Celebrating 75 years of speed, power, and the world's fastest motorsport

1972

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1972 PRO STOCK WORLD CHAMPION BILL JENKINS

  • Claimed first and only championship
  • Won six wins in eight events
  • Won five of six final races
  • Raced revolutionary small-block Vega to title
  • Nicknamed “Grumpy” for all-business demeanor

Top Fuel world champion
Jim Walther

Funny Car world champion
Larry Fullerton

Pro Stock world champion
Bill Jenkins

Comp eliminator world champion
Wayne McMurtry

Modified world champion
Paul Blevins

Super Stock world champion
Dave Boertman

Stock eliminator world champion
Dave Benisek

1972

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

ALLEN YOUNGEST TOP FUEL WINNER

NHRA history was made at the NHRA Summernationals when Jeb Allen, an 18-year-old Bellflower, Calif., high school student, became the youngest driver to win Top Fuel eliminator at an NHRA national event.

LAST HURRAH FOR SLINGSHOTS

Art Marshall literally came out of nowhere to win Top Fuel at the Grandnational in what was the last major win ever for a front-engine “slingshot”-style Top Fueler.

HISTORY MADE IN ONTARIO

Mike Snively became the first Top Fuel driver to record a five-second pass at the NHRA Supernationals, and Jim Dunn scored the first (and still only) Funny Car victory in a rear-engine car.

UPSET-FILLED WORLD FINALS

Jim Walther in Top Fuel and Larry Fullerton in Funny Car were crowned world champions after winning the NHRA World Finals in Amarillo, Texas. It was the first and only national event win for both drivers.

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