- This article is about the racing organization. NHRA is also an acronym for the National Human Resources Association and the National Horseracing Authority.
The
National Hot Rod Association,
(abbr. NHRA) is a drag racing governing body, which sets rules in drag racing and host events all over the United States.
History
The National Hot Rod Association, known as the NHRA, was founded by Wally Parks in 1951 in the State of California to provide a governing body to organize and promote the sport of drag racing. The "Nationals", held in the summer and the winter each year, are the premier events in drag racing that brings together the best cars and drivers from across North America. The Nationals are now held at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis in Clermont, Indiana and are officially called the U.S. Nationals.
Winston was the title sponsor of the series from 1970 until 2001, before a new governing rule stated the Master Settlement Agreement restricted R. J. Reynolds to one sponsorship of a sporting event; they chose NASCAR. In 2002, The Coca-Cola Company took over sponsorship of the series, which is now known as the NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series and has the slogan "Very Real Power."
In 2001, the NHRA brought out NIRA (National Import Racing Association) and renamed it the Sport Compact category featuring such cars, and while Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Subaru are very popular, the NHRA has also permitted General Motors, Ford, and DaimlerChrysler cars to participate in Sport Compact.
The series has four main classes, and a series of other sportsman classes for individuals who wish to compete. The classes are Top Fuel Dragster, Top Fuel Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Bike. Top Fuel was the first category, with Funny Cars added in 1966, Pro Stock four years later and Pro Stock Bikes in 1987. Both Top Fuel and Funny Cars regularly see top speeds in excess of 325 mph today, and quarter mile times anywhere from 4.4 to 5 seconds. Both these cars are 85% nitromethane and 15% methanol. The Pro Stock record is over 205 mph with times often in the 6.6-6.8 second range and the Pro Stock Bikes usually run at 190+ mph with times in the high 6 to low 7-second range.
Some of the popular racers to come through the series include "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, Don "The Snake" Prudhomme and Shirley "Cha Cha" Muldowney. Those three gained much attention from the 1960s through '70s with their speed and personalities, a combination rarely achieved today through the political correctness of sponsorship in today's drivers. Nonetheless there are still colorful characters today, such as 13-time Funny Car champion John Force.
NHRA Powerade Champions
| Year | Top Fuel Dragster | Top Fuel Funny Car | Pro Stock | Pro Stock Bike |
|---|
| 1965 | Maynard Rupp | | |
| 1966 | Pete Robinson | Ed Schartman | |
| 1967 | Bennie Osborn | | |
| 1968 | Bennie Osborn | | |
| 1969 | Steve Carborne | | |
| 1970 | Ronnie Martin | Gene Snow | Ronnie Sox | |
| 1971 | Gerry Glenn | Phil Castronovo | Mike Fons |
| 1972 | Jim Walther | Larry Fullerton | Bill Jenkins |
| 1973 | Jerry Ruth | Frank Hall | Wayne Gapp |
| 1974 | Gary Beck | Shirl Greer | Bob Glidden |
| 1975 | Don Garlits | Don Prudhomme | Bob Glidden |
| 1976 | Richard Tharp | Don Prudhomme | Larry Lombardo |
| 1977 | Shirley Muldowney | Don Prudhomme | Don Nicholson |
| 1978 | Kelly Brown | Don Prudhomme | Bob Glidden |
| 1979 | Bob Bruins | Raymond Beadle | Bob Glidden |
| 1980 | Shirley Muldowney | Raymond Beadle | Bob Glidden |
| 1981 | Jeb Allen | Raymond Beadle | Lee Shepherd |
| 1982 | Shirley Muldowney | Frank Hawley | Lee Shepherd |
| 1983 | Gary Beck | Frank Hawley | Lee Shepherd |
| 1984 | Joe Amato | Mark Oswald | Lee Shepherd |
| 1985 | Don Garlits | Kenny Bernstein | Bob Glidden |
| 1986 | Don Garlits | Kenny Bernstein | Bob Glidden |
| 1987 | Dick LaHaie | Kenny Bernstein | Bob Glidden | Dave Schultz |
| 1988 | Joe Amato | Kenny Bernstein | Bob Glidden | Dave Schultz |
| 1989 | Gary Ormsby | Bruce Larson | Bob Glidden | John Mafaro |
| 1990 | Joe Amato | John Force | Darrell Alderman | John Meyers |
| 1991 | Joe Amato | John Force | Darrell Alderman | Dave Schultz |
| 1992 | Joe Amato | Cruz Pedregon | Warren Johnson | John Meyers |
| 1993 | Eddie Hill | John Force | Warren Johnson | Dave Schultz |
| 1994 | Scott Kalitta | John Force | Darrell Alderman | Dave Schultz |
| 1995 | Scott Kalitta | John Force | Warren Johnson | John Meyers |
| 1996 | Kenny Bernstein | John Force | Jim Yates | Dave Schultz |
| 1997 | Gary Scelzi | John Force | Jim Yates | Matt Hines |
| 1998 | Gary Scelzi | John Force | Warren Johnson | Matt Hines |
| 1999 | Tony Schumacher | John Force | Warren Johnson | Matt Hines |
| 2000 | Gary Scelzi | John Force | Jeg Coughlin, Jr. | Angelle Sampey |
| 2001 | Kenny Bernstein | John Force | Warren Johnson | Angelle Sampey |
| 2002 | Larry Dixon | John Force | Jeg Coughlin, Jr. | Angelle Sampey |
| 2003 | Larry Dixon | Tony Pedregon | Greg Anderson | Geno Scali |
| 2004 | Tony Schumacher | John Force | Greg Anderson | Andrew Hines |
| 2005 | Tony Schumacher | Gary Scelzi | Greg Anderson | Andrew Hines |
