It was the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, and it was drag racing, as presented by ABC’s Wide World of Sports.

Long before drag racing fans became accustomed to checking their National Dragster newspapers for the airdate of syndicated Diamond P shows, at least twice a year they could catch championship drag racing in the comfort of their living rooms.

Keith Jackson and Chris Economacki became household names in presenting the straightline thunder on ABC. Eventually the formation of sports channels such as ESPN would lead to the show’s demise in 1998.

It was the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, and it was drag racing, as presented by ABC’s Wide World of Sports.

Long before drag racing fans became accustomed to checking their National Dragster newspapers for the airdate of syndicated Diamond P shows, at least twice a year they could catch championship drag racing in the comfort of their living rooms.

Keith Jackson and Chris Economacki became household names in presenting the straightline thunder on ABC. Eventually the formation of sports channels such as ESPN would lead to the show’s demise in 1998.