Last week we showed you part one of the 1989 NHRA US Nationals coverage and now we’re going to accelerate the pace as the greatest drag race in the world (2019 edition) starts in just a couple of days! There are already 300 rigs in line at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis (formerly Indianapolis Raceway Park).
In this video we get to see some great nitro funny car racing as eliminations continue on what looks like a beautiful Monday at Indy. Drag Racing’s most consequential day is always a thriller because of the work that has lead up to the moment where someone is actually going to win the thing after a week of work. John Force, Don Prudhomme, and Bruce Larson were the premier headliners in the funny car category. Larson’s performance is most adequately described Garlits in this video when he makes mention that basically everyone in the sport figured the guy was a fluke off to a quick start at the beginning of the season. By the time the tour got to Indy, everyone knew that Larson and his crew chief Maynard Yingst were the real deal.
There were upsets galore at this race. Tom Hoover knocking off Kenny Bernstein, Tony McCallum beating John Force, and the list goes on and on and on. Hell, Chuck Etchells was having a career day as well. Typically Indy on Monday delivers at least on shocking run through eliminations for an unlikely hero in drag racing. It’s the best day of the year.
Oh and how about AJ Foyt making a cameo appearance in the pits!
We’ll be back tomorrow with installment three!
