1. Jack Chrisman was a drag racing pioneer and 1961 champion.
15 Facts About Jack Chrisman
1. 2.
Jack Chrisman was influential in the formation of the Funny Car class, as he introduced the first blown injected nitro-burning Funny Car.
3.
Jack Chrisman was born the youngest of 13 children in Grove, Oklahoma.
4.
Jack Chrisman purchased the Purple Car from Ed Lusinski, and used the car to win drag races at many of these tracks.
5.
Jack Chrisman raced the Howard Cam Twin Bears gas dragster, which featured two side-mounted engines.
6.
Jack Chrisman won the 1961 World Championship after winning in national, regional, and divisional meets throughout the United States.
7.
Jack Chrisman intended to drive Thompson's dragster to defend his title at Indianapolis, but Thompson's hauler tipped over while transporting the vehicle to the dragstrip.
8.
Jack Chrisman was working for the NHRA in late 1963 or early 1964 when Ford's Fran Hernandez gave a Mercury Comet to Jack Chrisman.
9.
Jack Chrisman went to a dealer, picked up the racecar, and brought it to Bill Stroppe's shop.
10.
Jack Chrisman toured the eastern half of the United States with the car through the end of the 1965 season.
11.
Jack Chrisman won his first race, at the Hot Rod Magazine Championships at Riverside Race, in the Exhibition Stock category.
12.
Jack Chrisman came back with another Comet to race the rest of the 1966 season through 1970.
13.
Jack Chrisman built a "sidewinder" Mustang funny car for 1972, but never raced it.
14.
Jack Chrisman sold it to Ray Maheu, and the car later became John Force's first ride, Nightstalker.
15.
Jack Chrisman continued running the company until his death in 1989.