EPISODE · May 27, 2026 · 35 MIN
The Decade That Tried To Kill Nitro Drag Racing: The 1970s
from The Dork-O-Motive Podcast · host Brian Lohnes
Incredibly, nitro powered drag racing nearly didn't survive the 1970s. It is a story often lost to modern history but it's a harrowing tale of shortages, price escalation, racer intervention, and the survival instincts of racers in Top Fuel and Nitro Funny Car. In this podcast we examine the tumultuous decade that saw performances escalate, star power grow, and in the end, the sport brought to its very knees as its most famous lifeblood was nearly stolen from it. Would you believe that many racers were advocating for its end in drag racing? They were and the proof is in here. Drag racing history isn't all about the records set on the track, it's often about the survival of its cars, of its venues, and of its fuel off of it.
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What this episode covers
The 1970s almost saw the end of top fuel drag racing and all nitro powered competition. This is a story about how close the world came to abandoning nitro as a racing fuel at that time.
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The Decade That Tried To Kill Nitro Drag Racing: The 1970s
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