This is the continuation of the 1979 NHRA World Finals with the
semi-finals. At this point, it's evident the Ontario Motor Speedway
racing surface has become a one-lane race track with the left lane
being the lane of choice. Some real names remain in competition such as
Don Garlits, Rob Bruins, Gordie Bonin, John Force and Trip Shumake.
Garlits is clearly in control.

Can you name the dejected John Force crew member? 

Every
Friday, CompetitionPlus.com brings you our Feedback letters.
Read what our readers have to say about our feature articles and you
can even offer your opinions.

FEEDBACK FRIDAY - NOVEMBER 28, 2008

IHRA President Confirms Three Pro Classes Full-time in 2009

The $2 Million Dollar question floating around the IHRA community centers on the sanctioning body’s plans for 2009.

IHRA
President Aaron Polburn said there isn’t a title sponsor in place for
2009, and he’s not announcing anything until contracts are signed and
the money’s in the bank.

The leader of the IHRA confirmed the sanctioning body has several
potentials on deck, in terms of a series sponsor, but as of now,
there’s nothing to announce.

“There are a lot of different programs on the table,” Polburn said.
“The first thing we have to get done is put our title sponsor into
place and when that is done, we will put everything into place.”

Pontiac could be the next victim of General Motor worsening financial
condition, this according to a report in today’s Detroit Free Press
website.

According to the published article, Pontiac would be at the front of
three other brands the auto manufacturer proposes dropping in order to
put itself in a better position for government financial aid.

Detroit Dragway was a legend of another era.

When the strip closed in the 1990s, the facility ended a rich history
of drag racing that dated back to the 1950s when a fledgling sport was
just beginning to spread throughout the country.

The facility hosted national events but none like the premiere drag racing in the world.

Detroit Dragway hosted the NHRA U.S. Nationals in 1959 and 1960.

While that may prove quite the trump card in some circles, nothing will
ever invoke the Detroit Dragway legend like its famous radio
commercials did.

Simply put, the catchphrase became the tradition for drag racing advertising.

“Sunday Sunday Sunday at Detroit Dragway” began at Detroit Dragway and quickly spread throughout the drag racing world.

That fever was no doubt inspired by the YouTube Video we found of the 1959 NHRA U.S. Nationals at Detroit Dragway.

This video clip, we understand, came from a documentary titled "Ingenuity in Action".

For every story of unprecedented courage told here on the pages of CompetitionPlus.com, there are millions of others that will go untold.

In the days to come, CompetitionPlus.com will bring you five stories of incredible bravery, dedication and determination. Stories of people who did not let accident or illness end their dreams of racing.

The first lady of drag racing Shirley Muldowney, fourteen-time world champion John Force, second-generation Top Fuel driver Brandon Bernstein and cancer survivors Jack Beckman and Steve Torrence have all shared with CompetitionPlus.com their innermost struggles and fears coupled with undying determination to live.

This final chapter of our three-part series deals with the rehab and the insatiable desire to race again for Muldowney, Force and Bernstein.

Maybe Thanksgiving dinner hasn't begun or perhaps you've already eaten, whatever the case may be we have a special Thanksgiving treat for you. We found these Diamond P gems on You Tube featuring the 1979 NHRA World Finals at the old Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, Ca.

There are some classic names on these videos such as "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, Shirley Muldowney, Don Prudhomme, Raymond Beadle, Bob Glidden, Frank Iaconio and more. Featured today are the first rounds of Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock as well as the sportsman final rounds.

Witness Rob Bruins crowned the NHRA Top Fuel champion over Kelly Brown and Beadle clinching the Funny Car crown breaking Prudhomme's streak of four championships. 

Oh Yeah, you have to see that up and coming John Force -- he's a hoot.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Bob Glidden strapped into Kenny Perry’s Outlaw 10.5 Pontiac GTO last weekend. While while waiting to make a qualifying pass during the PSCA Streetcar Supernationals in Las Vegas, the 64-year old, ten-time Pro Stock world champion had a flashback.

Thirty years ago the veteran drag racer embarked on one of the sport’s
legendary winning streaks which included nine straight national event
victories. He also remembered a No. 1 qualifying streak that spanned
for a record 23 national events.

SIX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS BUOY MATCHUP BETWEEN TWO SAN DIEGO AREA HIGH SCHOOLS

There
was some real drag racing pedigree on hand during this past weekend’s
SPEED original Drag Race High live shoot finale at Auto Club Dragway in
Fontana, Calif. In a bit of irony, these multi-time professional
champions were on hand to witness an ode to true ‘first-time’ racers as
two Southern California high schools battled it out on the quarter mile.