These days, the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season concluding at the scenic Pomona Fairplex seems nearly as traditional as the Nationals being run at Indy or the Gators being run in Gainesville. But in the 47 years since the NHRA expanded its national schedule to four races in 1965, the Auto Club NHRA Finals, more famously and commonly known as the World Finals, has been hosted by a number of venues before it’s current and longtime location in southern California.

It was in the aforementioned 1965 season that the Wally Parks-led organization added  the World Finals to the schedule, to be held in Tulsa, Okla. (the Springnationals in Bristol, Tenn. was also added that same year), where it was held until 1969, when the final national meet of the season was moved to Dallas, Tex. and the Dallas International Motor Speedway. Two years later, the event was on the go once again, sent across the state to Amarillo, where it remained until 1973.

It was in 1974 that the World Finals transitioned westward to the birthplace of drag racing and the still-new and state-of-the-art Ontario Motor Speedway. Located a short distance from the mecca of Los Angeles, the Ontario facility was regarded as well ahead of its time, and in its inaugural season of business, hosted not only the NHRA Super Nationals, but also the open wheel California 500, the NASCAR Miller High Life 500, and the Formula One Questor Grand Prix.

NHRA drag races, featuring the stars and hall of famers of the sport in their heyday, were conducted on the pit lane of the giant 2.5-mile oval, referred to as the “Indy of the West.” During its run, the Ontario quarter mile proved to be one of, if not the quickest and fastest drag strip in the nation, and as such, was a can’t-miss destination for racers from every geographic division. Despite a run of less than ten years before the monstrous Ontario facility was sold and demolished, it remains one of the most iconic facilities in drag racing annals and a key part of the drag racing heritage in southern California. The World Finals, as featured in the clip above from the 1976 season, never moved from the region again, first shifting to Irvine, Calif. in 1981 before settling in at Pomona.

Kick back on this Flashback Friday and enjoy this 45-minute, televised coverage of the ’76 World Finals, as hosted by Frank Marino and the one and only Dave McClelland.