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

1978

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1978 TOP FUEL WORLD CHAMPION KELLY BROWN

  • Scored first career championship
  • Collected four wins in nine events
  • Won three of first four races
  • Midseason 11-1 record boosted lead
  • Won title by eight rounds over Don Garlits

Top Fuel world champion
Kelly Brown

Funny Car world champion
Don Prudhomme

Pro Stock world champion
Bob Glidden

Pro Comp world champion
Kenny Cook

Comp eliminator world champion
Bobby Cross

Modified world champion
Jeff Leininger

Super Stock world champion
Bobby Warren

Stock eliminator world champion
Jerry McClanahan

1978

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

McEWEN'S EMOTIONAL INDY WIN

Just days after losing his young son Jamie to leukemia, Tom McEwen scored an emotional NHRA U.S. Nationals Funny Car win, capped by a classic “Mongoose” vs. “Snake” final-round victory over Don Prudhomme.

THE FIRST DOUBLE … ALMOST

At the NHRA Cajun Nationals, Cotton Perry nearly became the first driver to win two classes at one event as he won Modified Eliminator and finished in the runner-up spot in Super Stock.

‘SNAKE’ STRIKES AT DELAYED WINTERNATS

It took three weekends — dogged by rain and even snow — to get the 1978 NHRA Winternationals into the books, but the wait was well worth it for Don Prudhomme, who won his fourth straight season opener.

GARDNER PROMOTED TO VICE PRESIDENT

Dallas Gardner was named NHRA Vice President and General Manager following the late 1977 death of NHRA Executive Vice President Jack Hart. Six years later, Gardner would be named NHRA’s second president.

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