NHRA U.S. Nationals

Last updated
Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals
Indianapolis Raceway Park-Dragster.svg
National Hot Rod Association
Venue Great Bend Municipal Airport (1955)
Kansas City Missouri (1956)
Oklahoma State Fairgrounds (1957–1958)
Detroit Dragway (1959–1960)
Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (1961–present)
LocationBrownsburg, Indiana, U.S.
39°48′46″N86°20′27″W / 39.81278°N 86.34083°W / 39.81278; -86.34083
Corporate sponsor Cornwell Tools
First race1955
Previous namesU.S. Nationals

The Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals (also known as The Big Go) is an NHRA-sanctioned drag racing event, generally considered to be the most prestigious drag racing event in the world due to its history, size, and purse, held annually at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Brownsburg, Indiana. [1]

Contents

Traditionally a Labor Day weekend event, the eliminations are usually held on Monday, but moved to Sunday in 2020 and 2021 because of logistics as a result of the coronavirus pandemic compacted the NHRA schedule and for live television purposes (the final round airs live on Fox), and is the longest-running Labor Day motorsports event in the United States, a distinction it earned in 2004. The U.S. Nationals air on the Fox broadcast network under the current broadcast contract.

The first edition of the NHRA Nationals was held at the Great Bend Municipal Airport in Great Bend, Kansas in 1955. The event moved first to [2] Oklahoma City's Oklahoma State Fairgrounds for the "4th annual National Championship Drag Races Sponsored by the National Hot Rod Association" in 1958, then moved to Detroit Dragway in Detroit, Michigan for 1959-1960 before moving to Indianapolis Raceway Park in 1961, and has remained there ever since, after a verbal deal was made between NHRA founder and Board Chairman Wally Parks and the then-owners of the track. In 1979, the NHRA bought the entire complex. In 2006, it was renamed O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, after auto parts supplier O'Reilly Auto Parts purchased naming rights. In 2011, Lucas Oil purchased the rights, renaming the venue Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis but then in 2022 it was renamed Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Past winners

Professional Classes

Year Top Fuel
Dragster (TF/D)
Top Fuel
Funny Car (TF/FC)
Pro Stock Pro Stock Motorcycle
1961 Pete Robinson (Top Eliminator) [3]
1962 Jack Chrisman (Top Eliminator) [4]
1963 Robert Vodnik [5]
1964 Don "Big Daddy" Garlits
1965 Don "The Snake" Prudhomme
1966 Mike Snively [6]
1967 Don Garlits Doug Thorley [7] Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins [8]
1968 Don Garlits
1969 Don Prudhomme Danny Ongais
1970 Don Prudhomme Don Schumacher Herb McCandless
1971 Steve Carbone Ed "The Ace" McCulloch Ronnie Sox
1972 Gary Beck Ed McCulloch Ray Allen
1973 Gary BeckDon Prudhomme Bob Glidden
1974 Marvin Graham Don PrudhommeBob Glidden
1975 Don Garlits Raymond Beadle Wayne Gapp
1976 Richard Tharp Gary Burgin Wally Booth
1977 Dennis Baca Don Prudhomme "Dyno Don" Nicholson
1978 Don Garlits Tom "Mongoo$e" McEwen Bob Glidden
1979 Kelly Brown Gordie Bonin Bob Glidden Terry Vance
1980 Terry Capp Ed McCulloch Lee Shepherd
1981 Johnny Abbot Raymond BeadleLee Shepherd
1982 Shirley Muldowney Billy Meyer Frank Iaconio
1983 Gary Beck Kenny Bernstein Bob Glidden
1984 Don Garlits Jim Head Warren Johnson
1985 Don GarlitsJohn LombardoBob GliddenTerry Vance
1986 Don Garlits Mike Dunn Bob GliddenTerry Vance
1987 Joe Amato Kenny BernsteinBob Glidden Dave Schultz
1988 Joe AmatoEd McCullochBob Glidden
1989 Darrell Gwynn Don Prudhomme Larry Morgan John Myers
1990Joe AmatoEd McCulloch Jerry Eckman Dave Schultz
1991Kenny BernsteinJim White Darrel Aldermann Jim Bernard
1992Ed McCulloch Cruz Pedregon Warren Johnson Dave Schultz
1993 Pat Austin John Force Warren JohnsonDave Schultz
1994 Connie Kalitta Cruz PedregonWarren JohnsonDave Schultz
1995 Larry Dixon Cruz PedregonWarren Johnson Rick Ward
1996 Cory McClenathan John Force Kurt Johnson John Myers
1997Jim Head Whit Bazemore Kurt JohnsonJohn Myers
1998 Gary Scelzi John Force Mike Edwards Matt Hines
1999Cory McClenathan Frank Pedregon Warren JohnsonMatt Hines
2000 Tony Schumacher Jim Epler Jeg Coughlin Jr. Antron Brown
2001Larry DixonWhit Bazemore Greg Anderson Angelle Seeling
2002Tony SchumacherJohn ForceJeg Coughlin Jr. Angelle Savoie
2003Tony Schumacher Tim Wilkerson Greg Anderson Reggie Showers
2004Tony Schumacher Gary Densham Greg Anderson Antron Brown
2005Larry Dixon Del Worsham Greg AndersonSteve Johnson
2006Tony Schumacher Robert Hight Greg Anderson Matt Smith
2007Tony Schumacher Mike Ashley Dave Connolly Craig Treble
2008Tony SchumacherRobert HightDave Connolly Steve Johnson
2009Tony Schumacher Ashley Force Hood Jeg Coughlin Jr. Hector Arana
2010Larry DixonAshley Force HoodGreg StanfieldL.E. Tonglet
2011Antron BrownMike NeffGreg AndersonL.E. Tonglet
2012Tony SchumacherMike NeffDave Connolly Andrew Hines
2013Shawn LangdonRobert HightMike EdwardsJohn Hall
2014Richie CramptonAlexis DeJoriaShane GrayEddie Krawiec
2015Morgan LucasJack Beckman Erica Enders-Stevens Jerry Savoie
2016Tony SchumacherMatt HaganChris McGaha Andrew Hines
2017Steve TorrenceJ.R. ToddDrew SkillmanEddie Krawiec
2018Terry McMillenJ.R. ToddTanner GrayLE Tonglet
2019Doug KalittaJohn ForceAlex LaughlinJerry Savoie
2020Shawn LangdonJack BeckmanErica EndersScotty Pollacheck
2021Steve TorrenceTim WilkersonErica EndersEddie Krawiec
2022Antron BrownRon CappsGreg AndersonMatt Smith
2023Antron BrownRon CappsMatt HartfordMatt Smith
2024Clay MillicanAustin ProckAaron StanfieldGaige Herrera

    Sportsman Classes

    Year Top Gas (Dragster {TG/D}, Funny Car {TG/FC}, Eliminator {TGE})
    1959 "Ohio George" Montgomery [9]
    1960George Montgomery
    1961George Montgomery
    1962
    1963"Ohio George" Montgomery
    1964
    1965
    1966
    1967
    1968George Montgomery [10]
    1969George Montgomery [11]
    1970
    1971George Montgomery [12]

    References

    1. Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals: Event Preview
    2. "History - the 1958 NHRA Nationals".
    3. Ultimate Racing History (retrieved 14 February 2024
    4. Ultimate Racing History (retrieved 14 February 2024
    5. Ultimate Racing History (retrieved 14 February 2024
    6. Ultimate Racing History (retrieved 14 February 2024
    7. Ultimate Racing History
    8. Ultimate Racing History (retrieved 14 February 2024
    9. Hardin, Drew. "Remembering Gasser Legend 'Ohio George' Mongomery". Hot Rod Magazine, January 2024, pp.8-9.
    10. Hardin, p.9.
    11. Hardin, p.9.
    12. Hardin, p.9.