Bob Glidden, with 85 NHRA Pro Stock victories to his credit, third on the all time list, learned the hard way the importance of being in the right spot after a win.  

When up and coming nitro Funny Car racer Kenny Bernstein won his first NHRA event at the 1979 NHRA Cajun Nationals Glidden deftly showed off those post-race skills. During the post race photo session, Glidden insisted he and Bernstein switch places during the obligatory Winner's Circle shots which traditionally were destined for the cover of National Dragster.

The reason for Glidden's action is a story which hasn't been shared with the public for 31 years.

Pro Stock icon Bob Glidden Shares Stories During NHRA Winternationals teleconference ...

Bob Glidden, with 85 NHRA Pro Stock victories to his credit, third on the all time list, learned the hard way the importance of being in the right spot after a win.  

When up and coming nitro Funny Car racer Kenny Bernstein won his first NHRA event at the 1979 NHRA Cajun Nationals Glidden deftly showed off those post-race skills. During the post race photo session, Glidden insisted he and Bernstein switch places during the obligatory Winner's Circle shots which traditionally were destined for the cover of National Dragster.

The reason for Glidden's action is a story which hasn't been shared with the public for 31 years.

“I’ll never forget,” Bernstein said in Tuesday's NHRA 50th anniversary Winternationals press conference. “Glidden repositioned me in the photograph so that when they mailed out the National Dragster, the stamp that the post office put on (the magazine) wouldn’t cover me up. It covered him up.”

Glidden gracious gesture didn't go unnoticed by Bernstein.

“I told him thank you, but I thank him again,” said Bernstein, who is fourth on the all time win list with 69.  

“You know when I started racing, Don Prudhomme had been winning a lot and had the Army sponsorship,” Glidden added. “And all of us little guys hoped we could be somewhat like Don Prudhomme. Then Kenny comes along and opens the whole world up to us in the business of sponsors.

And, gosh, Kenny, I know none of us have thanked you for it, but by gosh, thanks.”

Glidden was the king of resourcefulness in his racing days and when he scored those 85 wins, they were done on a lesser budget than his counterparts. The same attention to detail that Glidden exhibited in the winner’s circle with Bernstein was the same focus he put into racing and winning.

Glidden is adamant all of his wins were special, especially the seven times he won at the season-opening NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Ca.

“We were so fortunate over the years,” Glidden said. “I’ve said it many times our career was like a storybook.  If we were writing the script it wouldn’t have turned out nearly as well.  And we just appreciate all the wins that we’ve had.”

Winning Pomona more than any other driver didn’t hurt his feelings either.

“In Pro Stock we would spend the time from the last race which was also at Pomona to the first race, trying to improve mostly our engine programs,” Glidden explained. “When we got to Pomona, of course, we as everyone else, was excited (about) getting to the first race each year.

“But certainly it was proven to us that Pomona was a great springboard to the whole season.  And if we could go and run well at Pomona, we ordinarily ran well throughout the season.  Fortunately, for us, the track there at Pomona was just a great place for us to be … because we were lucky enough to win a lot of races there.”   

And, lucky enough to share the open spot on the National DRAGSTER cover a time or two.

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