From wild rides to feel-good victories, there were plenty of dramatic and historic moments from the 2016 NHRA season. Here are 10 of our favorite:
10. Dan Stevenson’s fire
Dan Stevenson’s NHRA Pro Mod car caught fire during qualifying in Gainesville, and it wasn’t in a hurry to go out. While Stevenson was OK after the incident, his Chevrolet wasn’t as lucky.
9. Aaron Strong’s unexpected win
Usually NHRA Final Eliminations take place in a span of five hours, and an underdog can turn his or her season around in a day. But for NHRA Pro Stock driver Aaron Strong, he had to wait a full two weeks. Strong had raced his way into the final in Seattle in August, but then the final round was postponed until Indianapolis in September due to rain. Fortunately for Strong, the wait was well worth it.
8. Jack Beckman’s explosion
This run was made for highlight reels, as super slow-motion cameras caught Jack Beckman’s dramatic NHRA Funny Car explosion during qualifying at the 2016 NHRA New England Nationals, which destroyed his Dodge Charger. Fortunately, Beckman was OK.
7. Female drivers win five in a row
There are a lot of female racing drivers in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, and many of them had very successful seasons. From Phoenix in February to Houston in May, there was a female race winner every round:
-- Brittany Force at Gainesville
-- Alexis DeJoria at Las Vegas
-- Brittany Force at Charlotte
6. Robert Hight’s explosion
It was late in the night when NHRA Funny Car driver Robert Hight lit up the sky during qualifying for the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. The blast blew Hight’s Chevrolet into the other lane, but fortunately he was able to regain control of the car and bring it to a safely to a stop.
5. Angelle Sampey breaks winless streak
To be fair, a lot of winless streaks were broken during the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, but one of the most emotional - and therefore unforgettable - was that of NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Angelle Sampey, who had gone nine years without taking home a Wally.
4. Gary Densham’s parachute fails
Ever wondered how much a parachute really helps slow a drag racing car down? Wonder no more, as NHRA Funny Car driver Gary Densham showed us all the hard way before the season even started during qualifying for the Winternationals in Pomona. While the incident tore Densham’s car to pieces, fortunately the driver was OK.
3. Dead-heat finish
When races are over within a matter of four seconds, its not unusual to have close finishes at the line. However, Kalitta Motorsports teammates Doug Kalitta and J.R. Todd really tested the time clock in Atlanta when Kalitta beat Todd by less than 0.0001 seconds in the NHRA Top Fuel final.
2. Sidnei Frigo’s flip
Sidnei Frigo was airlifted to hospital following a wild ride in his Pro Mod Corvette during qualifying in Houston. Frigo was diagnosed with a broken arm following this scary incident.
1. Cruz Pedregon’s wheel stand
Cruz Pedregon did not have a fantastic 2016 season, but yet he ensured no one would forget his name heading into the off-season with an incredible wheel stand in Las Vegas. While the NHRA Funny Car driver did go on to win the round, he was unable to make round 2 as the impact from the car landing back on the ground had damaged the chassis.
