Burn down, burn down, burn down

[Cliff]

Indy 1971: 'The Great Burndown'

Staging battles are all the talk right now, but the most epic burndown in NHRA history happened in the Top Fuel final 50 years ago at the 1971 U.S. Nationals between Steve Carbone and "Big Daddy" Don Garlits.

www.nhra.com

We were all commenting on the great P/S burndown. So here is the "original". Thank you Phil Burgess.

 

[TopFuel@Lions]

That did not take long Cliff, knew that was on the way and indeed, it was the best, most meaningful, epic nitro burndown ever, best part about it is that a true front-engine AA/FD digger won it, great stuff.


TopFuel@Lions

 

[Al]

One thing that has been lost in all of the talk of the recent burndown is the starter. In the "age of fiscal restraint" NHRA did away with the official starter awhile ago, using regional guys instead. Buster handled this one and many others with authority. I was in Seattle one year when Rick Stewart ended a PS burndown at around 2.5 minutes and sent them to the back of the lanes so the "other cars could run and get back to the pits". They did not get to refuel. That was the right way to handle the situation. If you are not the unquestionable "boss" on the starting line it is only natural to hesitate on that call. Next thing you know it is 3.5 minutes and the situation is now unsafe. A tough deal for the starter that day.