1986 NHRA Winternationals

moments ago a story unfolded on this racetrack that could have come from the pen of a Hollywood script writer this marked the return to competition of the three-time world champion Shirley Muldowney seriously injured in a horrifying accident over a year and a half ago the legend of Top Fuel the reigning world champion Don Garlits was her competition the luck of their qualifying efforts brought about the first round match creating this pressure packed moment how do you feel about racing shortly the first time she's been that's a tough deal it's tough for both of us it's a lot of prestige on the line here it'll make each of us do things that we might not normally do under normal circumstances you know that's looking at it from a sensible point of view from the Cinderella side of it it's just great for the fans that Shirley wins a race it'll be unbelievable and course if I win the race it it'll be beating a car that qualified with a much lower ET than I did well I think it's the race that people wanted to see and it's funny that it happened that way it will be good drag race I guarantee you that you're competent I'm confident I'm sure that you know my cars it sounded great Steve we put a second motor and it's something motor that we had never run hadn't even started and it just counted the ground so I'm not going to make any mistakes I'm sure that you could feel the emotion in the air the huge crowds loyalties torn between the two biggest names in Top Fuel racing garland won the race sure leagues uninjured in the tremendous explosion as we look again both drivers got a good start at the flesh of the green light but garlotte's quickly pulled out a very slim lead Shirley's car started spewing oil causing a loss of traction and Garlits move further ahead surely never taking her foot off the accelerator pedal lost all hopes of catching garlotte's when the engine destroyed itself in a messy fireball from a reverse ground-level angle the fall of flame that indicated the supercharger explosion leveled the top of the expensive racing engine well the disappointment for Shirley Muldowney and failing to defeat Don Garlits is compounded by a very expensive expensive engine explosion first of all I know your ears are ringing better you okay other than that yeah okay just wonder where the blower went that's all it's in a million pieces unfortunately all over the racetrack it looked to be a good wheeled of wheel race until the engine exploded oh well he was out on me not much I didn't see any daylight that's for sure I used the lean out button and I thought that might pick it up and it he was out there well I have a feeling that this setback here will be overcome very quickly oh yeah you've learned by your mistakes and will definitely learn why it happened and try not to never happen again but what can you do Steve that's welcome welcome to drag racing see you at Gainesville I'm sure sure well thanks how ironic it is that her very first race since that horrible accident was against her longtime rival Don Garlits the pressure of racing surely is off now what do you think put the rest of this event well we gotta try to win this race do our best he's got a good shot at it the classic national event rivalry between Don Garlits and Shirley Muldowney has now been contested eight times and for those of you that keep such records the scores tied at four and four with garlotte's winning the last three races this most recent chapter of the Garlits versus Muldowney story has just been written here at the LA County Fairgrounds at the 26th annual running of the chief Otto parts NHRA winter nationals hello everybody I'm Dave McClelland and welcome to Pomona California the cloudy and cool weather has done little to dampen the enthusiasm of this giant crowd here to watch the kickoff of the 1986 championship drag racing season as always it is at this fabled racetrack that the tone for an entire season of racing is set and as we have just seen the lead story for 1986 at NHRA racing is the comeback of Shirley Muldowney for more on that story let's join Steve Evans in Shirley Muldowney --zf it's David things are just a little more subdued than they have been all weekend long but still hundreds even thousands of fans gather around the pink car just hoping for a look a photograph an autograph for motor sports number one lady until a few minutes ago Shirley was seated in the car doing just exactly that just for her fans we'll have more on the incredible Shirley Muldowney comeback story a little later on in our show right now let's talk about the qualifying and racing action we have seen so far here at the winter nationals the first major shot was fired yesterday by former world champion Joe Amato a new world speed record 269 miles an hour Amato hopes to push into the two 70s during eliminations today then came up barrage of 540 elapsed times the most we've ever seen at any drag race still in competition Darrell Gwynn with a 5-4 Oh Gary back with a 541 Connie Kalitta 43 Joe Amato also in the five 40s it's going to be a war in Top Fuel well as far as the funny cars are concerned Kenny Bernstein the world champion is just sawing through this field so far he has the low elapsed time in 560 in the first round and there really doesn't appear to be anybody to stop him unless it's John Force that's a car Bernstein himself is most worried about pro stock last year only one man ran in the 750s and that was Bob wooden in the first round of Pro Stock action here today seven cars were in the seven 50s and it was Warren Johnson number two in the world racing Bob Lydon number one in the world in that first round Warren Johnson's friend who owes Miguel Forenza lo et a 753 well Steve Glyndon Johnson has always a close race the 1986 winter nationals are being brought to you by Goodyear Goodyear tires and goodie air service for more good years in your car and bike Budweiser or all you do this Bud's for you and by Citgo motor oils give your car the protection it needs ask for Citgo the tough guys working for you back in the fifth Don Garlits and his crew hard at work getting the car ready for round number two of Top Fuel Eliminator coming up next at the winter nationals guys and threatening weather continue to prevail over Laverne California neighboring city to the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds where the 26th annual running of the chief Otto bars winter nationals moves into round number two of Top Fuel Eliminator 24 year old Darrell Gwynn is in the lane near as the he is racing against the former winter national champion Frank Bradley it was back in 1976 that Bradley tasted victory here in Pomona California then a long dry spell until his win in 1984 at the Summer Nationals Frank Bradley defeated Larry miner in the first round of Top Fuel racing while Darrell Gwynn defeated Jimmy King when out of Miami Florida one of the rising young stars in championship drag racing he finished number six in the world last season three times thus far in his short career he has raced against the legend Don Garlits and has been defeated all three times but now he has got to confront bright Bradley in a side-by-side race measured over a the eight miles an hour when he crossed the finish line a happy young man is Darrell Gwynn as we go back in replay and see that great starting line job done by Frank Bradley he has got a few feet advantage at this point but in the middle of the course the horsepower of Darrell Quinn's car shows and in the near Lane you see Gwynn crossing the finish line first do you think you can give him the five 30s maybe become the world's quickest drag racer at 24 years of age well I got to thinking about that last round that didn't even run through my mind when I rolled in this gate but I'd like to win the race and run five thirty you might just do that Darrell Gwynn now past the second round into the semi-finals waiting for his crew to come get him while back on the starting line our next pair already into their burnout procedures in the lane nearest the camera the former world champion this is Gary Beck driving the car owned by Larry minor back out of Hemet California the low qualifier dick Lahaie in round number one and what a spectacular race for LaHaye he established a five point four zero in qualifying a new track record but got bit by the wheel stand bug look at the front wheels up off the ground this is first round competition he nears the center line has to back out of it and Bek goes on to win to earn the right to race against Connie Kalitta kalenna ran that sparkling 543 elapsed time in round one that steve told us about as he defeated Don Durbin galleta checking on back making sure everything's okay as they head into the staging process white beams across the starting line allow the front wheels to roll in indicating the cars are properly staged when they're set starter Buster couch will throw the switch if it's a good start if green light in both ways come out of our lane back in the near Lane boom semifinal Veck in qualifying with some outstanding performances just too much horsepower the racetrack would not hold the power of that 2,500 horsepower engine the next pair pulling into the burnout box that's nothing but a puddle of water the Jean snow is rolling into why is it there to allow the tires to break traction getting those tires clean is the purpose of the burnout his competition the car of Big Daddy Don Garlits garland's not recording those outstanding 540's that the rest of the field seems to be able to muster he defeated of course Shirley Muldowney in that first run with a 558 while Jeanne snow and Ed Morris's competition snow won that race with a 552 if you go on the basis of performance you have to go with snow from Fort Worth Texas but you never count out the man that has become the legend in Top Fuel racing Big Daddy Don Garlits for some 30 years out of his home base in Florida Garlits has been the dominant force the convenient against Darrell Gwynn in the semifinals that rivalry almost is intense as the garlic versus Muldowney here's the fastest driver in Top Fuel racing Joe Amato drawing the thankless task of racing against the newest record holder is Earl whitey whitey owning the car for several years moved into the driver's cockpit reclass it's very tough doc mule field at the winter national in fact this is the second quickest assembly of 16 top all right and right at the top in the number three position was joe amato with a five point four seven second elapsed time let's go to Steve with Don garland approaching this rather conservatively just kind of building just taken it a run at a time I know not one of my better days but the car is still in the race Steve you could never count Big Daddy out Earl whiting may be having problems though backing up after his burnout they moved him out of the racing service to the outside it may be something leaking from the engine the only and everything he's got as he races Joe Amato in this second round Amato defeated Chris Carrabba Sini's in the first round while whiting beat the former NFL quarterback Dan Pastorini as they approached to the starting line problems continue for whiting the crew says no go shut the engine off that gives a single run to Joe Amato on tough break from Earl whiting his best day ever at an NHRA national event Amato is now confronted with a decision do you run the car hard trying to good last time and get Lane choice in the next round or do you back often save the part between the two competitors in the next round the driver with the lowest five point four six second elapsed time but Lucky's got problems the shroud light on the parachute breaks causing it to scream Amato going off course there's lots of room here at the LA County Fairgrounds and he brings that speeding rocketship to a safe stop Joe Amato Connie Kalitta in the semi-finals Amato Ernie fight choice on that run and the matchup everybody's wanting to see for the fourth time in the last 12 months Darrell Gwynn will race Don Garlits and win has the lane choice we'll be right back to the winner at Pomona California work goes on in Connie Coletta's pit area repairing his car for the semifinal round matchup with Joe Amato you might recall it was just moments ago that Amato had a wild ride off this racecourse Steve Evans has caught up with him but Joe Amato this is a top fuel dragster not an off-road car Steve it was a wild ride it's a brand new parachute I guess we're just putting a little bit of taxing because of their speed we're doing and the tourist route light on it you know it was bouncing down there true they're pretty good but we got a stopped well you know if you put it in the net you were done for the day yeah I know that's why we didn't want to hit that net or whatever it took I was gonna drive it back to return road if I had her to get a stop here well if you did Stevie being the road racing here is funny car Eliminator and the reigning world champion winner of six MHRA national event titles last season defeated Rick Johnson in round number one this race he is matched against John Martin who defeated red tunnel in the first round of racing on the starting line John Martin has his work cut out for him because he is against the car that is on the leading edge of technology Bernstein's crew chief Dale Armstrong regarded by many as one of the most innovative men ever Kenny Bernstein was the first to Windtunnel tests as funny cars the first to perfect onboard computer science the first to hide some of his speed secrets under a dirty towel and 486 the latest trick from crew chief Dale Armstrong three Magneto's count of one two three three Magneto's means three spark plugs per cylinder right correct two of them in the conventional location developed by chrysler corporation many years ago for racing purposes the third one a little harder to see it's down under the exhaust header let me show you in detail how that works now this concept is only possible using a solid aluminum billet cylinder head because there are no water jackets to get in the way now here's the usual two spark plugs per cylinder on a funny car now the third spark plug as I said has been added by Armstrong right here just underneath the exhaust port now by flipping the head over yet again we can see the hemispherical combustion chamber here the usual two spark plugs on either side now just underneath the valve here is that third spark plug so it just figures you've got better combustion with three spark plugs so much better they have been able to back off the ignition lead in other words the spark plug fires before top dead center of the piston usually maybe 70 degrees it's now down to about 45 degrees meaning the engine runs much easier the only problem they had in testing this combination the engine is now so thirsty for fuel they almost ran the tank dry Bernstein has been one of the most consistent racers on this racetrack number one qualifier he ran 562 whoa see two miles an hour as the number one qualifier the world champion goes into the semi-final Bernstein and arms drop are most concerned about this car the Corvette driven by John Force qualifying in the number two spot force along with his highly paid invalided crew chief Austin coil betray Hickory in round number one they were to a run Ronchetti but in a late afternoon qualifying session yesterday curette e in the Far Lane was against Dave Yahara yo Hara drifted across the center line into the center line lice and then a rear-end collision at over 240 miles an hour both cars were essentially destroyed in this horrendous accident but as we have seen so many times before in NHRA championship drag racing both drivers emerged from the wreckage unhurt let's find a race car drivers gave you heart as I have a feeling that whatever happened to his car he probably had no control over I'm sure was his fault he said he thought he hit a light down in and it just threw him over the other debut Hara Dave I know that when you got out of your car you were more concerned about Ron's condition than your own I felt fine how is this concern about Iran do you know what happened the car started drifting I write coming into the first light I hit the parachutes and apparently I hit the first light and that's what sucked me right over the other lane so the throttle didn't stick or anything yeah I think I believe it was stuck a little bit because I was trying to get off the thing and it just kept on going that's when I went for the parachutes and it it hit the first light and that sucked it right over there Steve race cars could be rebuilt but the fact that both drivers emerged on hurt is a tribute to the safety requirements in this sport on the starting line John Force in the near Lane is racing mic gun gun is driving the car that won this winter Nationals event one year ago with Alice the greenie at the wheel in round number one he defeated Billy Mayer Mike Dunn John force second round of racing in 20 car eliminator forces following in the tracks of Kenny Bernstein who just recorded lower elapsed time at five point six zero seconds done the new driver for joe cassano trying to make it a winner five point seven five seconds 252 miles an hour let's go to Steve with Kenny Bernstein is it as exciting beginning a new season wearing the number one as it was trying to get it last year oh yeah it certainly is I mean the number 1 means a whole lot to you needless to say and but it's a whole new year in it and you got a whole new battle to fight another 14 NHRA Winston races to go for so it's upper-hand new season and it's all over it's starting again well two more win lights in this one is you we'd love it Kenny has quite a market to shoot for those six event wins in one season back at the starting line the next fair the engines fired the burnouts under the car owned by Roland Leon now driven by Johnny West his competition Dale Baldy let's go to Steve with John pork well John Mike Dunn was right on those lights it looked like he had to pick him up half track he was hot we were running just a shade I headed down and and I kind of tried to I seen Bernstein spin the tire out there and still running 16 I thought Cole's got the horsepower in this thing I can drive it off and Oh done he just kind of stung me there a little bit and she went out had the front end up and I saw the center line I thought I was gonna Ram him I peddler a little she sat down and she cleaned up and horsepower saved me there buddy 575 yeah we'll take it can deal run quicker to challenge Bernstein if you have to no doubt about it we're just trying to get a couple laps in here to get this thing we're italy tea and cheese she'll run 60s we know that but when Bernstein spun him there was no way I was gonna put her to the wood here and blaze the tires get beat up when his round was over no way and obviously elated John Force will be watching for his prediction when he comes up in the semi-finals Johnny West in the Far Lane the newest driver for Roland Leon against a Old Baldy Baldy and round number one had a barrel full of excitement as he raced against Edie McCulloch it was a good race off the starting line in the near Lane driving the Oldsmobile owned by Larry minor against a Buick of called a watch what happens explosion and Michalek incredibly he was able to break the remains of the car to a safe stop you see the video I think you'll be amazed at how hard you were driving that car in that inferno well the main thing I mean I knew I knew that Poli was alongside somewhere I knew the guardrail was on the other somewhere you know anything in between I was trying to stay away from both of them I left my visor down until the flame went out and obviously it was you know oiled and burnt and I couldn't see and finally I lifted the visor up enough that I could see where I was going and then you know at that point I knew I was gonna be okay the experience of Ed McCulloch paid off in this instance as he with a brilliant driving job brought that bouncing slidin burning car to a safe stop Dale Paul day goes on to take the win advances to the second round and is now against Johnny West West a year ago was racing his own car now in the cockpit of one of the finest funny cars in the country he defeated Tripp schumake in round number one Johnny West will be in the lane furthest from our camera in the near Lane is holding a tremendous amount of pressure has got to be riding on the shoulders of Johnny West Leong the car owner one of the best engine builders in the country West qualified well ran well in defeating schumake but this his first major all day wins the race a 55.77 second elapsed time his feet only 244 miles an hour so they all Paul D goes into the semi-final our last pair of car and Bonnie bar of Tim growth in the near Lane gross is racing against the former California now living Collins won his first ever in a journey championship last season when he won the fall national title but here he qualified with a 567 almost a tenth of a second quicker than Jim gross gross defeated John Lombardo in the first round of competition the format of top uber and came out the winner common smell office qualifying phase just a bit in the first round but Tim gross improved over his qualifying time he may be one to watch in funny car eliminator gross in the near Lane Collins in the Far Lane 5.68 second to last time 246 miles an hour he's right down with the best of them he's going to be meeting the world champion Kenny Bernstein in the semi-finals Bernstein with Lane choice while in the other matchup it'll be John Force against Jo Paul de force having Lane choice will be coming right back to the winter Nationals in Pomona California back at the starting line in Pomona California at the winter nationals Joe Amato in the near Lane the fastest rider in the history of drag racing against Connie Kalitta the winner to go into the final that final few inches into the staking beat five point five look at his speed over 265 miles an hour in replay we see the advantage built up by Caleta as he gets the holeshot off the starting line that means he left just a little bit in front of Joe Amato he kept those front wheels out there out in front all the way to the finish line the elapsed time for Kamata five point five four seconds for a bottle five point five nine five hundredths of a second separating the two drivers as they crossed the finish line Joe Amato sister Chemical had a good race and boy it was 554 559 Connie great job thank you thank you the funnel race car shook the tires really hard I heard you tell Joe that and that blurs your vision just worries you the whole race ride disappeared from you Steve it's it's one of the hardest it's really shooken fact when I when I was able to see the racetrack again I guess I was over toward the center line on the thing what do you think you're gonna race in the final could it be the kid or the old man I used to be the kid he's in the drivers he for the first time yeah yes I was see you know unless he and he usually hunches up when the races race is done but we'll see he punches up yeah Don's Don's off and so is he a little bit it's hard telling what it is let's go back to the starting line and find out Steve this Garmin twin rivalry is rapidly developing into one of the most intense in the sport it carried through last season when they raced each other three times one of the most important the finals of Top Fuel as the US Nationals Garlits in the lane nearest the camera Gwyn striking the tires when the engines Franken oil leaks and it was garlotte's winning the race as he did all three matchups last season this time though Garlits is the underdog his win has got the better elapsed time top Fuel racing is incredibly intense how intense was young Darrell Gwynn has developed an ulcer since he moved up from the sportsman category a couple of years ago he was a world champion at the wheel of a Top Alcohol dragster now he is the favorite against Don Garlits in the semi finals twin 56 miles an hour let him give himself a round of applause and for Don Garlits what a disappointment this has to be as he coached his car down to the shutoff area in replay you see garlotte's in the Far Lane instantly losing power the car unable to proceed he loses well Darrell Gwynn for the third time in his young career will go into the final round but this time Don Garlits won't be there you already took care of that business yes I did I've been runner-up to him many times and runner-up just don't cut it anymore and I'm pretty serious about winning this thing I just can't say enough I'm very happy we haven't heard apart all weekend the crews done an excellent job let me tell you something that's gonna save that ulcer he's starting to grow 545 gives you a lane choice well there again you're thrilled aren't you yes I am I can't even hardly talk I tell you I I'm not gonna make it we'll see you down here in just a short time you might win this whole thing thank you very much that man's pumped Steve the emotion showing on the face and in the voice of Darrell Gwynn as he goes into the final against the veteran Cuddy Caleta wins having the lane choice under darkening skies that the winter Nationals worst goes on in Kenny Bernstein's pit area as we get set for the semi work underway preparing the car of Connie Kalitta for the top Fuel final let's go to Steve Evans with Don Garlits some months ago I was talking to Big Daddy and said you know the more I race that kid Darrell Gwynn the more the odds are in his favor and they just kind of bet you today yeah see where he he he's running real good he he could win this race and I wish him the best we just had a little driveline disconnect Garlits the veteran out of competition this the semifinal round of funny kart eliminator along with Steve Evans I'm Dave McClelland and that man is Dale Armstrong regarded by many as the most creative and innovative crew chief in all of nitro fuel burning racing he is the crew chief for Kenny Bernstein in the near Lane Tim gross the rapidly improving young driver from Saugus California is in the Far Lane Bernstein's got to be regarded as the favorite he has run three five sixty elapsed time to reach this boy six seconds 204 but the elapsed time was excellent in replay you can watch exactly what happened when Bernstein left the starting line in the near Lane the tires started smoking almost immediately at that point Rose had nearly a car length lead by the time they got to the finish it was Welding ovation I can feel it in his pit area before this semifinal run Tim gross you worked full of confidence and deservedly so thanks to you it felt pretty decent but the car struck hard a lot of clutch Dustin Olin I got distracted when the red car disappeared so fast in the starting line I assumed something happened to him he smoked the tires you rent a 561 oh my god alright well I hope she looks as good as I did last pass cuz we're ready all right Tim girls do I have to tell you is excited I don't think so Steve how do you make a driver happy in drag racing tell them about a good Hill last time Dale Paul D is in the near Lane he has watched Kenny Bernstein smoke the tires there's the man that Bernstein was most concerned about John Ford the horse has taken the lane that had just recorded a 5.6 one-eye lap time for Tim gross can he duplicated his crew chief Austin coil is dialed in some horsepower you can bet on that following the directions of Coyle is forced as they approach that imaginary line across the racetrack made up of the multiple light beam which is the starting line in the near Lane Somerset regal of Dale balding this car capable of speeds well over 260 miles an hour Jim gross 5.7 the lane choice that right-hand lane causing problems first for Bernstein and now proposing you see it happening again it's almost a repeat the colors of the cars change the tire smoke indicating that loss of traction that took the race away from holding and gave it to Port John Force are gonna get another shot at the elusive final round this time against Tim gross well what can you say people laughed at me when I hired Cole cuz I was spending that kind of money most of my budget and I said he'd pay off and we went around around about a gear change downer but he said the track don't appear to be there and girls pulled out that sixty and Bernstein smoked two tires and thank God for the gear change did you see it work than I ran just as quick indeed but maybe some attention is gonna be paid to the clutch this next one cuz you do not have Lane choice well that was more tune-up run Believe It or Not on a on a clutch and the tracks good and if I can give him some help with the motor in the driving end of it we're way overdue Steve you know it it's been coming in a hundred years absolutely seems like 200 Steve never yet has gone horse one HR a national event title Tim gross took his first last season when he won the Keystone Nationals in this winter Nationals final it will be gross against force with gross having the lane choice will be coming right back for the winter nationals starting to close in on the 26th annual chief Otto parts winter nationals have we're set for the finals of Pro Stock eliminator in the Far Lane will be the Ford Thunderbird of Frank Ionia in the near Lane his competition driving a brand new Opel Bill Frenzel race car is Warren Johnson earlier we saw Johnson defeat pop Clinton the world champion in round number one in the semifinals he defeated Nick Nicholas from Jackson Heights New York Frank Iook ownio from totowa new jersey had an easy go of it in the semi-finals he was paired against butch leo leo through the big red light leaving the starting line too soon automatically disqualifying him and putting iuck ownio in the finals these been true factory hot rods 500 cubic inch engines two four-barrel carburetors running on racing gasoline laughs time of 7:56 his speed over a hundred eighty-five miles an hour in replay you see the wheel standing start from these hot rod and look at Johnson he gets very close to the center line and half the limb now this is always a quiet man from New Jersey but I think we'll get a little animation out of him now at 7:56 I'll tell you about half the people in this place have just given that race to Warren not to be oh yeah he you know he was running good though Steve I mean he ran seven fifty three twice I think the tracks a little was a little fluky because of the weather I think and you know it was just a matter of who got down to track the best I had a lot of trouble we changed some stuff for the final just you know because we were like a tenth slower than Warren and it worked you know the car went straight the Pro Stock champion Frank Iook onio his first win since October of 1983 here's the top Fuel final the young charger Darrell Glen in the Far Lane the veteran Connie Kalitta in the near Lane it was nearly 20 years ago that Connie Kalitta one this winter nationals championship back in 1967 Gerald Winn has yet to win a Top Fuel title his is a family operation his father builds the engine serves his crew chief his mother fixes the food for lunch and his fiance Shelley Stanton packs his parachute well Shelley I guess you know it's love when your fiance let you pack his parachute you young kids have been looking forward to a win at one of these big races a long time you're gonna get it today hopefully I hope I'm praying for it you know I asked Darrell when you guys were gonna set a wedding date he said well when we get a sponsor and he just kind of laughed I wonder if one and all this money and I though I hope that's what he says he's been telling me if he gets a sponsor and everything but I don't think just this rice you need more nestling on some $25,000 in cash in Awards riding on this single race between Daryl blame in the Far Lane the Bounty Hunter Caleta in the near Lane as we watch again it was a brilliant start by Quinn and instantly his car responded and will nearly a car lengths lead over the veteran Connie Kalitta at this point horsepower made the difference and Gwynn wins well you've heard us all say it myself Don Garlits anybody that knows anything about directors saying that a win was gonna come soon for this young man Darrell Gwynn congratulations 546 did it thank you very much Steve then runner-ups I'll tell you they just don't cut it there's nothing like a win I can I'm here to tell you this is nothing like I've ever experienced I've won ten national events in the alcohol car but the king of the sport Top Fuel here we are you know people ask me how does the Gwynn family do it they don't have big sponsors a teenage crew moms in there making lunches how do you do it well as far as we're concerned we kind of got things back down today we didn't figure the car would run as good as it did we just didn't couldn't afford to hurt a bunch of parts and thank God here we are in the winner's circle a great win for the entire Gwynn family a cloud of dust emanates from the bell housing of PIM grosses race car that's what remains of those slider clutch discs after that dramatic win over Kenny Bernstein gross will go into the finals against John Force coming up next at the winter nationals the chief Otto parts winter national the top Fuel champion Darrell Gwynn gives his dad Jerry Glen a big hug then a crew member his mother and Shelly Stanton - his fiancee on hand to congratulate Darrell after his big victory at the starting line it's dark you've heard of dancing in the dark we call this racing in the dark coming into the finals he had a five point six one second elapsed time in the semi-finals when he defeated the favor at the pre-race favorite and low qualifier Kenny Bernstein John Force won his race when Dale Talde smoked the tires off the starting line but force has yet to be able to develop those 560 elapsed times that have become so prevalent during competition at this winter nationals his run in the semi finals netted him only a 5.75 second a lap time and here in the finals with Bros having Lane choice that puts force in the lane nearest the camera and that's the lane that has been causing traction problems with a funny card throughout the late afternoon the darkening sky is providing a brilliant light show for this huge crowd still on hand here at the LA County Fairgrounds as those inner flames stand tall alongside the race car some problems maybe for Tim gross the starting line official holding him back Barbara Hogan his crew chief also saying don't move that car back at the back of the car they're working on something it could be even the wheelie bars it could be reattaching the parachute crowd line it's very difficult to tell one of the problems is it has gotten so dark it is difficult for our cameras to tell exactly what's going on but apparently everything is okay the crew members out from underneath the car the starting line official goes back to exit he says ok bring it to the starting line Tim gross cleans the engine out John Force has been waiting the darkening skies adding even more pressure to these two drivers force trying to win his first ever major NHRA championship victory Cruz is going for his second he wanted first only last season the lights across the starting line highlighting the polished wheels the works of art that have become funny cars in any turn a championship drag racing competition a slow snake same process they both make that final move forward five point six nine seconds his feed only 236 miles an hour this Tim gross holds on to the finish line and wins the race in replay you can see the flames coming out of the headers watch them on Tim grosses car it will show you exactly how early he shuts that butter off it happens right there before the first timing light Tim Gross wins Tim gross wins his second in nature a national event title but this time unlike the last time the engines altogether you not on fire everything's perfect let's play one of the most exciting moments of my life but yeah what a distraction i staged the car up and my goggles were totally fogged I left the starting line in a wall I know this probably isn't coaching for the rules and I had to rip my goggles off my face before I could shift it so I could see where I was going yes Bert men do desperate and then when I got into the lights of course there was so much splinter on the cockpit no I clutched us I promised Ian and I heard him go by me and I didn't know if I was at the finish line or what that I guess we wanted ah uh I guess you did Tim our congratulations to all the winter Nationals champions for Steve Evans this is Dave McLellan saying so long from the winter Nationals in Pomona California the executive producer of diamond beat sports is Harvey embelish produced and directed by John B mullahs the 1986 winter Nationals has been brought to you by Ford have you driven a Ford lately and my mother crap quality products for all makes of cars and trucks motor craft exceeds the needs and by Goodyear Goodyear tires and Goodyear service for more good years in your car promotional consideration provided for and a be paid by club man for men who expressed their sense of style and sends himself in the sense they choose to wear clean classic masculine sand and fine toiletries and grooming aid Club men and by persona tough-guy personified Howie Long how do you get a smoother shave that's not pump on your wallet get personified get for Sun up and by Bushnell Bausch and Lomb compact binoculars one of the first names in sports optics waterproof walk proven Center focus enables you to get closer to the action furnished by Bushnell and by Minwax Minwax America's favorite wood finishes Minwax makes it easy to get professional results bring out the beauty with wood finishing product climb in wax coverage of the 1986 NHRA winter nationals has been a presentation of diamond P sports

Channel: redracer1985

Views: 46,849

Keywords: 1986, NHRA, Winternationals, Top, Fuel, Funny, Car, Pro, Stock, Drag, Racing, Dave, McClelland, Steve, Evans, John, Force, Big, Daddy, Don, Garlits, Darrell, Gwynn, Kenny, Bernstein, Bob, Glidden, Warren, Johnson, Frank, Iaconio, Shirley, Muldowney, Joe, Amato, Collins, Tim, Grose, Connie, Kalitta, Pisano, Johnny, West, Roland, Leong, Hawaiian, Budweiser, King, Bradley, Dale, Pulde, Ron, Correnti, Uyehara, Crash, Ed, Ace, McCulloch, Mike, Dunn, Gary, Beck, Larry, Minor, Diamond, Sports

Id: zGduZNumcHc

Length: 42min 18sec (2538 seconds)

Published: Wed Jan 18 2012