NHRA history

NHRA's first races NHRA held its first official race in April 1953 on a slice of the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds parking lot in Pomona, Calif.

In 1955, NHRA staged its first national event, called simply "the Nationals" in Great Bend, Kan.

Six years later, as the Nationals hopscotched around the country to showcase the growing sport before settling in Indianapolis in 1961, the Winternationals became NHRA's second event.

The aggressive upgrading of facilities to stadium quality, with fan amenities, VIP towers, and tall grandstands, was the passion of NHRA President Dallas Gardner, who took the reins in 1984 when Parks became board chairman.

Just seven years later, Tony Schumacher became the first to top 330 mph in February 1999 in Phoenix.

In 2000, Tom Compton became just the third president in NHRA history as Gardner ascended to the role of broad chairman and Parks became chairman of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum.

When the NHRA celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2001, it was clear to all that drag racing had truly stamped its mark on the heart of the American public.

In 2006, J.R. Todd, an African-American and former NHRA Summit Racing Jr.

In 2007, Peggy Llewellyn became the first black female to win an NHRA event.

Also in 2008, Tony’s brother Cruz won his second Funny Car crown.