With everyone looking for a piece of the 15 million dollar pie paid out over 16 national events throughout North America, the level of competition and the number of competitive teams rose dramatically in 1988.

The annual Winston Championships got off to a flying start with the opening race at Pomona in California. Over 100,000 fans jammed into the track facility for the four day event with another 56,000 on hand for the Sunday season opener.

Action is ongoing from the moment you press your start button and ace dragsters such as Butch Leal, Kenny Bernstein, Joe Amato, Mark Oswald and the legendary Bob Glidden hurl their respective Top Fuelers, Funny Cars and Pro-Stocks along the assorted quarter mile strips for cash prizes of up to fifty thousand dollars a throw. No wonder the pace is fast and furious.

Throughout the sixteen nailbiting events there are remarkably few nasty incidents but the ones that do take place are - well - radical!

For example, one luckless competitor was rooky driver Tony McCallum who made his debut the hard way in the first round of a Funny Car event. He was racing against Mike Dunn's 280mph racer when his own blew up and disappeared in pieces leaving him with not much more than the steering wheel, four wheels and a look of surprise on his face. Great quality from the Diamond P production team - without any adverts! - and non-stop action from the first frame onwards.

Whether you're an enthusiast or not, this video is far too good to miss!