1961 NHRA Winternationals

Last updated

1961 NHRA Winternationals
Venue Pomona Raceway
LocationLos Angeles County Fairgrounds

The 1961 NHRA Winternationals was a National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) drag racing event, held at Pomona Raceway at Los Angeles County Fairgrounds [1] on 19 February. [2]

Contents

History

The 1961 Pomona event was NHRA's second to be called Winter Nationals; the first was held in Florida in 1960, in conjunction with NASCAR, and was not a success. [1] It marked a return to NHRA's spiritual home: the association's rules had been written in Southern California, and LACF hosted NHRA's first ever national event, the Southern California Championships, in 1953. [1]

NHRA's Wally Parks worked with the Pomona Valley Timing Association (PVTA) to organize the Winternats. [1]

The Winternats were unusual for Southern California, due to NHRA's ban on nitromethane. [1]

The prizes were modest: four 390 cu in (6,400 cc) Ford V8s, one each for the Top, Middle, Little, and Street Eliminator winners, with a gift certificate for a color television set to the Stock Eliminator winner. The trophies were paid for by model kit maker AMT. [1]

Results

Jack Chrisman (at the wheel of twin-Chevrolet-engined Howard Cam Special ) took Top Eliminator over Tom "Mongoo$e" McEwen (driving for Dick Rea [3] ) with an 8.99 in the final. [1]

Mickey Thompson won Middle Eliminator. [1]

Little Eliminator went to Dick Manz (in the Larry Sanchez-owned car), beating Frank Pisano. [4]

Street Eliminator was won by Johnny Loper over "Big John" Mazmanian (driving a Chevrolet Corvette. [5]

Stock Eliminator was won by "Dyno Don" Nicholson, which got him his start in match racing. [1]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Jodauga, John. "Greatest Races: 1961 Winternationals", at NHRA.net (retrieved 24 September 2018)
  2. ↑ Ultimateracinghistory (retrieved 24 September 2018)
  3. ↑ Ultimateracinghistory (retrieved 24 September 2018)
  4. ↑ Ultimateracinghistory (retrieved 24 September 2018)
  5. ↑ Ultimateracinghistory (retrieved 24 September 2018)

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