NHRA U.S. Nationals

Coordinates: 39°48′46″N 86°20′27″W / 39.81278°N 86.34083°W / 39.81278; -86.34083
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
U.S. Nationals
National Hot Rod Association
VenueGreat Bend Municipal Airport (1955)
Oklahoma State Fairgrounds (1958)
Detroit Dragway (1959-1960)
Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (1961-present)
LocationBrownsburg, Indiana, U.S.
39°48′46″N 86°20′27″W / 39.81278°N 86.34083°W / 39.81278; -86.34083
Corporate sponsorDodge
First race1955
Previous namesU.S. Nationals

The U.S. Nationals (commonly 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]

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 class winners

Year Top Fuel
Dragster (TF/D)
Top Fuel
Funny Car (TF/FC)
Pro Stock Pro Stock Motorcycle Top Gas (Dragster {TG/D}, Funny Car {TG/FC}, Eliminator {TGE}) Top Alcohol (Dragster {TA/D}, Funny Car {TA/FC}, Eliminator {TAE}) Altered Pro Stock Pro Comp Super Stock (SS) Stock
1959 "Ohio George" Montgomery[3]
1960 George Montgomery
1961 Pete Robinson (Top Eliminator)[4] George Montgomery
1962 Jack Chrisman (Top Eliminator)[5]
1963 Robert Vodnik[6] "Ohio George" Montgomery
1964 Don "Big Daddy" Garlits
1965 Don "The Snake" Prudhomme
1966 Mike Snively[7]
1967 Don Garlits Doug Thorley[8] Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins[9]
1968 Don Garlits George Montgomery[10]
1969 Don Prudhomme Danny Ongais George Montgomery[11]
1970 Don Prudhomme Don Schumacher Herb McCandless
1971 Steve Carbone Ed "The Ace" McCulloch Ronnie Sox George Montgomery[12]
1972 Gary Beck Ed McCulloch Ray Allen
1973 Gary Beck Don Prudhomme Bob Glidden
1974 Marvin Graham Don Prudhomme Bob 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 Beadle Lee Shepherd
1982 Shirley Muldowney Billy Meyer Frank Iaconio
1983 Gary Beck Kenny Bernstein Bob Glidden
1984 Don Garlits Jim Head Warren Johnson
1985 Don Garlits John Lombardo Bob Glidden Terry Vance
1986 Don Garlits Mike Dunn Bob Glidden Terry Vance
1987 Joe Amato Kenny Bernstein Bob Glidden Dave Schultz
1988 Joe Amato Ed McCulloch Bob Glidden
1989 Darrell Gwynn Don Prudhomme Larry Morgan John Myers
1990 Joe Amato Ed McCulloch Jerry Eckman Dave Schultz
1991 Kenny Bernstein Jim White Darrel Aldermann Jim Bernard
1992 Ed McCulloch Cruz Pedregon Warren Johnson Dave Schultz
1993 Pat Austin John Force Warren Johnson Dave Schultz
1994 Connie Kalitta Cruz Pedregon Warren Johnson Dave Schultz
1995 Larry Dixon Cruz Pedregon Warren Johnson Rick Ward
1996 Cory McClenathan John Force Kurt Johnson John Myers
1997 Jim Head Whit Bazemore Kurt Johnson John Myers
1998 Gary Scelzi John Force Mike Edwards Matt Hines
1999 Cory McClenathan Frank Pedregon Warren Johnson Matt Hines
2000 Tony Schumacher Jim Epler Jeg Coughlin Jr. Antron Brown
2001 Larry Dixon Whit Bazemore Greg Anderson Angelle Seeling
2002 Tony Schumacher John Force Jeg Coughlin Jr. Angelle Savoie
2003 Tony Schumacher Tim Wilkerson Greg Anderson Reggie Showers
2004 Tony Schumacher Gary Densham Greg Anderson Antron Brown
2005 Larry Dixon Del Worsham Greg Anderson Steve Johnson
2006 Tony Schumacher Robert Hight Greg Anderson Matt Smith
2007 Tony Schumacher Mike Ashley Dave Connolly Craig Treble
2008 Tony Schumacher Robert Hight Dave Connolly Steve Johnson
2009 Tony Schumacher Ashley Force Hood Jeg Coughlin Jr. Hector Arana
2010 Larry Dixon Ashley Force Hood Greg Stanfield L.E. Tonglet
2011 Antron Brown Mike Neff Greg Anderson L.E. Tonglet
2012 Tony Schumacher Mike Neff Dave Connolly Andrew Hines
2013 Shawn Langdon Robert Hight Mike Edwards John Hall
2014 Richie Crampton Alexis DeJoria Shane Gray Eddie Krawiec
2015 Morgan Lucas Jack Beckman Erica Enders-Stevens Jerry Savoie
2016 Tony Schumacher Matt Hagan Chris McGaha Andrew Hines
2017 Steve Torrence J.R. Todd Drew Skillman Eddie Krawiec
2018 Terry McMillen J.R. Todd Tanner Gray LE Tonglet
2019 Doug Kalitta John Force Alex Laughlin Jerry Savoie
2020 Justin Ashley Matt Hagan Erica Enders Scotty Pollacheck
Shawn Langdon Jack Beckman
2021 Steve Torrence Tim Wilkerson Erica Enders Eddie Krawiec
2022 Antron Brown Ron Capps Greg Anderson Matt Smith
2023 Antron Brown Ron Capps Matt Hartford Matt Smith

'NOTE: In 2020, there were two Top Fuel and Funny Car races at the U. S. Nationals.

References

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