Drag racing was a big deal in 1964. More than 400 drag strips were scattered around the USA, and around 200,000 drag racing cars competed on those tracks. At the time, long before fancy live television broadcasts and social media, it was said that five million followed the sport. In other words, they were at drag racing strips, seeing the action live, and taking in the smell of burning rubber and high-octane fuel. Winning a drag race on a Saturday translated into selling a car on Monday.
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