QuarantinePiece Theater: Watch The 1976 NHRA SpringNationals – Shirley’s First Win, A Breakthrough Moment!


QuarantinePiece Theater: Watch The 1976 NHRA SpringNationals – Shirley’s First Win, A Breakthrough Moment!

Today on QuarantinePiece Theater we present to you the 1976 NHRA SpringNationals from Columbus, Ohio. This was a historic moment for multiple reasons in NHRA competition. The first professional class win for a woman, the first top fuel victory for Shirley Muldowney, and the list goes on an on. Who knew it was going to be the start of the momentum that would carry Shirley to her first world championship in 1977 and who knew it would be the start of the most important female race driving career in motorsport history.

This broadcast is very 1976. There’s also some kind of telling themes that are brought to the fore pretty early. From the mention of “beautiful ladies” in the opening shot of the river to the fact they lead the show with the mention that Shirley “struck a blow for women’s lib” in qualifying number one, they were definitely foreshadowing what was to come.

We’re not sure where this show aired in 1976. This was long before ESPN, long before the USA network, and it is a far more complete broadcast than would have been shown on ABC’s Wide World of Sports. We’re guessing that this production was made and shopped around to various TV stations around the country. It was a far different business before everything was owned by like five companies. There was still plenty of opportunity to sell programming like this on a city by city, station by station basis.

Oh, and the fact that tech inspection was still happening at a local shopping center in 1976 is pretty wild.

Press play below to see this awesome airing of the 1976 NHRA SpringNationals in Ohio –


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