The dual engine Pontiac dragster pictured here is a young Eddie Hill out of Wichita Falls, Texas.

And while everyone at Indy was surprised when ‘Sneaky Pete’ pulled off the upset in Top Eliminator that Monday in ’61, the surprise was equaled in ’15 when part time driver Morgan Lucas drove his way to the winner’s circle!

In 1961 there were only five Eliminator positions in NHRA. Racers in those days just wanted to win their class trophy which made them eligible for an Eliminator. If you were powerful enough, drove well, and had a little luck, you won. And there were only three major championship races to attend and spend travel money on. Gasoline was less than 50 cents per gallon and Motel 6 meant what the sign said!

Yet even then there were hundreds, perhaps thousands, of drag racing fans who camped out in all the adjacent fields surrounding the new Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Our trek to the first U.S. Nationals in 1961 started late due to us operating Tri State Dragway on Friday and Saturday of that Labor Day Weekend. After the Kahoka, Mo., track was secure, four of us and a baby made our way across U.S. Highway 136 from the front gate of TSD to the main gate of Indy Raceway Park.

On our trip to ’61 Indy were Russ & Donna Guymon and their one-year-old daughter, Kim. Many years later, at Lee County Dragway in Keokuk, Iowa, all three are pictured here, Russ in the white shirt, Donna in dark blue and Kim with the yellow cap.