We’re zip tripping right back to 1983 to watch some action from the NHRA World Finals from Orange County International Raceway. This weekend the NHRA will close at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in one of the more interesting fashions in the 69 year history of the NHRA. The final event of what will be an 11 race season will see champions crowned in all categories. Unlike 1983, Top Fuel is not 100% decided yet. Steve Torrence comes in with a solid lead but there’s still a small window of opportunity for Doug Kalitta. Pro Stock sees Erica Enders as the points leader, funny car and pro stock motorcycle will be a multiple racer battle to the end. It is going to be awesome.
This show begins with a truly wild sequence, showing Mike Dunn suffering a horrendous engine explosion on the order of what we see these days. Briefly mentioned at the start of this show is the fact that ths 1983 NHRA World Finals would be the final race at the facility as it had been sold and the land was to be used for houses and junk. The place went out with a bang because the crowd was massive at this place and the OCIR faithful sent their home track off with a strong note.
The race is called by Evans and McClelland as you’d expect. Clearly this was a voice over to tape as the announcer audio is not even close to what the natural sound in the background would lead you to believe. The audio is so different between Evans and Mac, we’re not sure they were actually in the same place!
The matchups are awesome. Prudhomme vs Segrini in the first round, huge names in top fuel like Richard Tharp and Shirley Muldowney were present. THIS was a great race.
