's Pluto winning better than 210 miles an hour Mulligan's seemed adhere to the left side of the track and he lost a valuable split second so cleaner is the winner this is the cockpit of the car to beat in Top Fuel steering mechanisms the handbrake the parachute police [Music] the Hawaiian the fuel dragster bidding for a fourth successive title is the sit-out car driver Mike Snively by virtue of being top qualifier waits to race the semifinals winner darn good on Hills California predominate last account setting [Music] that's DeLeon class winning Hawaiian born - against the Hawaiian my last night way it's an exciting moment for gasps as in heats up everyone donford all and the crew waiting for that he wheels off the track and excited cruise the out cars competition miss daddy young guys hop settle that cockpit he knows big moment coming for those who have to fight their way to the finals there is no letter for tired driver and mechanic and perhaps tired equipment [Applause] and so we moved at the final event of the 12th national drag racing championship Raceway Park Indianapolis Indiana in the near Lane the Hawaiian the sit-out car and remember a sit out car has never lost in the national championship in the fall Ain a Honda Dani on Gaia's both Californians this is the final event this is the big moment Buster the starter set 'some they're ready and they're almost together as they flash over the finish line let's wait a moment to see what the arrow points to the near Lane next the Hawaiian the car continues its remarkable success Mike slightly winning Danny on Gaia's circling off the track is a close second here comes the Hawaiian keep black the man had built up the engine the victory might slightly San Bernardino California tremendously exciting finish so exciting let's go back and take a second look and we're told that there was actually a foul on the part of Danny on guys but neither man knew it and they both went for more mic Snively the winner had a fantastic 215 point eight miles per hour and so close at the finish that the Hawaiian was a veritable blue streak as a flash over the line so ended the tradition of the National unmatched in color size and excitement [Music] in clinching the Top Fuel title snidely collected the $2,000 purse plus the Hearst non-contingent prize of 750 dollars George Hearst congratulate Jerry stall for the best run in the top stock eliminator competition it was a tremendous victory for driver and equipment a fine field of cars a great bunch of drivers and engineering know-how combine to make the 12th big goal of greatest of all you this is less keiter with rockets coming to you from the 14th annual National Hot Rod Association championship track races at Indianapolis Raceway Park here are the highlights of drag racing show of shows featuring challenges from all 50 states in Canada in the wildest array of driving skill and exotic machinery ever assembled Big Daddy Don Garlits mr. cool of drag racing the guy who's won everything goes to the line in search of a third national championship at Indianapolis something no one has ever achieved before Garlits the super hero of big-time drag racing is fresh from a great win at the spring national King rat is the odds-on favorite to capture national honors and a pot of gold estimated at $25,000 his opponent Steve Carbone gives it the old drag racers try but he's no match for garlotte's Big Daddy is king of speed again but wait a minute Big Daddy's victory wrapped up the 1968 Nationals we've missed all the action so let's put the time tunnel in Reverse come on Big Daddy you're way ahead of schedule there that's better you see the NHRA nationals at Indianapolis is a lot more than one race in fact it's the biggest Auto Sports showcase in the world with over 1500 cars and drivers better than $100,000 in prize money and 100,000 fans and well as you can see Indy involved some pretty big numbers [Applause] [Music] drag racing is an exquisitely simple form of competition tariff cars line up at the head of a quarter-mile strip of pavement their start is governed by an electronic device nicknamed a Christmas tree that gives each driver a perfectly even chance the yellow lights blink a warning then the green flashes on the race begins the first car to reach the end of the quarter mile wins the other losers drag racing is beautifully quick and to the point every speed merchant in racing is here including California's Don Prudhomme quick as he is the snake knows that for Indy you will have to be even quicker as I think is the toughest toughest feel they ever had in drag race I think all the cars but time the qualified will be in the six second bracket it's gonna be close it's seven O's now but there's a lot of 7o cars and I don't believe that all of the cars are gonna make it into the six is not all 32 while the headlines are captured by high rollers like Garlits and Pradhan than their 230 mile-per-hour mechanical monsters a lot of people forget the drag racing is a fun sport designed for little guys and little girls [Music] they migrated to India by the hundreds going behind their trucks and station wagons some of the wireless automobiles in captivity drag-racing is a showplace for a purely American pop art form that manifests itself in madly imaginative paint jobs and car names that range from the amusing to the strident the outright postal the wireless kind of wishful thinking [Music] the first two days of the four-day Hindi extravaganza are consumed by practice and time pride and a brash Californian named Tom the Mongoose McEwen manages to record the top speed and low elapsed time of the event but we had a real good year we ran 664 to Orange County on California in February which was the low et backed up with a 670 and then I ran a 6 6 7 2 31 here yesterday which I'm in lying again today and trying to run a little faster speed wise and things are just going our way for change you've always had bad luck here haven't you in the past Tom is that right right I always seem to qualify good but in eliminations like last year I went up to the next last round against Garlits and our foul red light advice and I don't know maybe I tried too hard or sometime this year I'm just gonna try to just I try a whole lot of things and I usually mess myself up this year I'm gonna kind of just take it easy and run the same combination on meat and just do what I can last year at Brock as you know we we knew that the car would run faster than we were running it in the time trials and we were as a sport in the saying in the sport goes sandbagging and we didn't want to make a real good run until it was absolutely necessary well this year there'd be no point in trying anything like that because the competition knows what the car is capable of so this year we just want to come in and run real strong and let the guys know just what the car will do and hoping the psychological effect of the of just a good running car in the other lane in other words you plan to just maintain as much pressure on the opposition as you possibly can but not really to change your tactics as you go on through the event no I'll Drive I'll squeeze a tree just as tight as I always do and I'll have my little tricks in the eliminations lanes and what you'd say to the competition and everything in Lane choices and these things they'll always you know nothing is really playing far ahead it's a just as we go along and the opportunity presents itself that's what I'll do nobody can really plan that far ahead in a drag race machines are fickle men must be prepared to keep them running this means everybody in Indy keeps busy [Music] rabble almost everybody certainly everybody around the first Safety Center is wide awake because this is the focal point for a brand of feverish activity is given Hearst its unique reputation for backing drag racing to the limit the Hearst crew is on hand 50 strong keep the machinery running to keep the racing safe they have brought $120,000 worth of equipment with them before the event is over it will use a quarter mile of welding rod and enough nuts bolts and gaskets make a fleet of automobiles [Music] the hurst associates are here to help in any way they can and help they do nearly half the 1,500 entrance here at indy received first aid problems ranged from minor jobs like overhauling her shifters to big ones like adding six hundred pounds of ballast to a car so it can meet minimum weight requirements in all nearly a quarter ton of metal and thousands of highly skilled man-hours are donated to making the Nationals as safe and successful as possible all of the work is done without charge for anyone who needs help regardless of whether he uses Hurst equipment a great deal of time is spent helping the racers meet the NHRA rigid safety requirements dozens of competitors also need last-minute work to keep them in the running one case a giant track and a dragsters engine block was welded up preventing the car to make a qualifying run this kind of devotion to the sport brought George Hearst manufacturer of the Year award from far craft magazine for the second straight year and made his Safety Center an indispensable part of the Nationals super stalkers are the bread and butter of drag racing though not the fastest machines on the strip they attracted to Fort Hood following provide instant excitement for the decibel ton one of the most successful jockeys in the Superstock category is a lean southerner named Ronnie socks finds that too much traveling on the speed tour can be a handicap Ronnie is it hard to stay up in other words to remain at a very high competitive edge throughout the season and view the fact that you do so much drag racing it really is what a lot of people don't understand is traveling all over the United States like we do with these clinics we don't really have that much time to work on our cars people say when you back you back you know you get everything but what they don't realize that we do a lot of experimenting for the other people and we get all the bugs worked out this information goes on to the other guy so we really have to really work for it for example this morning is it is it hard to get your competitive juices really stirred up and get ready to go out there and drive just as hard as you can well definitely and something else you got to think about the night before because those reflexes have really got to be sharp if this starting system is going the main pathway most of the cars in drag racing are common garden-variety stalkers there are a lot very few engine and chassis modifications and many of the competing machines can be driven on the street the speed seen at Indy has always been enthusiastically co-ed for some members of the fair sex watching isn't enough surely Shane always wanted to be in the thick of the action today as the drag on lady she is one of the women drivers on wheels I don't really pay any attention to competition I just watch the light I try to let nothing distract me from what's going on at the line and that way I'm ready is it hard how many races a year do you were on well it's hard to say we have been on tour since May and we usually make about two meets a week Oh Jay over 100 races that's a easy surely does well in the opening trial eats at Indy but meets her match in a run against Richard horn field shocking another dodge known which you believe as the good guys normally it's ladies first but the drag racing anything goes it took the New York face dark just ten point 96 seconds to put surely on the trailer best known of the dodge boys is dick Landy Burleigh cigar chewing pro from California a longtime star of the superstar cranks dick had this to say about indeed dick Landy how do you stand in the field at this present time rock we're number three qualifier and we're looking real real good for the Superstock Eliminator is this the strongest field that you've ever been involved with the Nationals here at Indianapolis is always the strongest field you can come up against who specifically are the men that you're worried about biggest one is my own competitor or teammate is Sox and Martin group and then in the Chevrolet team it's bill Jenkins grumpy he's a hard one to be dick if you are going to advise a young man who was interested in becoming a Super Stock racing star what particular aspect of driving would you advise him to concentrate on the most important thing we'll believe is reaction time the next thing if you're going to get into it do not try and get in where these so-called big boys are start out with a small pure stock car and get your timing your reaction then go out and get the car prepared properly you've got to be of driving as 80 percent of the whole race learn to drive it and then you generally you'll come out to the track you'll find people that have a car that's two-tenths off they can still win the races goes to show you you do not beat the equipment as much as you need a good driver curtain closes on three days of practice qualifying runs and class eliminations at Indy the stage is set for championship competition thirty-two competitors remain in each of seven championship categories winners will be selected through a series of five elimination rounds and for some the work goes on almost until race time Labor Day at Indianapolis Raceway Park is drag racing's greatest moment every square inch of grandstand and pit area is jammed to capacity it's an all-american crowd the speed set [Music] for the most part they are amateur racers would compete for the love of the sport bring their kids along to watch your next-door neighbor bitten by the racing blood it's a kind of speed holiday decorated by thousands of colorful decals not all the decals end up on the racing machinery [Music] the world champion Miller in his 1968 Hemi barracuda the racing blog has been pretty rewarding this New York mechanic once collected $16,000 for a single run the richest person drag racing history [Music] [Music] at Indy Miller is shut down by Wally booth michigan-based Camaro which hangs on to a one-second handicap right down to the wire but the crowd has come to see Big Daddy the unrivaled favorite he faces the fastest strongest field of fuelers ever assembled Garlits comes to the line against duke gray one of the lesser known dragster stars as Big Daddy's crew prepares for this young challenger if you really believe that a second Nationals crown is in the cards garlotte's knows ray is hungry for a victory the lesser-known driver is more apt to put more nitro and squeeze his car and lean on his engine harder than the pro because a pro he's thinking of the outcome of the entire event where the lesser-known driver is facing Big Daddy builds a quick lead and then gets bent out of shape in the stretch as Garlits pushes hard to win by inches now it's the semifinal round on the popular super eliminator class for the spectacular funny cars hang out here Bruce Larson's blown Camaro lines up against the double a competition rail driven by Paul stage a young machinist from Illinois winner of the spring national title and super eliminator it is up to stage to stop an all funny car final in this class at Indy stage blast it to a win when it couldn't have been closer in 7.99 seconds and 170 1.75 miles per hour below drag racing is divided into over 90 classes most of the cars fall into roughly two categories specially modified competition cars or dragsters and the more familiar Superstock or passenger type machines [Music] acutely sensitive reactions under pressure pact situations the sign of the true professional in the sport will win more races than sheer horsepower here TV star dick smothers makes a surprise try at Superstock drag racing [Music] [Music] applying road racing drivers dick handles Ashurst equip poles Superstock over the quarter mile like a veteran turning in a ten-second performances first time behind the wheel shifting is the name of the game on the Superstock categories dragsters on the other hand our tubular frame custom-built racing cars their engines are often supercharged or fuel-injected to produce over 1500 horsepower because of their lightweight and great power they often don't use transmission braking at the top end becomes a big headache most dragsters depend on hurst ear horn safety disc brakes for stopping power and oh yes there's one more difference the dragsters are usually noisier by several thousand decibels and now the speech Joe really opens up Arlen panky rolls to the line to face defending national champ Bill grumpy Jenkins this hot camaro in the Superstock semi final as Rumpy smokes off the starting line banking grab the quick lead and will not be denied shutting down the 1967 champion with a 110 point 97 mile-per-hour run a surprise victory for the Akron Ohio star is making a determined drive for the title meantime Garlits has eliminated Tom McEwen with rivals like four dome bikes snidely Connie Kalitta and John Mulligan already on the trailer he suddenly looks like the man to beat again you feel any pressure at this particular point you've done this so many times you've won at twice is it still is is it beginning to affect you at this particular moment no it's too early in the race yet Brock I don't feel any pressure yet at all when now when does the pressure start to build the one that gets down to the semifinal round in the final round any particular changes that you made in a car in a course of these two runs are you made any adjustments at all just minor tuning adjustments trying to dial into the atmospheric conditions that are here at Indianapolis is the track about what you expected it to be yes the tractions coming up real well Benny the wizard Osborn the world's champion poses a major barrier to Garlits his title hopes the defending Nationals king and the current world champion how do you call this one something has to give the Oklahoma wizard wants this race in the worst way he knows that King wrap is the one you have to shut down Darla's is super cool rolling into the staging area with extreme care nerves are pulled tight and Arthur is the one to break leaving off the line the wizard is a split second too eager he squeezes the tree a fraction too soon the dragsters post identical times of 6 point 88 seconds but only Big Daddy makes the semi-final [Applause] [Music] [Applause] now Paul stage faces his second-straight funny car this time it's Dino Don Nicholson and is out of sight cougar this monster looks like a stalker on the surface but is actually a supercharged 1200 horsepower fuel burning engine covered by up granto fiberglass shell at stake super Eliminator championship stage rockets away with Nicholson and frantic pursuit it's erased all the way with a rail shutting down the funny car at the top end with a record elapsed time of 7.90 one second stage is the chin another title match this time in Superstock where arlen bank E's barracuda goes at it with wally booze quick camaro in this run over $6,000 is right on the line booths lower horsepower car gets a slight handicap and is permitted to leave early [Music] it's The Tortoise and the hare with banky playing an incredible game of ketchup nipping both in the last few feet at 118 point 11 miles an hour [Applause] runoff for stock eliminator and the driver of the Corvette is 19-year old Larry Lombardo one of the youngest drivers attending he's facing de fuel driving his Dodge station wagon and Lombardo is given a head start under the handicapping system the young driver grabs a car length league and drives hard for the line with jewel at his heels it's a tight finish with Lombardo the winner Strait eliminator class Dave cofilin his flying Barracuda goes to the line with a new national record of nine point 78 seconds 140 1.28 miles per hour already in the bag his competition Sam Giannino at the wheel of a fierce-looking Corvette that winds up to 9600 rpm on the starting line the Christmas tree wiped out Koval as Giannino Rob's home at one twenty three point 96 miles per hour [Music] Canada has a representative of the final as Toronto's Karl Rowland makes a competition eliminator sane driving a Chevy powered fee Act his challenger is Harry lucid er of Pennsylvania at the wheel of an immaculate 1932 Ford also sporting VH heavy power into the lights of loosener backs off the line and restage is closer to the strip edge here comes the green and loosener has given the handicapped advantage Roland's light weights feature takes up the chase and a valiant attempt to catch the fast clean horde but Lucifer holds off the Canadian in the stretch and takes the win and a new nationally elapsed time record of 11 point 54 seconds two more races remain for top Fuel and top gas eliminator in top gasps wall-e roads in the beautiful gas house gang gasser faces Jack Joe Jones setting up in the near Lane has encountered a series of minor disasters during this weekend putting a rash of blown engines and as a decided underdog his engine is composed to pick up bits and pieces it appears to be better suited for a used car than a championship dragster undaunted Jones leaps off the line and as loses traction in the Far Lane jack raises his hand in a victory salute at 197 miles per hour in an informal ceremony beside the starting line sergeant wesley poli a sac farmer crew chief receives the keys to a new pontiac gto from George Hearst as Wally parks president of the National Hot Rod Association offers his congratulations sergeant pony picked the winner of the Firecracker 400 stock car race to top 23,000 other servicemen in the Hearst Armed Forces club contest now sergeant Pauley proudly drives off with his parents flown in especially for the ceremony from actly Iowa here's another proud passenger it's Linda Vaughn the first lady of drag racing and the gal known as Miss Hearst golden shifter Linda is a great favorite at the races she begins her own special trip down the quarter mile pausing to say hello to the Nationals chief starter Buster couch then she's off to greet the fans with her special brand of drag racing hospitality and now we're back at the beginning for another look at Big Daddy's championship drive against Californians Steve Carbone Carbone and is extremely Fulton Chrysler and Donovan fueler has put together four consecutive six second runs during eliminations Big Daddy will have to be at his cool best car bone maybe only seconds away from the drag racing record once pulse of a supplier has the horsepower but King rat has the psychological edge over 3,000 horsepower inches forward on to the launching pad the garlotte's crew cleans every particle of threat from the huge 12 inch wide slicks ensuring Big Daddy of optimum traction in this frantic climax to three days of racing carve on a fairly unmoved for the legend of Big Daddy stages his long lean missile in the Far Lane Garlits leaps into an instant lane as carbone stands on the throttle and his tires break loose right off the line his chances for a Nationals crown go up in smoke the king of speed has done it again it's thumbs up or garlotte's the man who puts after Florida on the map elapsed time six point 87 seconds speed 226 miles per hour Big Daddy wins his second Nationals in a row and the third of a great career both unprecedented accomplishments in the sport suddenly it's over the greatest drag race of them all is history it's been a hectic weekend for the racers and the Watchers alike the competition was outstanding the scenery you might say was superb that's the way it is at nd the best of everything [Music] [Music] you

Channel: Moviecraft Inc.

Views: 217,573

Keywords: drag racing, NHRA, funny cars, muscle cars, dragsters, 1966, 1966 Nationals, 1968, 1968 Nationals, hurst, hurst shifter girl, mopar, ford, chevrolet, chevy, hot rods

Id: RPXPhfGw6iY

Length: 50min 59sec (3059 seconds)

Published: Tue Mar 24 2020