Most Dramatic Moments in Drag Racing Part 1

When race fans take a look back at the 2012 drag racing season that was, no one knew what was about to unfold; it all started in Pomona California at Auto Club Raceway . There were many dramatic runs in 2012 that are too numerous to count for the fans. So with that in mind, drag racing fans from around the world sent in what they felt were the best runs in 2012. From jaw dropping speeds and elapsed times to history making moments, the 2012 racing season was one for the ages. So here are your top 12 runs in drag racing for 2012:


#12 "Mad Man" Frankie Taylor: At the ADRL World Finals VIII at Texas Motorplex in november, after watching his good friend and rival Tommy D'Aprile uncork a 3.58 for the quickest run in ADRL History (at that time), Taylor sought to do his best to surpass it. Having a flair for the dramatic, the driver known as "Mad Man" unleashed a record shattering 3.577 at 212.19 on the assembled crowd. It was truly an exciting run! (Video courtesy of ADRL)

Photo Courtesy of the NHRA

#11 As the 2012 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcyle
class was completely dominated by the Screamin Eagle Harley Davidson Team, Michael Ray and his Viper Motorcyle CO/Gottspeed racing Buell sought to end that dominance. At the Texas AAA Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex after having dispatched Andrew Hines in the semi finals, Ray did just that in defeating the Geico Powersports Suzuki of Karen Stoffer in the PSM finals. The Young Man with the Golden Riding suit captured his first national event win thus ending the perfect season of the Harleys.




#10 At the November Street Car Super Nationals at The Strip in Las Vegas, Jose Gonzales and his 1969 El General Pro Street Camaro set the doorslammer world on its proverbial ear during qualifying. On his third of 4 passes, Gonzales screamed down the quarter mile running an elapsed time of 5.732 at 259.13 mph; he wasn't done just yet. On his final run of qualifying, Gonzales dropped an even quicker run of 5.730 at just over 258 mph thus earning the title Worlds Quickest Doorslammer. (Video Courtesy of Youtube and user Alaskaerjs)

Photo Courtesy of Vance and Hines

#9 Andrew Hines aboard his Screamin Eagle Harley began the rained delayed Auto Plus Nationals Pro Stock Motorcycle eliminations setting the elapsed time record of 6.742 seconds. And as the day wore on, Hines backed it up on the next run with a 6.782 to establish a new ET record but racers of any class strive to go quicker and quicker, and Hines would do just that. In the semi finals the former PSM champ did just that unleashing a record shattering 6.728 second run. But his run towards the national event win would wait one week since rain would delay the finals of pro stock motorcycle.





#8 In the semi finals of Top Alcochol Dragster,
Jim Whiteley uncorked what is the quickest methanol powered dragster run in history, a 5.17.  YouTube channel Nitro America shows you just what the run looked like to the stunned crowd at Pomona at the Auto Club Finals: Video Courtesy of Les Mayhew:

Photo Courtesy of Wilmington Automotive News

#7 From the opening qualifying session of the 28th Annual Auto Plus Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Penn, records began to drop like flies in all pro classes. From Top Fuel and Funny Car to Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, the 28th Annual Auto Plus Nationals will go down as one of the quickest events in drag racing history.

This is the first part of the top 12 runs of 2012 in Drag Racing. So which runs will make the top 6, stay tuned till tomorrow when they will be announced.

Warm feelings at The John Force Holiday Show

On December 2, 2012, I attended the 15th annual John Force Racing Holiday Show in Yorba Linda, CA that benefitted the charity "Chips for Kids"; a charity that provides underprivileged children toys for the holiday season. From the moment that fans gave their toys to the California Highway Patrol officers, their smiles spoke volumes as to the joy that everyone felt entering the facilities of the team that has won a total of 17 NHRA Drag Racing Championships in Funny Car.

Along the streets that surrounded the Yorba Linda Race Shop, hundreds upon hundreds of the finest classic & custom cars were on display vying for Holiday Show supremacy. Also on display were 2 of the finest european sports cars ever built; Italian Automakers Ferrari and their F40 as well Bugatti's flagship Veyron; the fastest production based sports car in the world; traveling at a top speed of over 250+ MPH worth 2.4 million dollars.

At 10am the morning of the Annual Holiday show; the shop that housed the team that began with a dream of a truck driver opened its doors to the throngs of fans who waited patiently outside while light rain fell from the sky; the smiling face of Louie Force (brother of John) greeted everyone and shook hands with all who entered the hallowed grounds as Two of John's vintage funny cars, the Mountain Dew/Jolly Rancher & the "Brute Force"  Monza stood watch.

As the fans gazed at the various displays of all of the accomplishments that the team had done over the years,everyone in attendance felt a greater appreciation to all that John and the team has done throughout the years; one display in particular paid tribute to Eric Medlen; the well loved young man from Oakdale,CA who's life was cut short due to a testing accident in 2007 in Gainsville, FLA. Everyone who walked by could not help but shed a tear; Eric was loved by everyone and is still so sorely missed

There were many of the Teams' cars on display throughout the facility; The Castrol GTX "Destination Force" Mustang, the Traxxas car of 2012 NHRA "Rookie Of The Year" Courtney Force, Robert Hight's L.A. Dodgers car from 2009; and the Legendary 1996 "Driver of the Year" Mustang; the only time in the history of Motorsports that a drag racer has won the prestigious award as voted on by a panel of international Motorsports journalists from around the world.

In what has become a tradition during the annual Holiday Get together, the driver autograph session features a who's who of Professional Drag Racing. The entire Team; John, Robert Hight, Daughters Ashley Force Hood, Courtney & Brittany Force, 2012 NHRA Funny Car Champion "Fast Jack" Beckman,HOF Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen, "Queen of Cars" Genevieve Chapelle; even Jacob John Hood made an appearance practicing his skills signing autographs for the fans. The moment was priceless.

In the 15 years of the annual John Force Holiday Show, never has their been such an outpouring of giving and generosity like this years extravaganza; the focus being the charity "Chips For Kids"; however I believe if you were to ask the 15x champ what means the most to him, it's the smiles that comes across a childs face when receiving a gift they may not otherwise get. That alone speaks volumes to the character of a man who had a dream  of becoming a champion; giving back to a sport that has given him a chance to make his dreams come true.

15th-annual John Force Hoilday Show Photos