The NHRA U.S. Nationals. The Big Go. The Super Bowl of drag racing. No matter how you refer to it, one of the most iconic events in drag racing is celebrating its platinum anniversary.
[Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #190, the State of Drag Issue, in September/ October of 2024.]
As the great American motorsport, we’re fortunate to have an event like the NHRA U.S. Nationals, the world’s biggest drag race, that takes place at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
However, The Big Go didn’t always call Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park home.
The first NHRA U.S. Nationals occurred in 1955 at the Great Bend Municipal Airport. In 1956, the event moved to Kansas City, then to the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds in 1958, and then to Detroit Dragway in 1959 and 1960. Finally, the NHRA U.S. Nationals settled into its permanent home at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in 1961.
As part of the celebration’s lead-up, the NHRA announced a multi-phase plan for Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. The updates include a new Wally Parks Tower, renovated suites, a new entrance for fans and the relocation of the professional pits to the west side of the facility.
This multi-year plan, which is already underway, will only add to the legacy of the legendary facility, where so many careers are defined by victories at the NHRA U.S. Nationals.
A win means more at the legendary race, and when Top Fuel made its debut in 1964 and Funny Car later in 1967, it was game on.
All the greats have forged their legacies through their Indy success, including iconic drivers like Don Garlits, Don Prudhomme, Kenny Bernstein, Ed McCulloch, Connie Kalitta, Shirley Muldowney, Joe Amato, Bob Glidden, Warren Johnson, Lee Shepherd, Dave Schultz, and many more.
These lists also include current stars like Tony Schumacher, John Force, Antron Brown, Ron Capps, Greg Anderson, Jeg Coughlin Jr., Steve Torrence, Erica Enders, Matt Smith, Doug Kalitta, Matt Hagan, Cruz Pedregon, Shawn Langdon, and J.R. Todd.
Plus, the NHRA U.S. Nationals has been synonymous with some of the biggest moments in NHRA history. A win in Indy has helped carve out the legacies of the sport’s biggest legends and the NHRA U.S. Nationals has long been a proving ground in the sport.
From Don Garlits to Tony Schumacher, who has an incredible 10 wins at Indy, to Capps to Don “The Snake” Prudhomme to John Force to Greg Anderson and Erica Enders, NHRA’s biggest names have enjoyed special moments at Indy.
Last year, Capps’ Hot Wheels car featured a tribute to Prudhomme. With the legend watching from the starting line, Capps picked up one of the most meaningful wins in his career.
Force’s five Funny Car wins are the most in class history, while Greg Anderson’s seven Pro Stock victories at The Big Go lead the way among active drivers in the category. In 2024, he’ll try to move a step closer to Bob Glidden’s nine Pro Stock wins at Indy.
Now, nearly every class offered within the sanctioning body competes at The Big Go during the five-day event held every year over Labor Day weekend, as well as a few specialty races.
A few highlighted moments on the docket in 2024 are the Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout on the pro side, as well as the special Sox & Martin Hemi Challenge presented by the McCandless Collection and racing action in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown
and NHRA Holley EFI Factory X.
The NHRA U.S. Nationals is a staple on many fans’ schedules and a bucket list item on others; either way, the event packs tons of history that has laid 70 years of groundwork for where we find the state of our sport today.
This story was originally published on October 29, 2024. 
The post 25 Reasons to Be Excited About Drag Racing: No. 5 – The Granddaddy of Them All Celebrates 70 Years first appeared on Drag Illustrated.