Bob Glidden
Bob Glidden’s records are the yardstick by which NHRA drag racing success is measured. The Indiana native, a line mechanic at an Indianapolis-area Ford dealership when NHRA created its Pro Stock class in 1970, brought world-wide attention to the sport through his accomplishments. In 1973, Glidden earned his first Pro Stock victory, starting one of the most remarkable winning streaks of his career, one in which he earned at least one NHRA national event victory in 21 consecutive seasons from 1973 through 1993.
Glidden has won more NHRA series championships (10) and more national events (85) than anyone else in the sport’s history until this year. In 24 seasons of touring, Glidden raced in 120 final rounds, won 778 rounds, was the No. 1 qualifier 101 times and posted top speed of the meet 99 times.
Among his most remarkable accomplishments were back-to-back Winston Championships in 1978 and 1979, even though he switched from Ford to Plymouth between the two seasons. After racing Fords for his entire career, Glidden started the 1979 season in a Plymouth Arrow, in which he qualified No.1 at EVERY event during the 1979 season and in which he went to the final round in all but one race.
During that remarkable stretch in 1978 and 1979, Glidden reached the final round in 17 consecutive races and won nine straight times. With the exception of the aforementioned Plymouth Arrow, all of his wins came in Fords. Another of his incredible accomplishments was his streak of 23 consecutive No.1 qualifiers from 1986 through 1988 and the fact that he swept performance honors (No. 1 qualifier, low ET and top speed of the meet) 59 times in his career.
Finally, in the sport’s biggest race each year, the Labor Day U.S. Nationals, Glidden always was at his best. His first career victory came at Indy in 1973, but his overall record there was incredible. He reached the finals 15 times, won nine times, and from 1977 through 1989 made it into the finals 13 straight times.