Monday at Indy is the stuff of legend. It is the end of a long, long road of drag racing. It is the day when people have their hearts broken and their dreams realized. It is a day that I lay awake at night and think about all year long. A day that has made me cringe and a day that has made me cry with joy watching friends succeed during the most important eliminations the sport of drag racing has to offer. We’re taking a trip back to that Monday in 1978 and paying direct attention to the sportsman final rounds from the 1978 US Nationals, one of the most emotional NHRA races ever. Remember, this was the year that Tom McEwen shocked the world and beat Don Prudhomme in the funny car final.
But enough of that pro stuff. You are going to see some cool finals here, starting with a stock eliminator final for the ages that pits a stick shifted, straight six Chevy II against a 1976 Olds station wagon with wood paneling on the side. That 1976 Olds wagon was only two years old at the time! Pretty wild stuff and the race itself is just plain awesome. Beyond that you will see super stock, modified eliminator and Pro Comp. The Pro Comp category was the top dawg of “sportsman” racing in this days and pre-dates today’s top alcohol dragster and top alcohol funny car categories. The win here is the first for a small block Chevy in the class and it’s pretty fantastic to watch.
The coolest final is the Comp Eliminator final round where John Lingenfelter appears in his dragster. We’re not giving the results of that one away either but we’ll make you watch it instead. I love finding these videos because they really are gems from the history of the sport and when talking about sportsman racing it makes them even more special.
I was there! Garlits in T/F. McEwen in F/C and Glidden in P/S. FORTY years ago!