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1986

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1986 TOP FUEL WORLD CHAMPION DON GARLITS

  • Won second straight and third overall championship
  • Notched five wins and a runner-up in 14 events
  • Won NHRA U.S. Nationals for record seventh time
  • First to break 270-mph barrier
  • Driving Swamp Rat XXX streamliner dragster

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
Frank Manzo

Comp eliminator world champion
Vinny Barone

Super Stock world champion
Delmer Wood

Stock eliminator world champion
Al Corda

Super Gas world champion
Ron Orbin

1986

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

GLIDDEN FIRST TO 50TH WIN

Pro Stock ace Bob Glidden became the first NHRA driver to record 50 career wins with a dominating performance at the Chief Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Texas Motorplex.

GARLITS SUFFERS BLOWOVER

“Big Daddy” Don Garlits’ streamliner ran the quickest elapsed time in Top Fuel history with a 5.343 at the NHRA Summernationals in New Jersey, then the next day was heavily damaged in a blowover wheelstand.

SHIRLEY’S BACK

Nineteen months after a near-career-ending crash in Montreal, three-time Top Fuel world champion Shirley Muldowney made her return at a preseason event at Firebird International Raceway outside of Phoenix.

PASTORINI TOUCHES DOWN FOR WIN

Former NFL quarterback Dan Pastorini, who had less than a year of drag racing experience, surprised everyone by scoring the Top Fuel title at the NHRA Southern Nationals outside of Atlanta.

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