Bob Glidden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bob Glidden
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Glidden working on a Pro Stock car in 2005
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| Born | April 18, 1944 |
| Died | December 17, 2017 (aged 73) |
| Occupation | Drag racer |
| Spouse(s) | Etta Glidden |
| Children | Rusty and Billy |
Bob Glidden (born August 18, 1944 – died December 17, 2017) was a famous American drag racer. He was known for his amazing skills in Pro Stock racing. Bob Glidden won 85 major races in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). This made him one of the most successful drivers ever.
He also won ten Pro Stock championships. Five of these wins were in a row, starting in 1985. Bob Glidden was a true legend in drag racing. He even won nine NHRA national races in a row in 1979. He was also the fastest qualifier 23 times in a row. This included every race in 1987. At one point, he won 50 elimination rounds without losing!
Glidden almost became the first driver in a "doorslammer" car to reach 200 miles per hour. Doorslammers are drag racing cars that look like regular cars with working doors. He drove 199.11 miles per hour at a race in South Carolina.
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Bob Glidden's Racing Journey
Bob Glidden started his drag racing career in the 1960s. He often raced Ford cars throughout his career. He began in Stock and Super Stock classes. These are racing categories for cars that are closer to regular street cars.
He worked as a mechanic at Ed Martin Ford. This company also sponsored him. Bob was a frequent winner in his local races before becoming a professional racer in 1972.
Becoming a Pro Racer
In 1972, Bob Glidden sold his Super Stock cars. He bought a Pro Stock Pinto from famous racers Jack Roush and Wayne Gapp. He then quit his mechanic job to race full-time.
His first Pro race was at the Supernationals in 1972. He finished second, which was a great start! The next year, he won his first national race at the U.S. Nationals. He set a new national speed record of 152.54 miles per hour.
In 1974, Bob Glidden won three events. This included the Springnationals and the U.S. Nationals again. He set new records for speed and time. These wins helped him become the season champion.
Winning Streak in the 1970s
The year 1975 was fantastic for Glidden. He won seven events, including big races like the Winternationals and Gatornationals. This helped him win his second straight championship.
In 1978, Glidden won his third championship. He started the season with his Ford Pinto. He then switched to a Ford Fairmont. He won seven national races that season. This tied a record for the most wins in a single year. He also set a new national record for elapsed time (e.t.) at 8.59 seconds.
In 1979, Glidden switched to a Plymouth Arrow. He started the season with a win and didn't lose a race until June! This amazing streak lasted for 14 races and 50 rounds. He won seven national events that year. He also earned maximum points in many races.
Dominating the 1980s
Bob Glidden won his fifth championship in 1980. He won the final race of the season to take the title.
From 1985 onwards, Glidden began an incredible winning streak. He led the points standings from start to finish in 1985. He won five national events that year, earning his sixth championship.
In 1986, Glidden had a scary crash. His car, a Ford Thunderbird, spun and rolled six times. Luckily, he was not hurt. He returned to racing quickly and won six of the last seven events. This earned him his seventh championship.
The year 1987 was even better. Glidden won eight races. This included his 60th national event win. He finished the season with five straight wins and his eighth championship. He was the fastest qualifier in all 14 events that year!
His 1988 season was also very strong. He won five of the last seven races. This gave him his fourth championship in a row. He later switched to a new Ford Probe car. This car set a new record for the quickest Pro Stock run in NHRA history.
Glidden won his tenth and final championship in 1989. He won nine races that season. He ended the 1980s with an amazing 49 wins.
Later Career
Bob Glidden continued to win races in the early 1990s. He won three events in 1990, one in 1991, and two each in 1992 and 1993. His 85th and final national event win was in 1995. He had missed much of that season due to heart surgery.
Glidden retired from racing after the 1997 season. He later worked as a crew chief for other drivers. He tried to race again in 1998 but did not qualify.
Awards and Recognition
Bob Glidden received many awards for his amazing career:
- He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1994.
- He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2005.
- In 2001, he was ranked fourth among the National Hot Rod Association's Top 50 Drivers from 1951-2000.
Family Life
Bob Glidden was married to Etta Glidden. They had two sons, Rusty and Billy. Etta was Bob's long-time crew chief. All three family members were important parts of his racing team.
The Glidden family often appeared on the Car Craft Magazine All-Star Drag Racing Team. Etta and their sons were named to the team six times. Bob himself was on the team eleven times. His son, Rusty, even raced against his father in 1996, with Rusty winning that race!
