Started season with victory at inaugural NHRA Winternationals
Set the AA Dragster class e.t. national recordÂ
Amassed 550 points, a new record
Won nearly every race to maintain a near-perfect score
1961
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
NATIONALS MOVES TO INDY
NHRA’s biggest event, the NHRA Nationals, moved to Indianapolis Raceway Park, which became its permanent home after four previous venues over six years. Pete Robinson won Top Eliminator.
CHRISMAN WINS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Driving the Howard Cam Special AA Dragster with its twin Chevy engines out of Los Angeles, Jack Chrisman earned the 1961 NHRA World Champion title with a near-perfect score.
NHRA ADDS WINTERNATIONALS AS SECOND EVENT
The NHRA event schedule doubled in size to two events with the addition of the NHRA Winternationals, a season-opening event at Pomona Raceway.
THOMPSON SETS RECORDS
Mickey Thompson, driving four cars, including a ’61 Catalina, set eight international speed records for the mile and kilometer at March Air Force Base in Riverside, Calif.
