People very rarely know they are making history when they are in the moment when it’s created, right? We’re sure that 23-year old Art Marshall of New Jersey wasn’t thinking that he’d be a permanent fixture in the NHRA history books when he and his young buddies nabbed one of the weirdest top fuel victories in 1972 at the NHRA Le Grand National in Canada. But they did. They earmarked their place in every drag racing dork’s brain by making themselves the last front engine top fuel national event winners in NHRA history. The tide had turned for the rear engine cars and that tide had become a tsunami that was rapidly wiping all the slingshots off the face of planet top fuel.
The fact that they won the race is one thing but the real story is how. Some lucky breaks, some cagey strategy? Some beginner’s luck? The people they beat in the oddball top fuel show stand as legends to this day. In fact, they are all in the hall of fame. Marshall’s car is even in the hall of fame…although not looking like you see it below in black.
The image below depicts nearly the exact moment that Art Marshall made history. This is the final at the race with Marshall nearest the lens and Jeb Allen across the track in his Praying Mantis rear engine car. The 18-year old Californian had just recently won the NHRA Summernationals and was the sport’s next phenom. His meteoric rise would be put no a temporary hold while some New Jersey kids fulfilled their destiny.
This story and all of its details rule. Listen here.
Hit the image below to listen to this story of a singular moment in drag racing history
Weird. I thought John Wiebe was the last one to win in a FED.
I thought he was part if the King and Marshall drag team but seeing Van Iderstein as a sponsor on the car, wrong answer. Van Iderstein was a big part of my speed parts in the early 80’s.
Nice to see my photo used!
Thanks Bob, you sent me all you had on this a few years back….thanks for the memories!
Loved your article on dinosaurs! Reminded me of another T/F team of the \’60s, a trio(?) of engineering students, The Surfers. I believe they claimed a national event win (there were only about 6 at the time), on a shoestring budget. The term \’grenade motor\’ was their strategy to win rounds or, as Art Marshall did, slay the giants and win an event against the teams with deep pockets.
My fave from that era: The Fighting Irish fueler of Beebe and Mulligan.
No doubt their story you are familiar with.
Bring back exclusive front engine Top Fuel class…I am betting their numbers would far exceed the rear engine class…
I was 13 years old at the time and went to the ‘72 Grandnationals for my first drag race! I saw this!
Enjoyed seeing the picture again and listening to the audio as well. I think if you get a look at the video of the event you will see that we did our burn out and were staged first.
I have been to the museum to see the car again and the folks there were very helpful in letting me look as close as I wanted.
Great memories and great group of people in the NHRA network.
Thanks for the memories.