Several years ago, the National Football League mandated to their professional teams that each franchise had to, on one weekend, wear the same jerseys and uniforms from an era in their past history. Several teams adopted the helmet emblems, jerseys and colors of their teams dating back to the 1930s through the 1970s. Let's suppose for a moment that same edict was passed down to the Funny Car teams in NHRA POWERade drag racing tour.

CompetitionPlus.com joined forces with up-and-coming graphic designer Greg Russell to create a few fantasy scenarios.

Several years ago, the National Football League mandated to their professional teams that each franchise had to, on one weekend, wear the same jerseys and uniforms from an era in their past history. Several teams adopted the helmet emblems, jerseys and colors of their teams dating back to the 1930s through the 1970s. Let's suppose for a moment that same edict was passed down to the Funny Car teams in NHRA POWERade drag racing tour.

CompetitionPlus.com joined forces with up-and-coming graphic designer Greg Russell to create a few fantasy scenarios. Don't get angry if we've still left off your favorite drivers and/or classic, a Part 3 is already in the works. Top Fuel is on deck after that.

#1 - TONY PEDREGON, SHOWTIME

Tony Pedregon was disappointed when he didn't make the first part of our Throwback Funny Cars feature but we had a reason. The two-time world champion was to be our headliner for the second installment. Pedregon will represent Tom Hoover on throwback weekend. Hoover, the former Top Fuel driver, was a fan-favorite with his Showtime Funny car and Pedregon's tribute promises the same response. 

# 2 - CRUZ PEDREGON, JOE PISANO SPECIAL


Cruz Pedregon grew up around the Southern California drag racing scene and quickly developed a fondness for the classic floppers as a kid. During the early years of his drag racing career, Pedregon worked for the late Joe Pisano. That's why when the throwback weekend came around, Pedregon was a natural selection to drive possibly the most beautiful Joe Pisano car ever fielded in the 1970s.

#3 - ASHLEY FORCE, BRUTE FORCE

John Force may have made a career behind the wheel of the Castrol GTX Funny Car but ask any old-school drag racing fan and they'll tell you the Wendy's Hot & Juicy Brute Force was his most beloved entry amongst them. Who better to serve up that aura than his daughter Ashley on this throwback weekend.

#4 - BOB TASCA III, CHAINED LIGHTNING

In the 1970s, Tennesean Shirl Greer developed a cult following with his legendary Ford-bodied Chained Lightning Funny Cars. Since the Ford program is now limited to John Force Racing, we sought out the only non-Force Ford driver in Bob Tasca III. Tasca may be a rookie but we're betting he could replicate a Greer burnout and possibly a dry-hop. Hey can they still do those?#5 - DALE CREASY, USA-1

Yes, we know the Creasy Family had the Tyrant floppers but in so many ways, Dale Creasy, Jr. epitomized the same spirit as the USA-1 namesake Bruce Larsen. Both have made a career out of doing the most with the least. Since Creasy has been a loyal GM representative, we find it only fitting that he's flying this banner.

#6 - BOB GILBERTSON, COLOR ME GONE

Hold the hate mail, we're very much aware that Bob Gilbertson is joined at the hip with the Jungle Jim legend. Since we felt that car had already been covered in today's racing world, the door was wide open for the Color Me Gone theme. The veteran match racer and Coca-Cola Calvacade runner Roger Lindamood followed the same path to prominence that Bob Gilbertson travels in today's drag racing world.

#7 - MELANIE TROXEL, RAMCHARGERS

A Funny Car throwback weekend just wouldn't be complete with the presence of the legendary RAMCHARGERS entry. The drag racing world lost Leroy Goldstein, the first Funny car driver to record a six-second run, five years ago. Melanie Troxel, a freshman Funny car driver, will capture the magic of the RAMCHARGERS Mopar with her Dodge Charger under the Gotham City umbrella.

#8 - PHIL BURKART, THE MONGOOSE

Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen was as much of Funny Car's yesteryear as the racing slick. We sought long and hard for a representative driver who fit the bill as a determined showman, who knew the value of sponsorship and catering to the race fan. Phil Burkart is a Tom McEwen style drag racer who realized long ago the value of sponsorship and the incredible power of having a strong fan base. McEwen had many floppers over the years but in our hearts, the 1978 version was the best of the throwbacks.

 
#9 - TONY BARTONE, DUNN & REATH

Okay, we'll spare Tony Bartone from having to run a rear-engined flopped like his boss used to. But, when you're driving the Dunn & Reath entry one must still display the same true grit and Bartone certainly has that. How about a Funny Car Summer - 2008? Sounds like a winner to us.

#10 - SCOTT KALITTA, BOUNTY HUNTER

EDITOR'S NOTE: This feature was published almost five months before the untimely death of Scott Kalitta. While we felt the comments shouldn't remain, we do believe the car deserves to be seen. We can only wonder what might have been.