BRADENTON ’ S NITRO HISTORY
Before the PRO Superstar Shootout , many modern drag racing fans hadn ’ t seen Top Fuel dragsters and nitro-burning Funny Cars race at Bradenton Motorsports Park before . Some didn ’ t even realize that the historic Florida Gulf Coast track has hosted some of the biggest names in nitro racing since the early 1970s . Drivers like Florida ’ s own “ Big Daddy ” Don Garlits and Darrell Gwynn , as well as Shirley Muldowney , Chris “ The Greek ” Karamesines , and Kenny Bernstein all burned nitro at Bradenton , whether during IHRA national events , races like the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals , or test sessions . In these photographs provided by storied photographer Steve Reyes , readers can see John Force in his Castrol Funny Car , Brad Tuttle in his “ Nitro Bandit ” Funny Car , RC Sherman in the Raybestos Funny Car , Jim Head in his eponymous Funny Car , Billy Meyer in the Chief Auto Parts Funny Car , Bill Mullins in his Top Fuel dragster , and NFL quarterback Dan Pastorini in his Coors Light Top Fuel dragster .
Drag Illustrated
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