As we gather our things and prepare to head toward Palm Beach International Raceway for our live broadcast of the PRO Winter Warm Up pre-season test, thoughts of Top Fuel greatness are on the forefront of our minds. Eddie Hill laid down one of the greatest, and arguably the greatest lap in the history of drag racing in 1988 when he ran 4.99 seconds at the Texas Motorplex. His “nuclear banana” dragster was the most feared machine in the land. 

This video is the beginning of the Main Event Video “Thrill! The Eddie Hill Story”. The video was produced by Dean Papadeas who revolutionized the way drag racing was filmed by swooping his camera over the cars and quite literally changing the entire look of the sport on television. 

In this two minute clip you’ll see the historic 4.99 lap, and some great footage of Eddie Hill, his wife Ercie, Fuzzy Carter (his crew chief), and the rest of the cast and crew of the Hill operation. The opening of this video is totally freaking awesome.  

Press play below to see the “nuclear banana” and one of the most legendary drag racers (on land and water!) of all time.