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The Big Go Celebrates 60 Years of NHRA Drag Racing History

Pete Ward . May 12, 2026 . Drag Racer
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The Big Go Just Keeps Getting Better With Age

NHRA threw a birthday party for its premiere national event for these past 60 years and it was a rip snorting three-ring circus, complete with elephants (of the Mopar 426 variety). In addition to offering fans the most exciting race action of the year there was an abundance of entertaining “side shows.”

In a circus-sized tent, each day, legendary Indy performers shared their most important memories of past races. In a recreation of his 1967 Top Fuel triumph, Don Garlits cackled his restored racer to the line and shaved off his beard, just as he’d done so many years ago. Speaking of restored racers, there were dozens in attendance and several nitro cacklefests roared out during the birthday bash.

The Big go
T/F champ Richie Crampton (near lane) is a rare bird indeed. Very seldom does a rookie driver snatch the Indy Wally, and he’s the first Aussie to do so. Steve Torrence took the hit, 3.76/327.92 to 3.79/327.82. The Aussie almost doubled up, but lost the Traxxas T/F Shootout to the Sarge.
The Big go
Alexis DeJoria (far lane) deprived John Force of an event sweep. He scored the Traxxas F/C Shootout cash, but the first-time Indy winner snatched the big prize, 4.038/310.34 to Force’s close-but-no-cigar 4.039/319.67.
The Big go
Dave Connolly chopped down the tree but promptly experienced difficulties, and Shane Gray (near lane) scooted by to claim his first Indy Pro Stock crown.
The Big go
Eddie Krawiec’s HD mount (near lane) propelled him to his first Indy win over Jerry Savoie (Angelle’s bro) 6.94/192.62 to 6.98/192.58.

Bottom line, though, it’s about the race. All of the Eliminator brackets featured excellent car counts, including the nitro categories, which made for heated qualifying sessions. It proved to be an excellent year for new blood, of the 12 Eliminators contested 10 were Indy first timers.

Occasionally it’s about the races within the race. Indy 60 featured the Traxxas T/F and F/C Shootout, Mopar Hemi Challenge, Factory Stock Showdown and Nitro F/C plus Pro Stock finals from the rain-shortened Brainerd Lucas Oil Nationals.

Now, as they used to say on TV sports, let’s go to the highlight reel.

The Big go
The nitrous Pro Mods were heavily outnumbered by blower and turbo entries. Rickie Smith (far lane) defied the odds to take the win over Pete Farber: 5.90/345.72 to Pete’s off-pace 6.92/171.60.
Second best in TAD here last year, Chris Demke (near lane) defeated the A/FD of Rich McPhillips for his first Indy crown. Rich is probably still kicking himself, he left a heartbeat too early and had to watch Chris blast on and off the throttle through a trouble-plagued run.
In the TAFC final, Todd Robertson cut a killer light for a healthy lead, only to have his engine expire and cede the race to 2010 winner Jay Payne.
Third time was not the charm for Rick Brown. Joe Santangelo (far lane) took the Indy Comp Eliminator Wally, his first, by a matter of inches. Joe ran a 7.83 E.T. on a 8.35 index to Rick’s 8.29 E.T. on an 8.79.
Super Stock Eliminator was a battle of Mustangs, with Nick Norris’ GT/FA (far lane) taking his first Indy win over the red-lighting SS/EA of Gary Richard.
Comp stalwart Bruno Massel (near lane) jumped to Stock Eliminiator and brought Chevy its first COPO Camaro national event win and his first Indy Wally. Joey
Wilkes was dead on his 9.97 dialin, but it wasn’t enough.
The Big go
Troy Coughlin Jr. (far lane) wheeled his DDRC ’Vette to the Super Gas win, yet another Indy newbie. His foe, Jeffrey Weets, broke out and Troy ran dead on
the 9.90 index.
The Big go
In a close race Tony Schumacher (near lane) snatched the Traxxas T/F Shootout 100K from Crampton 3.74/328.54 to 3.79/318.24.
The Big go
In the Traxxas F/C Shootout, Team Force scooped up the team sponsor’s money, John (far lane) defeated Robert Hight. Robert left first, but a faulty mag handed the victory to Force.
Ron Capps (near lane) won another race at Indy, but not the one he’s lusted after. In the final of the rainhalted Brainerd national event, he defeated John Force. It was Capps’ third straight Brainerd win.
The finals of the Hemi Challenge saw Wendell Howes cut a .005 light, but Charlie Wescott Jr. (near lane) prevailed for his sixth win, 8.55/157.28 to 8.66/154.05.
Chris Holbrook (far lane) scored his second consecutive Factory Stock Showdown in a Ford vs. Mopar final. He overcame Kevin Helms’ .008 light for the win, 8.89/154.19 to 9.02/146.93.
“Big Daddy” reenacts a piece of Indy racing lore by shaving off his beard at the starting line, commemorating his 1967 shenanigans.
The late-model nitro burners not providing enough fumes? Fire up the cacklers! Indy 60 had it all.

 

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