NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Art Chrisman’s famed #25 dragster is the focus of this week's visit to the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum presented by AAA. Chrisman cemented its place in the history books when it was the first car to make a pass at the 1955 Nationals in Great Bend, Kan., NHRA's first national event. Chrisman took part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony, then made the opening lap of the race.
 
Chrisman originally was partners with Leroy Neumeyer on the #25 car, but when Neumeyer was drafted to fight in the Korean War, Chrisman began to race the machine, which would become one of the most celebrated cars in drag racing history. In it, Chrisman was the first drag racer to exceed 140 and 180 mph and the first winner at the Bakersfield U.S. Fuel & Gas Championships in 1959.

Chrisman, one of the founding fathers of NHRA Drag Racing and a member of one of the sport’s legendary families, died July 12, 2106. He was 86.