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On May 8, 1972, the Professional Racers Association (PRA), consisting of many of the top-name Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock owners and drivers, was formed. Their goal was to arrange and conduct drag races of a major caliber, featuring only the three professional categories as entrants, and to race for higher purses than had ever been seen in the sport. The leaders of the PRA were admittedly unsatisfied with the progress of drag racing under the guidance of Wally Parks and the National Hot Rod Association, and were anxious to show that they could do it bigger and better.
So, on Labor Day weekend 1972, the PRA staged a major race in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in direct conflict with the 18th annual NHRA Nationals, and titled their event the National Challenge. A total cash payout of $151,000, not counting any contingency awards, was established, with $25,000 cash to each major eliminator winner and $500 per round for all three categories. Jim Tice, president of the American Hot Rod Association, was the benefactor who put up the money.
While the event featured an incredible array of racers, and the Saturday night qualifying session was a spectacular show in itself, the event lost money. Many racers blamed the site, as Tulsa can't provide the crowds of fans needed to make a show of this size pay for itself, and a major metropolitan area such as Chicago or New York was needed. Others said that the purse was too high and unrealistic, and that their $151,000 cash payout was at fault for the financial failure.
Success or failure this event changed professional drag racing for ever. While NHRA officials will argue that this was not the case, because annual increases in their purse are commonplace occurrences, racers pointing to the sudden jump in U.S. Nationals round money and purse attributed it to pressure put on the NHRA by PRA. Winners at the first Tulsa PRA event included Don Moody in Top Fuel, Tom McEwen in Funny Car and Bill Jenkins in Pro Stock, and each took home about $35,000 (purse plus another $10,000 in contingency awards).
The Twin Town Terrors offer a vintage 'throwback' shirt honoring this historic race for $18 (M-XL) and $20 (2X-3X) plus shipping at www.twintownterrors.com This would make a great addition to you car shirt collection!
So, on Labor Day weekend 1972, the PRA staged a major race in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in direct conflict with the 18th annual NHRA Nationals, and titled their event the National Challenge. A total cash payout of $151,000, not counting any contingency awards, was established, with $25,000 cash to each major eliminator winner and $500 per round for all three categories. Jim Tice, president of the American Hot Rod Association, was the benefactor who put up the money.
While the event featured an incredible array of racers, and the Saturday night qualifying session was a spectacular show in itself, the event lost money. Many racers blamed the site, as Tulsa can't provide the crowds of fans needed to make a show of this size pay for itself, and a major metropolitan area such as Chicago or New York was needed. Others said that the purse was too high and unrealistic, and that their $151,000 cash payout was at fault for the financial failure.
Success or failure this event changed professional drag racing for ever. While NHRA officials will argue that this was not the case, because annual increases in their purse are commonplace occurrences, racers pointing to the sudden jump in U.S. Nationals round money and purse attributed it to pressure put on the NHRA by PRA. Winners at the first Tulsa PRA event included Don Moody in Top Fuel, Tom McEwen in Funny Car and Bill Jenkins in Pro Stock, and each took home about $35,000 (purse plus another $10,000 in contingency awards).
The Twin Town Terrors offer a vintage 'throwback' shirt honoring this historic race for $18 (M-XL) and $20 (2X-3X) plus shipping at www.twintownterrors.com This would make a great addition to you car shirt collection!