The best drag race I ever attended was the NHRA 1962 Indy Nationals. I was 23. It was a different world. There was no Christmas Tree, no nitromethane, no alcohol (on, nor off the track,) no handicapped starts, no throttle stops, active nor otherwise, no Funny Cars nor Pro Stockers, no motorcycles, and EVERY RACE WAS A HEADS-UP DRAG RACE.
There were wall-to-wall spectators and 1,200 race cars. No typo...
I see it as the high point of drag racing in the USA. I was fortunate to have been there.
After that, things started going downhill, and haven't stopped, yet.
Just my opinion...