Burndown Breakdown: Here’s The Definitive History Of The Greatest NHRA Burndown Ever, Carbone vs Garlits 1971


Burndown Breakdown: Here’s The Definitive History Of The Greatest NHRA Burndown Ever, Carbone vs Garlits 1971

As the drag racing world still buzzes over the Mason McGaha/Bruno Massel starting line show at Topeka a couple weeks ago, NHRA’s Phil Burgess decided to do a deep dive into the greatest burndown of all time. The final round of the 1971 NHRA US Nationals was three years in the making. Don Garlits, the king of the sport by the time 1971 came around and scrappy Steve Carbone who had built himself into a champion level top fuel racer as well. There was one problem for Carbone, he kept taking lumps from Garlits. So, like any good competitor, he made a plan.

The detail and backstory shared here is incredible and really makes you understand why these two otherwise mentall tough racers went full psycho on each other. It was the final round of top fuel. It was a slingshot taking on a rear engine car, it was the biggest name in Garlits, and it was a guy who wanted to beat him so bad he’d do anything to try.

And he did.

Great read: The definitive story on the greatest burndown in NHRA history


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