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

1985

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1985 FUNNY CAR WORLD CHAMPION KENNY BERNSTEIN

  • Scored first of four straight championships
  • Collected six victories in 13 events
  • Reached nine final rounds
  • Clinched title with two races remaining
  • Won Big Bud Shootout for second time

Top Fuel world champion
Don Garlits

Funny Car world champion
Kenny Bernstein

Pro Stock world champion
Bob Glidden

Top Alcohol Dragster world champion
Bill Walsh

Top Alcohol Funny Car world champion
Brad Anderson

Comp eliminator world champion
Bill Maropulos

Super Stock world champion
Dave Boertman

Stock eliminator world champion
Tim Ekstrand

Super Gas world champion
Mike Ferderer

1985

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

THE LOSS OF LEE SHEPHERD

Four-time Pro Stock world champion Lee Shepherd was killed March 11 in a testing accident in Oklahoma, ending the life of one of the class’ biggest and brightest stars.

PHOENIX, READING JOIN SCHEDULE

Two new national events – the NHRA Fallnationals at Firebird International Raceway in Phoenix and the NHRA Keystone Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa. – were added to the schedule.

TOP FUEL IS BACK

Top Fuel’s 18-month resurgence in popularity and car count led NHRA to announce that for the first time in NHRA history, all national events would feature 16-car fields.

SPORTSMAN ALL-STARS DEBUTS

NHRA and TRW created a Sportsman-racing showcase featuring eight-car fields comprised of divisional points leaders to be contested at the NHRA SPORTSnationals event in Bowling Green, Ky.

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