NHRA: Dragster and Funny Car major attractions in Henry Ford Museum

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

August 23, 2001

To salute the 50th anniversary of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), Henry Ford Museum currently has a dramatic display that includes a competitive Top Fuel dragster and Funny Car. The drag racing machines are a part of an exhibit commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Ford Motor Company in racing.

The two drag racing vehicles are placed alongside an expansive presentation that includes the first race car driven by Henry Ford in 1901, a 44-mph speedster named "Sweepstakes."

"The NHRA dragster and Funny Car have been very popular with our visitors," said Jo Haas, director of the Henry Ford Museum. "They enjoy comparing the 44-mph Ford '01 speedster with today's 300-mph drag cars. Of particular appeal is the fact that visitors can sit in the MGM Top Fuel dragster and have a picture taken while seated behind the wheel."

"The Henry Ford Museum creates a great interest in the racing for both visitors and staff alike," said Haas. "We're happy to have the opportunity to salute both the Ford Motor Company's 100-year anniversary in racing and the 50th anniversary of the National Hot Rod Association."

The Top Fuel dragster on display raced under the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino banner in 2000 and is a 6,000-horsepower machine that routinely covers the quarter-mile in less than 4.5 seconds. It reaches a top speed of more than 330 mph at the end of the 4.5-second run. Owned by Connie Kalitta of Ypsilanti, Mich., and driven by his nephew Doug, the dragster was a top performer during the 2000 NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

The Funny Car is driven by one of the sport's legends, John Force of Yorba Linda, Calif. John is respected as the most prolific winner in NHRA drag racing history, with 97 national event victories and 10 Winston championships to his credit. The Ford Mustang-bodied Funny Car, sponsored by Castrol GTX motor oil, consistently covers the quarter-mile drag strip at more than 300 mph in under 5 seconds. John was the first driver to break the 4.80-second barrier and 320-mph top speed achievement in a Funny Car. So far this year John has won five NHRA national event titles in the Ford Mustang Funny Car.

Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village are located on Oakwood Boulevard in Dearborn, Michigan. Both facilities are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The special racing display is scheduled to be open until early October. Information on the museum and Village is available at www.hfmgv.org, or phone 313/271-1620.

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., the NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 24 national events through its NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. The NHRA has more than 80,000 members nationwide and more than 140 member tracks. The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series' provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series, NHRA Summit Import Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Street Legal Program. The NHRA also offers the NHRA Castrol GTX Jr. Drag Racing League for youths ages 8 to 17.

Text provided by A Vestal

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.