In less than a weeks time, racers from every corner of the United States and beyond will converge on the Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis for the annual rite of passage and the most illustrious and heralded of all drag races, the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. As the one race that can make an entire career – as the one that ever driver dreams of having on their resume – the Big Go has a list of magical moments throughout its 57 years that stretches a mile long.

1978 marked the 24th edition of the fabled U.S. Nationals at what was then the Indianapolis Raceway Park, and despite several great story lines in every professional category, it was the legendary Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen that captured the hearts of race fans everywhere, creating an emotional moment that will be forever frozen in time.

Just a week prior to the Nationals, McEwen’s 14-year old son Jamie passed away from a battle with leukemia, and at the urging of longtime archrival and former teammate Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, headed to Indy with a heavy heart, seeking therapy by competing in the biggest race of them all. And in a story that simply couldn’t have been scripted any better, McEwen pulled out an upset victory in Funny Car eliminator, downing heavy favorite Prudhomme himself in one of the most memorable single final rounds in drag racing history. Joining “the Mongoose” in victory lane were a couple of other legendary figures, but we don’t take all the suspense out of it, so you’ll have to watch and see for yourself.