1985 Fallnationals
The 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series heads to the desert this weekend for the 32nd annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals in Phoenix. This week, we will take a look through the NHRANational Dragster photo files from the first national event held at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, the 1985 Fallnationals.
Here’s an overall shot of Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, formerly known as Firebird Int'l Raceway Park, in 1985.
Here’s an overall shot of Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, formerly known as Firebird Int'l Raceway Park, in 1985.
Gene Snow shocked everyone by winning his first Top Fuel title in Phoenix after barely making the field during Saturday’s qualifying. Snow ran a 5.628, 254.95 to defeat Dick LaHaie’s 5.635, 241.93 and become the Top Fuel champion at the first Fallnationals.
Stephen Fedele Jr. earned his first national event win in Top Alcohol Dragster by defeating Brian Raymer. Fedele ran a 6.54, 210.28 to just slip past Raymer’s 6.57, 210.77 in the final round and log the best time of his career.
Tom “the Mongoose” McEwen warmed up his Corvette Funny Car in the pits. McEwen lost to Ed McCulloch in the first round due to a mag that was incorrectly installed, causing a huge drop in performance.
After 22 years of racing, John Collins collected his first NHRA national event win at the 1985 Fallnationals. John Force’s Coca-Cola Corvette spun the tires right off the line in the Funny Car final round to give Collins an easy pass to the winner’s circle.
Bob Glidden clinched the 1985 NHRA world championship and won the race by defeating Joe Lepone Jr. in the final round of Pro Stock. Winning the Fallnationals marked his 46th victory, 12 more than anyone else in the history of the sport at the time.
Top Fuel low qualifier Gary Ormsby and crew were stunned after both rear tires on their car went flat following Ormsby's first-round burnout. Crewmember Darren Capps tried to inflate the left slick, but Ormsby ultimately lost the round to David Miller.