| Race Title: | 1969 NHRA Winternationals |
| Series Long: | National Hot Rod Association |
| Series Short: | NHRA |
| Location: | Pomona, California |
| Length Mi: | --> |
The 1969 NHRA Winternationals (commonly called the Winternats) were a National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) drag racing event, held at Pomona, California on 2 February.[1]
The Top Fuel Dragster field was eight drivers: Larry Dixon (#1 qualifier), Don Prudhomme (#2 qualifier), John Mulligan, Jim Dunn, Bennie Osborn, Connie Kalitta, Jim Warren, Leroy Goldstein, and Tom Larkin. A number of top names attended, but failed to qualify, including Tom McEwen, "TV Tommy" Ivo, and Don Garlits.[2]
Larkin lost in round one to Mulligan, Warren in round two, Osborn in round three. Dunn was defeated in the semi-final by Prudhomme, while Mulligan beat Goldstein. In the final, Mulligan took the win, and a US$6,900 purse.[3]
Top Fuel Funny Car saw a sixteen-car field, but stars including Danny Ongais, "Dyno Don" Nicholson, Roger Lindamood, "Jungle Jim" Liberman, and Jack Chrisman, along with Della Woods and Charlie Allen, failed to qualify.[4]
The Barracuda of #1 qualifier Tom "Moogoo$e McEwen lost to Marv Eldridge, in the #9-qualifying odd man out AMC AMX. #14 qualifier Ed Schartman (Mercury Cougar) lost two Rich Siroonian's Mazmanian-owned #6-qualifying Barracuda. #12 qualifier Art Ward (in the Roger Guzman-owned Corvair) lost to #4 qualifieer Ray Alley's Barracuda. Kelly Chadwick, who qualified #11, fell to Clare Sanders, #3 qualifier in the Liberman Chevrolet. #5 qualifier Randy Walls faced #13 qualifier Leonard Hughes' Barracuda, and lost. Pat Foster, qualified #7 in the Mickey Thompson Mustang, was defeated by #15 qualifier Ron Leslie's Mercury Cougar. Dave Beebe, tenth-quickest in qualifying in the Nelson Carter Dodge Charger, was defeated by #2-quickest Don Schumacher's Barracuda. #8 qualifier Mike Hamby lost to highest-e.t. qualifier Larry Reyes, in Roland Leong's Dodge Charger.[5]
Reyes lost to Alley, Leslie to Sanders, Eldridge to Hughes, Schumacher to Siroonian.[6]
Sanders defeated Hughes and Alley beat Siroonian to go on to the final.[7]
Sanders took the win, and a US$5000 purse.[8]
Top Gas was attended by three-time Winternats champion Gordon Collett (who did not qualify) and Mark Pieri; the title went to Dave Grassi.[9]
Don Grotheer defeated Jerry Harvey in the final round.[10]
Super Stock Elim.
Don Grotheer def Jerry Harvey (Ford Mustang) Plymouth BO29 Barracuda - 426 Race Hemi - 10.73 ET