The 1968 NHRA Winternationals (commonly known as the Winternats) were a
National Hot Rod Association (NHRA)
drag racing
Drag racing is a type of motor racing in which automobiles or motorcycles compete, usually two at a time, to be first to cross a set finish line. The race follows a short, straight course from a standing start over a measured distance, most c ...
event, held at
Auto Club Raceway,
Pomona, California on 4 February.
Results
Top Fuel
Top Fuel hosted several well-known racers, including
Don "Big Daddy" Garlits (in ''
Swamp Rat XIIA'',
Jerry "King" Ruth,
Tom "Mongoo$e" McEwen (who qualified #2),
Mike Snively
Mike may refer to:
Animals
* Mike (cat), cat and guardian of the British Museum
* Mike the Headless Chicken, chicken that lived for 18 months after his head had been cut off
* Mike (chimpanzee), a chimpanzee featured in several books and documen ...
(who qualified a
Roland Leong
Roland Leong (born Honolulu, 1945) is an American drag racer, whose "Hawaiian" brand cars achieved many victories. He later went on to act as crew chief in Funny Cars races.
"Hawaiian" cars Top Fuel Dragsters
Leong's "Hawaiian" Top Fuel dragster ...
-owned fueller #3),
Don "The Snake" Prudhomme (
1965 champion), and
1966 champion Mike Snively
Mike may refer to:
Animals
* Mike (cat), cat and guardian of the British Museum
* Mike the Headless Chicken, chicken that lived for 18 months after his head had been cut off
* Mike (chimpanzee), a chimpanzee featured in several books and documen ...
.
Round One
Jim Warren, who qualified #4, eliminated #20 qualifier "King" Ruth.
Round Two
Bob Downey lost to Warren.
Round Three
Conrad "Connie' Kalitta, #27 qualifier, was overcome by
Ron Rolsted, and #24-qualifier Garlits fell to Warren.
Semi-final Round
Rolsted was eliminated by Dwight Salisbury (in the
Rocky Childs
''Rocky'' is a 1976 American sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the first installment in the ''Rocky'' franchise and stars Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, and Burgess ...
car), while Dave Beebe lost to Warren.
Final Round
Warren defeated Salisbury, taking home a US$12,500 prize.
Altered
The
Altered class win went to
William "Wild Willie" Borsch, at the wheel of the AA/FA
''Winged Express''.
Top Gas
In
Top Gas, eventual winner
Gordon Collett qualified #16. On the way to his win, he eliminated
Gary Cochran,
Rico Paris, and
Norm Wilcox, before meeting
Jack Jones Jack Jones may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Music
*Jack Jones (American singer) (born 1938), American jazz and pop singer
*Jack Jones, stage name of Australian singer Irwin Thomas (born 1971)
*Jack Jones (Welsh musician) (born 1992), Welsh mu ...
in the final. The win earned Collett a US$8000 prize. It was Collett's third class win in a row at Pomona.
[Burgess, Phil, ''National Dragster'' editor. "Danica who? What about Shirley ... and Shirley? And Judi. And Judy?", written 21 April 2008, a]
NHRA.com
(retrieved 20 September 2018)
Ultimateracinghistory
(retrieved 20 September 2018)
Competition Eliminator
Middle Eliminator
Little Eliminator
Super Stock
The 1968 Winter Nationals Super Stock final was a match-up between Dave Wren driving his old school 1963 Plymouth Savoy vs. Al Joniec in his 1968 Ford Mustang 428 Cobra Jet. When Dave Wren triggered the red light at the start, the Title went to Joniec and his Mustang, clocking an ET of 11.56 at 120.64 mph. This was the first National win for the Ford Drag Team's new 428 Cobra Jet Mustang.
Stock
Notes
{{Authority control
1968 in motorsport
NHRA Winternationals
1968 in California