#3: Columbus Top Fuel 1990 and Funny Car 1994: Each event had a #20 qualifier. This was back in the day when anyone in the top 16 who didn’t show (or was allegedly paid by) someone in qualified lower. In top fuel in 1990, Kenny Koretsky used his 7.035/118.32 qualifying stat to sub for #15 Jack Ostrander. Kenny ran #2 Joe Amato in the first round and lost. In 1994, Rick Sherrell used his 8.389/83.99 to fill in for #15 (again) Ray Higley. Rick lost to Richard Hartman, in the first round.

#2:  Funny Car, Topeka II, 1989: Someone bit off a quarter of the race… only 12 cars and one side of the ladder half full or half empty, depending on how you look at it.  See the image below:

#1: The Fall Dallas event, 2000, all classes:  The weather was so bad that NHRA gave up on qualifying and just ranked the qualifying order (in the pro classes) by points.  Note: there were only 15 cars in top fuel.  The ladders are below.  It is interesting to see who was racing then and how they stacked up, nearly nine years ago. Click ont he thumbnails for full sized versions.