With all of the Countdown
to the Championship talk likely to command much of the media’s attention, those
who have been around drag racing for the last three decades or so will recall
one of the greatest championship battles. Bob Glidden and the late Lee Shepherd
staged one of the closest championship battles in the history of drag racing.
This title went down to the final run of the season.

Once upon a time, a class designated as Modified eliminator presented
drag racing fans with a harmony of small-inch, high-winding screamers
-- mostly comprised of those Doug Nash five-speed transmissions. These
classic home videos were shot at the old Houston drag strip in 1979 and
if you look you will spot classic names such as Billy Mansell and
Coleman Roddy, not to mention cameo appearances from nitro racers Tom
Hoover, Lee Shepherd and Shirley Muldowney.

We happened across this YouTube.com gem featuring the Diamond P
produced coverage originally aired on NBC's Sportsworld of the 1988
NHRA Summernationals. You'll see the announcing talents of Gary
Gerould, the late Steve Evans and "Big Daddy Don Garlits. You'll see
footage of Dick Lahaie,  Kenny Bernstein in Funny Car,  Shirley
Muldowney and  Darrell Gwynn just to name a few. This was  the Etown
Summernationals in the dead heat of  July. Enjoy this five-part video.

Today's classic video moment comes from the 1989 IHRA AEA All-Pro Winter Nationals in Darlington, SC. In this video, you'll see the very first win by dairy farmer Mark Thomas as well as Tom "Mongoose" McEwen's classic 1957 Chevy Funny Car. This event marks the first in the post-Billy Meyer era. Also featured in this You Tube video is a clip on the up-and-coming Top Sportsman Quick Eight program which would later spawn Pro Modified.

Today's classic You Tube video moment features classic drag racing from the 1977 NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. You'll see the six minutes of amatuer video fully equipped with the sounds of everything from Top Fuel to Funny Car to Pro Comp and even Modified eliminator. 

Today's classic You Tube video moment features fast doorslammer racing
from Atlanta Speedshop Dragway in Georgia. A few race cars have crashed
along the storied eighth mile over the years. Those who were around in
the formative years will recognize the Mustang in the opposite lane as
the former Rickie Smith entry driven by Thomas Jackson.

Today's classic You Tube video moment features the legendary 1984 NHRA
Cajun Nationals crash between Funny Car drivers Ed "Ace" McCulloch and
John Collins. The safety procedures weren't as advanced as today but
even we're wondering about the horse rider coming to the rescue.

Today's classic You Tube video moment features Sportsman final rounds from the 1979 NHRA World Finals at the now defunct Ontario Motor Speedway. Check out some of the winning names like Amy Faulk, Bob Newberry and Billy Williams.

Today's classic You Tube video moment features Raymond Beadle's Blue Max rollover during the 1982 NHRA Gatornationals. In watching this excellent Diamond P/NHRA clip, it's not hard to see why Beadle was a fan favorite.

Today's classic You Tube video moment features vintage Shirley Muldowney and Don Garlits.