It was the 39th NHRA US Nationals. It was a weird weekend in Indy. It was a weekend where John Force was trying to win his first Indy, it was a year that the race was not broadcast on TNN or ESPN but rather NBC as part of their Sportsworld series. Many of the names are familiar. From Prudhomme, to Worsham, to Bernstein. Steve Evans and Frank Hawley were the “men on the scene” with respect to pit and starting line reporters and the show is a fun watch. It is amazing to think that after championship seasons in the early 1990s, John Force had yet to win the US Nationals. His 1992 season was all but a disaster and Cruz Pedregon took the championship from him. 1993 was different. He and Austin Coil were on a mission to take back what they believed was rightfully there.
The interesting thing about this broadcast is that pro stock is picked up in the semi-finals AFTER multiple rounds of top fuel and nitro funny car were run.
One of the names that is a bit of a surprise to see on the show is the relative unknown Fred Neely. Ronnie Swearington was the crew chief on the car and it was brutally fast. Neely, as you will see was perhaps a bit overwhelmed by his own success at the event and loses a tough round.
Indianapolis Raceway Park is now known as Lucas Oil Raceway Indianapolis. The stands are far more massive than they were in 1993 but the basically sprawling layout of the place is the same as it ever was. Cars everywhere, loads of people, and intense competition are the longtime hallmarks of this event and that has NOT changed a bit!
