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

1989

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1989 TOP FUEL WORLD CHAMPION GARY ORMSBY

  • Led points race all season
  • Won championship in final round at season finale
  • Scored six wins and two runner-ups
  • Overcame two midseason crashes
  • Set both ends of national record (4.91, 294.88 mph)

Top Fuel world champion
Gary Ormsby

Funny Car world champion
Bruce Larson

Pro Stock world champion
Bob Glidden

Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion
John Mafaro

Top Alcohol Dragster world champion
Tom Conway

Top Alcohol Funny Car world champion
Brad Anderson

Comp eliminator world champion
Bob Kaiser

Super Stock world champion
Jim Boburka

Stock eliminator world champion
Jim Hughes

Super Comp world champion
Edmond Richardson

Super Gas world champion
David Rampy

1989

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

MULDOWNEY BACK IN WINNER’S CIRCLE

Shirley Muldowney, horribly injured in a 1984 racing accident, won for the first time since her return to competition in 1986 when she defeated Darrell Gwynn for the NHRA Fallnationals title in Phoenix.

LARSON CLAIMS FUNNY CAR TITLE

Bruce Larson, one of Funny Car’s earliest pioneers, captured his first and only world championship with a six-win season that included victories at both the season opener and finale.

KALITTA FLIES PAST 290 MPH

Top Fuel veteran Connie Kalitta became the first driver to shatter the 290-mph barrier when he flew to a 291.54-mph blast in the Saturday morning Top Fuel qualifying session at the NHRA Winternationals.

USA DRAG FESTIVAL IN JAPAN

NHRA brought a diverse collection of race cars to Japan’s Fuji International Speedway for the inaugural USA Drag Festival tour May 4-5 during the Japanese Golden Week holiday.

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