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1971

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1971 TOP FUEL WORLD CHAMPION GERRY GLENN

• Won first career championship
• Defeated Don Garlits at NHRA World Finals
• Won PDA meet at Orange County Int’l Raceway
• Car tuned by legendary Bill Schultz
• Made quickest pass in history, 6.41

Top Fuel world champion
Gerry Glenn

Funny Car world champion
Phil Castronovo

Pro Stock world champion
Mike Fons

Top Gas world champion
Austin Myers

Comp eliminator world champion
Tom Trisch

Modified world champion
Jim Stevens

Stock eliminator world champion
Dave Boertman

Super Stock world champion
Ken McLellan

1971

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

GARLITS REVOLUTIONIZES TOP FUEL

Nearly a year after an exploding transmission in his front-engine Top Fueler severed half of his right foot, Don Garlits won the season-opening NHRA Winternationals in the NHRA debut of a new rear-engine dragster.

HEATED TOP FUEL FINAL IN INDY

Steve Carbone avenged his loss to Don Garlits at the 1968 NHRA Nationals after engaging “Big Daddy” in a protracted burndown. Garlits went up in smoke, allowing Carbone to streak to his first Nationals victory.

‘KING’ WEARS TWO CROWNS

Jerry “the King” Ruth made history in the Northwest Division’s 1971 season opener, winning both the event’s Top Fuel and Funny Car eliminator titles at Deer Park Raceway in Spokane, Wash.

HUSBAND-WIFE BATTLE IN STOCK FINAL

Judi Boertman became just the second woman to win an NHRA national event when she defeated her husband, Dave, who red-lighted in the final round of Stock at the NHRA Summernationals.

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