Ted Cyr (pictured) emerged as the newest star in the NHRA universe when he won the National Championship Drag Races in 1958, a season during which many future top performers and familiar names began to make themselves well known. Among there were Don and Ed Garlits, Tim Woods (of future Stone-Woods-Cook fame), Roger Coburn, Lyle Fisher, Bobby Langley, George Montgomery, Jack Moss, Johnny Loper, and Steve San Paolo.

Two of NHRA's already established stars, Calvin Rice, the1955 National Champion, and Ed Cortopassi set new international acceleration records in early February at March Air Force Base in California, breaking records that stood for more than 20 years. As NHRA President Wally Parks had said, "Where there are hot rodders, there is know-how." NHRA Vice President Ak Miller, a dirt-racing novice, won the sports-car class at the annual Pikes Peak hill climb competition with a home-built Chevy-powered rod.

The buzz phrase "Ingenuity in Action" became a real-life mantra for racecar builders in 1958, as some of the sport's wildest and most imaginative machines were built. Supercharged engines were the rage, and streamlined and multi-engined entries were built across the country by the likes of Chrisman & Cannon, Mickey Thompson, Howard Johansen, and Jack Moss

The 1958 National Championship Drag Races, held in Oklahoma City, Okla., drew 500 top-flight entries and crowned Cyr the National Champion after a tough battle among many nine-second entries, topped with a victory over Albert Ishenbaugh. Junior Thompson became NHRA's first Little Eliminator winner. National Records were set in 18 of the 25 classes contested.