The Campaign, Exclusive to NHRA’s Facebook Page, Has Succeeded in Creating Engaging Content, New Fans and Awareness for NHRA’s 60th Anniversary
GLENDORA, Calif. (June 7, 2011) – Launched on March 7, NHRA’s “60 Greatest Moments” campaign recently passed the halfway point of the first of its three stages having amassed more than 4 million impressions on NHRA’s Facebook page, and having inspired more than 17,000 fan interactions.
NHRA fans were given the keys to determine the greatest of NHRA’s 60 Greatest Moments during this, NHRA’s 60th anniversary season, and they have responded in overwhelming numbers. And, combining the rapid growth of NHRA’s Facebook page, which just surpassed a quarter of a million fans, with the anticipated funneling of attention as the Moments are whittled down to 20, 10 and eventually 1, officials expect the total fan impressions and interactions to increase three- to four-fold by the conclusion of the campaign.
“It’s a great start but we really feel like it’s just the tip of the iceberg,” said Gary Darcy, NHRA senior vice president of sales and marketing. “As awareness for the 60 Greatest Moments campaign continues to grow, and as the debate ramps up among our passionate and engaged fans with every step we get closer to determining the greatest moment, we would anticipate that the interest and participation-level of our fans will get that much more intense.”
The program was launched on NHRA’s Facebook page on March 7 with the unveiling of the first Moment on the list which was, fittingly, the founding of NHRA.
Since then, 34 more moments have been unveiled with Kenny Bernstein’s 300-mph run, John Force beating out all of the NASCAR and IndyCar stars to win the coveted Driver of the Year Award and Don Garlits’ memorable blowover 25 years ago at Englishtown among the most popular.
Over the rest of the Summer, concluding on the Wednesday of the penultimate race-week of the regular season (Aug. 17), the remaining 25 of the 60 Greatest Moments will be unveiled. At the conclusion of the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, the Top 20 from among the 60 Greatest Moments (based entirely on the fan voting) will be announced.
Then, just as the Top 10 drivers will be determined at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, the fans’ Top 10 Moments will be as well. Fans will have from the Monday after Brainerd (Aug. 22) to the end of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals (Sept. 5) to vote (exclusively on Facebook) for their favorite of the 20 remaining Greatest Moments and on Sept. 6 the 10 finalists will be announced.
The Greatest Moments voting will then have its own playoffs, as one Moment will be eliminated at each playoff race, leaving five Moments still in play entering the season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals. Fan voting will close prior to the start of the Auto Club NHRA Finals and the fans’ Top 5 will be unveiled on Sunday, Nov. 13.
A complete list of the 60 Greatest Moments – and a link to each Moment’s post on the NHRA Facebook page – can be found on the dedicated NHRA 60 Greatest Moments Web site (http://www.nhra.com/nhra60). Fans can go there not just to keep up with the voting, but also to view historical photos and videos that retrace every step in NHRA rich and storied history. The page also includes links to view a preview of / purchase NHRA’s “60 Greatest Moments” DVD.
Here is a snap-shot look at the list of the 60 Greatest Moments in NHRA history (in chronological order; hyperlink = moment has already been posted/voted on). Please note: NHRA Communications has photos and videos to go with each of these moments. Please contact any member of the NHRA Media Department to request an accompanying photo and/or video for a specific moment.
- Wally Parks founds NHRA (1951)
- First NHRA sanctioned event (1953)
- Founding of NHRA Safety Safari (1954)
- 1955 Indy Top Eliminator: Calvin Rice wins the first U.S. Nationals
- National DRAGSTER founded (1960)
- U.S. Nationals moves to permanent home at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indy (1961)
- Christmas tree introduced (1963)
- End of nitro ban returns fuel to sport (1964)
- “Big Daddy” Don Garlits cracks 200 mph barrier (1964)
- Shirley Shahan first woman to win NHRA event (1966)
- 1967 Indy Top Fuel: Big Daddy shaves
- Wally trophy introduced (1969)
- Funny Car class introduced (1969)
- Mattel sponsorship opens door to corporate involvement (1970)
- 1970 Indy Top Fuel final: The Crash
- Garlits wins in debut of rear-engine dragster (1971)
- 1971 Indy Top Fuel final: The Burndown
- Jim Dunn wins in rear-engine Funny Car (1972)
- Mike Snively makes first five-second Top Fuel pass (1972)
- Winston partnership (1975)
- Garlits’ 5.63 at 250.69 at World Finals considered by many greatest run ever (1975)
- Don “The Snake” Prudhomme records first Funny Car five-second run (1975)
- Shirley Muldowney first women to win in Top Fuel (1976, Columbus)
- Prudhomme wins seven of eight national events (1976)
- Muldowney first female world champ (1977)
- Bob Glidden unbeaten for calendar year (1978-79)
- 1978 Indy Funny Car final: Mongoose bites Snake
- Allen wins dramatic 1981 Top Fuel crown by two mph
- 1982 Springnationals Top Fuel final all-female final
- Don Prudhomme first 250-mph Funny Car pass (1982)
- Connie Kalitta vs. Shirley Muldowney (1982 U.S. Nationals)
- Prudhomme makes arguably greatest Funny Car run of all time (1982, Indy)
- Big Daddy makes his return to Indy (1984, Indy)
- Building of Texas Motorplex, first stadium dragstrip (1986)
- Glidden first to reach 50 career wins (1986)
- Don Garlits’ big blowover (1986, Englishtown)
- Entire national event schedule on television for first time (1986)
- Gene Snow records first NHRA four-second run (1988)
- Joe Amato edges Gary Ormsby in closest Top Fuel finish (1990)
- Pat Austin first double winner (1991 Topeka)
- Kenny Bernstein breaks 300-mph barrier (1992, Gatornationals)
- First Hot Rod Reunion organized (1992)
- Jr. Drag Racing League founded (1992)
- 4-second, 300-mph Funny Car barriers broken on same weekend (1993)
- Kurt Johnson (6.988) records first Pro Stock six-second run (1994)
- Kenny Bernstein first to win championships in Top Fuel and Funny Car (1996)
- John Force first NHRA driver named Driver of the Year (1996)
- Warren Johnson (200.13 mph) records first Pro Stock 200-mph run (1997)
- NHRA Museum opened (1998)
- Coke partnership (2001)
- Bernsteins first father-son share winner’s circle (Las Vegas 2001)
- Lucas Oil becomes NHRA Sportsman Series sponsor (2002)
- John Force’s 100th victory (2002 Houston-2)
- Andrew Hines (6.991) records first Pro Stock Motorcycle six-second run (2005)
- Tony Schumacher wins title with “The Run” (2006, NHRA Finals)
- Ashley Force Hood wins first career race in Atlanta (2008)
- Schumacher breaks all Top Fuel season records (2008)
- Countdown introduced (2007)
- Four-Wide national event at zMAX Dragway (2010)
- John Force comeback, wins 15th championship (2010)
