The history of the NHRA
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The history of the NHRA
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The National Hot Rod Association – better known as the NHRA – has origins that date back to post-WWII California. Its chief organizer, Wally Parks, was a military tank test driver for General Motors when he helped organize the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA).
The first SCTA “races” were held at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1949, with drivers running against a stopwatch to see who could earn the quickest time. In 1950, the Santa Ana Drags ran on an airstrip in Southern California, and the following year, Parks became the editor of Hot Rod magazine; he used his new position to create the NHRA in 1951, legitimizing the sport with safety rules and standards of performance.
The first sanctioned NHRA race was held in April 1953 at Pomona, California; the former parking lot is now one of the most state-of-the-art facilities on the NHRA schedule, hosting the season-opening and season-ending races. The first national NHRA even was held in Great Bend, Kansas in 1955.
Drag cars began developing at this time, from the hot rods once used to smuggle alcohol in the 1930s to “rail cars” which became known as the Top Fuel dragster class. Funny cars were added to the mix in 1966, followed by Pro Stocks (1970), and Pro Stock Bikes (1987). Today, the NHRA is the largest sanctioning body of motorsports in the world, with more than 140 member tracks, over 35,000 licensed competitors, and in excess of 5,000 events around the country. Parks has been immortalized as the founder of the group, with event trophies known as the “Wally.”
The NHRA has had a diverse selection of personalities over the years: from Shirley Muldowney, a drag racing pioneer who was the first woman to receive her NHRA license, to legendary drivers Don Garlits, Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, and Bob Glidden. The NHRA is also a family affair, with top racing families like the Pedregons, Bernsteins, and Forces all formidable opponents on race day.
The record for the fastest speed in NHRA history is 335.57 mph, held by Doug Kalitta in his Top Fuel dragster, set in 2004 at Las Vegas.