1981's Headline News

Meyer wins a wild Winternationals title Billy Meyer defeated fellow Texan Raymond Beadle in a Winternationals Funny Car final that became known as the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" after Beadle's entry lost its roof in the semifinals and the roof from Kenny Bernstein's spare body was grafted into its place. Funny Cars absent from Cajun Nationals The 1981 Cajun Nationals became the only event not to crown a Funny Car champ since the class' fulltime inception in 1969 as its drivers boycotted the event in a struggle over the purse. A record crowd still enjoyed the event, and the Funny Cars returned at the next event. All-new sportsman race program for '82 Late-season rules announcements for 1982 spread Modified eliminator classes into Comp and Super Stock, Alcohol Dragster and Alcohol Funny Car into one eliminator, and introduced Super Gas as a full-fledged NHRA national event category for the following season. World Finals a real barn (and car) burner The 1981 Winston World Finals went into the history books as one of the wildest and most exciting events in NHRA national event history, with high drama, thrilling spills, and record times at Orange County Int'l Raceway.

World Finals moves to OCIR Crane Cams announces 250 mph Funny Car Club Sportsnationals has new home in Houston Tharp out, Oswald in as C&H driver Shirley Muldowney signs with Pioneer Monthly Headlines