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

1979

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1979 FUNNY CAR WORLD CHAMPION RAYMOND BEADLE

  • Won first of three straight championships
  • Scored two national event wins
  • Appeared in five of 10 final rounds
  • Ended Don Prudhomme’s four-year dominance
  • Piloted legendary Blue Max Mustang

Top Fuel world champion
Rob Bruins

Funny Car world champion
Raymond Beadle

Pro Stock world champion
Bob Glidden

Pro Comp world champion
Billy Williams

Comp eliminator world champion
Bob Newberry

Modified world champion
Garley Daniels

Super Stock world champion
Amy Faulk

Stock eliminator world champion
Ray Cook

1979

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

BRUINS SCORES NO-WIN CHAMPIONSHIP

Rob Bruins made NHRA history when he won the Top Fuel world championship without winning a single national event, prevailing on the strength of three runner-ups and regional event dominance.

BERNSTEIN NABS FIRST WIN

Kenny Bernstein claimed his first national event title, winning the NHRA Cajun Nationals in Baton Rouge, La. The runner-up, making his first final-round appearance at a national event, was Fullerton, Calif., long shot John Force.

SILVER-ANNIVERSARY U.S. NATIONALS

Kelly Brown (Top Fuel), Gordie Bonin (Funny Car), and Bob Glidden (Pro Stock) scored wins to highlight the 25th NHRA U.S. Nationals, where the three victors triumphed over the quickest fields in each class’ history.

GLIDDEN’S WINNING STREAK ENDS

After nine straight event wins that encompassed 35 straight round-wins stretching back to mid-1978, Bob Glidden’s winning streak ended on a second-round red-light to Randy Humphrey at the NHRA Mile-High Nationals.

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