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NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Top Fuel domination, 1983 style

21 Oct 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
The 1983 Larry Minor-owned, Gary Beck-driven, Bernie Fedderly-tuned world championship entry was one of the baddest Top Fuelers ever, recording 16 of the season's 17 quickest runs, including  a national record…
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Ghost-track hunting goes high tech

17 Oct 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Okay, ghost-track fans – and that seems to be just about every one of you based on the e-mails (more than 60) I've received and all of the comments last weekend in Bakersfield (about a dozen) – it's time to get…
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My Bakersfield of Dreams

14 Oct 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about missing my 30th high school reunion to be at the 91 POWERade Drag Racing Series event in Dallas, and noted that, all things considered, I'd rather be at the drags than at…
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You've got questions, we've got answers

10 Oct 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Another week, another zillion ghost-track requests. … I'm slowly working my way through your latest batch of submissions and stories and will present them sometime next week. It takes time to track them down, research a little history, pinpoint…
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Ghost tracks, the scary sequel

07 Oct 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Like a scary sequel to your favorite horror flick, we're back with another edition of ghost tracks. Every serious drag fan, of course, had a favorite haunt in his or her formative years, and many of them have passed away, leading to the sport that's…
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In a Pryor life, plus more ghost tracks

30 Sep 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Bill Pryor tried on Don Garlits' car, the first step toward Top Fuel. Friday's ghost-tracks column inspired a lot of mail and a little bit of sadness from those who had…
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A vividly imagined column

26 Sep 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
I spent some enjoyable time with Billy Meyer at Texas Motorplex during the O'Reilly Super Start Batteries 91 Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec, listening to him spin tales about his career that I was all set to share with you here today,…
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Your turn

23 Sep 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Yesterday was a travel day home from Dallas, so I spent some time finishing this entry. During the weekend, I not only covered the big event but also did my darnedest to catch up on some correspondence I reckon I owe y'all (maybe I was in…
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Motorplex memories and mishaps

19 Sep 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
It's Friday morning at Texas Motorplex, and it's good to see the old gal again. I haven’t been here in a few years, and even then it was to attend the Division 4 NHRA Summit Racing Series Finals and not an NHRA national…
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Be true to your school

17 Sep 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Voted most likely to become a drag racing editor? We didn't have a drag racing team, so I had to settle for volleyball. That's me, number 5.…
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They didn't call him 'Wild Bill' for no reason

15 Sep 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
The man, the myth, the legend: "Wild Bill" Shrewsberry Shrewsberry, second from left, drove more than wheelstanders. He's pictured with crewmember Dee Catton,…
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Concord, N.C., 1960 style

11 Sep 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
"T.V. Tommy" Ivo has always been a great self-promoter – witness his television career, four-engine Showboat, glass-sided trailer ... heck, the guy even unabashedly signs his correspondence "your hero and mine, TV Tom" – and…
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Stone, Woods & Cook: From the inside

08 Sep 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
When ND published a story in 1984 about the great 1964 Lions Drag Strip match race of Stone, Woods & Cook versus "Big John" Mazmanian, we also arranged a reunion of sorts. (Above) Leonard Woods Jr.…
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And the winner is ...

05 Sep 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Final results for Favorite Race Car Ever Stone, Woods & Cook Willys 2088 (17.40%) Winged Express 1598 (13.31%) “Jungle Jim” Liberman Vega…
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Favorite Race Car Ever voting: The final round!

25 Aug 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Final results for Favorite Race Car Ever Stone, Woods & Cook Willys 2088 (17.40%) Winged Express 1598 (13.31%) “Jungle Jim” Liberman Vega 1115…
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Superman lives!

20 Aug 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
  Long before John Force ever saddled up in his first Funny Car, drag racing had another gregarious character that we all called “Superman,” a tough-as-nails nitro jockey who piloted fuel dragsters and Funny Cars in a 20…
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Mondays with Murray: Shirley Muldowney

18 Aug 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Seeing drag racing legend Shirley Muldowney in the photos from John Force’s induction into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in Novi, Mich., last Wednesday reminded me that I haven’t run a Mondays with Murray column in…
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If the Shoe fits ...

14 Aug 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Even as our Favorite Race Car Ever poll heads toward the final rounds, I’m still getting e-mails asking how I could possibly have forgotten to include this particular car or that car in the polls. The perceived slights run…
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Favorite Race Car Ever voting: 1980s and Beyond

11 Aug 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Joe Pisano/Mike Dunn Olds Funny Car Don Garlits Swamp Rat XXX Top Fueler Gary Ormsby Castrol GTX streamliner Top Fueler Joe Amato TRW Top Fueler…
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'I was there:' Garlits debuts Swamp Rat 14

07 Aug 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
While watching the numbers on our '70s Top Fueler poll inch slowly toward the cutoff point (as opposed to the ‘70s Funny Car poll, which is skyrocketing toward that number; there's still time to vote in both if you scroll…
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Favorite Race Car Ever voting: 1970s Funny Cars

04 Aug 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
“Jungle Jim” Liberman Vega Don Prudhomme Hot Wheels ‘Cuda Don Prudhomme Army Monza Tom McEwen Hot Wheels Duster Raymond Beadle Blue Max Mustang II Ed McCulloch Revellution Dodge Barry Setzer/Pat Foster Vega…
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In the Mood

31 Jul 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Veteran fans recognize this masked man. "I never used the full-faced helmet," said Moody. "With both rear-engined cars, I used the old Tony Nancy leather face mask. I guess it was less confining, and I…
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Favorite Race Car Ever voting: 1970s Top Fuelers

28 Jul 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Don Garlits Swamp Rat 14 Don Garlits Swamp Rat 22 Beck & Peets Export A Warren-Coburn-Miller Rain for Rent Don…
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Get 'er Dunn (and happy anniversary to us!)

24 Jul 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
  I’m putting the finishing touches on all the research-doing, photo-grabbing, and poll-making for the next step in our Favorite Race Car Ever poll, which will cover 1970s Top Fuelers -- look for it Monday, and, in the…
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Favorite Race Car Ever voting: Early Funny Cars

21 Jul 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Sachs & Sons/Chrisman Mercury Comet Jim Liberman’s Chevy II Gas Ronda’s Ford Mustangs Arnie Beswick's Tameless Tiger GTO…
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Voting recap, making it up as I go, and your stories

18 Jul 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Final results for all-time favorite exhibition car! "Winged Express" fuel altered 1394 (36.53%) "Little Red Wagon" wheelstander 1109 (29.06%) " L.A. Dart"…
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Favorite Race Car Ever voting: Early Dragsters

15 Jul 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
The Glass Slipper The Speed Sport Roadster Arfons Bros. Green Monster Don Garlits' Swamp Rat I Don Garlits' Swamp Rat…
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Favorite Race Car Ever voting: Early Door Cars/Roadsters

11 Jul 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Sox & Martin Barracuda Bill Jenkins '68 Camaro Don Carlton Motown Missile Stone, Woods and Cook Willys “Ohio George…
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Let the voting begin!

09 Jul 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Bill Shrewsberry's L.A. Dart wheelstander Sammy Miller's Oxygen rocket dragster Jack McClure's rocket-powered go-kart Doug Rose's Green Mamba jet…
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Dry hops in heaven

07 Jul 2008
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
DRAGSTER Insider
Buster Couch looks over as the Funny Car approaches the staging beams and winks at the new arrival, a tousle-haired kid with a lead foot whom he has known since the lad was in diapers. Scott Kalitta moves forward as longtime…
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