Today's Indy video moment isn't about the actual drag race although the video is an authentic amateur production from the late Grant Iseli from Canada and converted from VHS copy by CompetitionPlus.com reader George Adams. However, the presence of the sights and sounds, (yes sound) in everything from Top Fuel to Stock is enough to build the scene.

But, if you're a stickler for the numbers. The 1977 U.S. Nationals was filled with action, drama, and upsets with Dennis Baca (Top Fuel), Don  Prudhomme (Funny Car), and Don Nicholson (Pro Stock) walked away with surprising victories.

Prudhomme's victory marked a then-record sixth U.S. Nationals title, breaking a two-year final-round jinx with a victory over Richard Rogers.

Bob Glidden, who won back-to-back Indy titles in 1973 and 1974, as did Prudhomme, was denied a victory for the third straight year by Nicholson, who won his only Winston Pro Stock title that year, finishing just ahead of Glidden, who would go on to capture three straight Winston championships.

Today's Indy video moment isn't about the actual drag race although the video is an authentic amateur production from the late Grant Iseli from Canada and converted from VHS copy by CompetitionPlus.com reader George Adams. However, the presence of the sights and sounds, (yes sound) in everything from Top Fuel to Stock is enough to build the scene.

But, if you're a stickler for the numbers. The 1977 U.S. Nationals was filled with action, drama, and upsets with Dennis Baca (Top Fuel), Don  Prudhomme (Funny Car), and Don Nicholson (Pro Stock) walked away with surprising victories.

Prudhomme's victory marked a then-record sixth U.S. Nationals title, breaking a two-year final-round jinx with a victory over Richard Rogers.

Bob Glidden, who won back-to-back Indy titles in 1973 and 1974, as did Prudhomme, was denied a victory for the third straight year by Nicholson, who won his only Winston Pro Stock title that year, finishing just ahead of Glidden, who would go on to capture three straight Winston championships.

The 50-year-old Nicholson set low e.t. of the meet at 8.61 in qualifying, then ran 8.67, 8.74, 8.72, and 8.73 in the final to beat Glidden, who had to shut down his Arrow after suffering trouble with his car's drivetrain. Nicholson defeated Larry Lombardo in the semifinals, putting an end to one of the event's many subplots. Lombardo entered the event in second place behind Nicholson, but crashed Bill Jenkins' Monza in qualifying, setting the car ablaze. Ronnie Manchester loaned Jenkins and Lombardo his nearly identical Monza for eliminations.

Dennis Baca scored the Top Fuel victory, upsetting reigning Winston champion Richard Tharp in the final round. Baca, a part-time competitor on the national event trail and twice a runner-up, qualified well in the 32-car field with an eighth-best 5.99, then ran 5.97, 5.98, 6.05, and 6.08 to face off against Tharp.

Dennis Baca, near lane, pulled off a huge upset in the Top Fuel final, collecting his first national event title over reigning Winston champ Richard Tharp.

As the finals raced along, NHRA was racing against the weather that was closing in on Indianapolis Raceway Park. Raymond Martin scored in Comp over red-lighting Joe Williamson, Joe Scott downed Jim Kinnett's SS/AA entry to win Super Stock, and home state hero Mike McKinney won Stock in a final-round decision over Mick Leiferman, who suffered his third straight U.S. Nationals final-round loss.

The impending weather also played a hand in the two quickest Sportsman classes. Arlen Fadely took Modified over Tom Turner, who did not receive an elapsed time due to a lightning strike near the track, and Dale Armstrong took a final-round solo in Pro Comp after an extreme gesture of sportsmanship from former teammate and future fellow fuel crew chief Ken Veney.

Veney had cracked a cylinder wall on the potent Ford powerplant in his Alcohol Dragster, and although he could have competed against Armstrong, he decided to sit out in fear that he might oil the track and prevent the other finals from being completed if rain began to fall.

Approximately 10 minutes after the last cars crossed the finish line, rain fell on Indianapolis Raceway Park, bringing a soggy end to a wild U.S. Nationals.