IHRA: Throwback Thursday - 1988 Winternationals at Darlington

This week, we feature Darlington Dragway as the track celebrates its 40th birthday with a new leaseholder and multiple upgrades.

This ESPN video shows what the track looked like in 1988, when it featured some of the top names in drag racing for the IHRA All Pro Winternationals. The hosting team – Pat Patterson, Lon Lundberg and Brett Kepner, wearing his Tom Selleck mustache – dishes up 45 minutes of vintage racing.

Pro stock drivers include Jerry Haas, Bruce Allen, Warren Johnson, Rickie Smith and Bob Glidden.

Funny Car pilots include Kenny Bernstein, Trip Shumake, Mark Oswald, and the action includes a quarterfinal run of John Force versus Scott Kalitta.

In Top Fuel, drivers include Jack Ostrander and Gene Snow, and highlights include a run by former pro football quarterback Dan Pastorini against Joe Amato.

It's an entertaining history lesson, both on the track and in pro drag racing, from 28 years ago.