Draft:1963 NHRA U.S. Nationals

The 1963 U.S. Nationals was a National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) professional drag racing event held September 2, 1963 at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Clermont, Indiana.

Top Fuel
The Top Fuel field included a trio of Lakewood dragsters: Joe Schuebeck's and Robert Vodnik's (both with a 392 cid Chrysler hemi) and Dick Vest's (with a Chevrolet). It also featured Pete Robinson, Connie Kalitta, Dick Vest, Tony Nancy, and Gordon Collett.

Round One
In the opening round, Nancy (in a Plymouth dragster of his own design), lost to Vodnik.

Round Two
In the quarterfinal, John Kranenberg (in a 392 cid-powered Roche) faced Vodnik, and lost.

Round Three
In the semi-final, Kalitta's Chrysler lined up against Vodnik. Vodnik reached the lights first.

Round Four
The class was won by Vodnik, beating Garlits in Swamp Rat V-B in the final.

Supercharged Dragster
The AA/D win went to Don Garlits, which earned him a bye to the final round in Top Fuel.

Top Gas
In the Top Gas final, what Hot Rod would call "the race of the year, "Ohio George" Montgomery in a 390 cid Cadillac-powered A/GS '33 Willys met Doug Cook in the famed Stone-Woods-Cook '41 Willys. Montgomery took the win.

The Chevrolet-powered Hassell and Vogelsong 1940 Willys coupé, "the scourge of B/Gas", driven by Ron Hassell, won the B/G class. Hassell turned in a pass of 12.27 seconds at 116.88 mph.

In C/GS, Sam Jones took his second gasser title, in the Chevrolet-powered Moody & Jones 1940 Willys gasser Filthy Forty, with a winning pass of 12.70 seconds at 110.42 mph.

Competition Eliminator
The Comp Eliminator trophy went to John Yount, with a victory over Jim Neely.

Middle Eliminator
George Montgomery in his '33 Willys claimed Middle Eliminator over Gene Altizer, and became the first driver in NHRA to win it three times.

Stock Eliminator
Stock Eliminator was won by Herman Mozer in a 1963 Dodge, defeating Al Eckstrand in the final.

Little Eliminator
In Little Eliminator, the A/FX 1963 Chevrolet of Dave Strickler defeated Jim Wangers to take the title.

Junior Eliminator
The Junior Eliminator win went to Scott Reider in his B/SR 1932 Ford.