Take a look at this vintage video, US 30 Dragstrip Pro Stock Drag Racing from 1973, Dyno Don vs. Billy the Kid!
Back in 1973, drag racing looked very different from today, but many fans still consider that era the golden age of Pro Stock racing. One of the most famous matchups from that time was between Dyno Don Nicholson and Billy Stepp, also known as Billy the Kid, at the legendary US 30 Dragstrip.
US 30 Dragstrip was one of the most famous drag strips in America during the 1960s and 1970s. The track was known for huge crowds, wild match races, and some of the biggest names in drag racing history. Many racers actually preferred racing there over national events because match racing paid well and the crowds were massive.
Dyno Don Nicholson was one of the biggest stars in drag racing during that era. He earned the nickname Dyno Don because of his engine tuning ability and his reputation for making incredible horsepower. He raced Ford powered Pro Stock cars, including Mavericks and Mustangs, and became one of the most feared racers in the class.
Billy the Kid, Billy Stepp, was another well known Pro Stock racer and match racer who competed against the biggest names in the sport. Match racing was extremely popular in the 1970s. Instead of elimination brackets, two racers would race each other multiple times in front of huge crowds, and fans would come specifically to watch those rivalries.
Pro Stock cars in 1973 were very different from modern Pro Stock cars. They still resembled real production cars and used carburetors instead of fuel injection. Engines were naturally aspirated big block V8 engines, and teams spent a lot of time working on cylinder heads, camshafts, and intake manifolds to make more horsepower.
The racing was also more unpredictable. Tracks were not always perfectly prepared, tire technology was not as advanced, and cars often moved around a lot during runs. Drivers had to fight the car down the track much more than modern drag racers do today.
Events like Dyno Don vs Billy the Kid at US 30 Dragstrip helped build the popularity of Pro Stock racing. Rivalries and match races brought huge crowds, and drivers became famous personalities. Fans would travel long distances just to watch two famous drivers race each other several times in one night.
Many people consider the early 1970s Pro Stock era one of the best periods in drag racing history because the cars still looked like street cars, the drivers were personalities, and the racing was exciting and unpredictable.
Looking back at races like Dyno Don vs Billy the Kid at US 30 Dragstrip is like looking at the foundation of modern drag racing. The technology has changed, the cars are faster, and the sport has evolved, but those early Pro Stock match races helped build drag racing into what it is todaay.
