If there was a mild roadbump in the road to success that NHRA enjoyed in its early years, it came in 1957. Things were going well -- NHRA's sanctioned-tracks numbered more than 100 in 38 of the 48 states, more than a half-million spectators had enjoyed drag racing the previous year, and support was growing everywhere, including from Life magazine -- until some ill-informed attacks on hot rodding, tried to take the steam away from the sport and actually led to the cancellation of the Safety Safari's 1957 plans.

NHRA President Wally Parks (pictured) earned hot rodders everywhere respect when his Hot Rod Magazine-backed "Suddenly" '57 Savoy set a new record for the Experimental class at NASCAR's Daytona Speedweeks event and also established an all-time Daytona record for stock-bodied cars and set top speed for the entire two-week-long event.

Rules were a hot topic in 1957, but none more so than the rule mandating gasoline only at that year's Nationals. Designed to bridge the growing gap in the sport between "haves" and "have-nots" as well as halt runaway fuel costs and safety concerns, the "fuel ban" lasted until 1964.

The gasoline-only mandate did little to slow the success of the 1957 National Championship Drags, held that year in Oklahoma City, Okla. Four hundred and fifty entrants from took part in the four-day event, during which speed records were set in 17 of the 30 classes. Buddy Sampson, at the wheel of Money Oldsmobile Special, scored Top Eliminator honors and was crowned NHRA's third National Champion.