During the 10th Annual NHRA National Hot Rod
Reunion the announcement was made that the Beech Bend Raceway signed a 5-year
contract with the Wally Parks NHRA Museum to continue holding the NHRA National
Hot Rod Reunion at Beech Bend Raceway. This is great news for Beech Bend
as well as the city of Bowling Green. This is an amazing event that
continues to grow each and every year. If you have never attended the Hot
Rod Reunion be sure to mark your calendars now for Father's Day weekend in 2013!
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Friday, June 29, 2012
NEW FLASH!!!
DUE TO THE EXTREME WEATHER THAT IS IN THE
FORECAST FOR SUNDAY WE ARE CANCELING THE JULY 1ST NHRA SUNDAY RACE!!! WE
WILL RESCHEDULE THE JR. DRAGSTERS FOR A LATER DATE.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
The Harley's at Beech Bend Raceway on Friday testing.
The Harley drags start today at 10:00 am.
NOTE: FOR THE FIRST TIME ONLY!
Nostalgia Drag Cars and Alcohol Cars mixed in with the Harleys!!!!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
The Harleys are coming to Beech Bend Raceway Park this week.
This Thursday, June 21 - Sunday, June 24
Monday, June 18, 2012
Day Three of the 10th Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion - HOT HEADS NOSTALGIA DRAG RACING FINALS
Posted on June 17, 2012
For full story and photos: http://www.museum.nhra.com/apcm/templates/news.asp?articleid=50944&zoneid=47
For daily stories: visit http://museum.nhra.com
BOWLING
GREEN, Ky. – (June 16, 2012) – Ernest McClain, Robbie Freels, and Tera
Wendland raced to their first event wins in the Hot Heads Eliminator
Nostalgia Drag Racing Finals at the 10th annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion presented by AAA at Beech Bend Raceway Park on Saturday night.
The
stands were filled with cheering fans as racing went on late into the
evening. In categories ranging from Nostalgia Top Fuel to Geezer Gasser,
racers roared down the quarter-mile into the darkness, past nostalgic
covered grandstands in their quest to be the best.
Jon
Capps (Nostalgia Funny Car), Troy Ray (Nostalgia Funny Car), Fred Bear
(AA/Gas Supercharged), Mickey Smith (Competition Eliminator), Mike Fuqua
(Gas Eliminator), John Castellaw (Modified Eliminator), Mike Welfel
(Top Stock Eliminator) and Gary Raber (Geezer Gasser) also were winners
at the National Hot Rod Reunion, which was delayed by a passing
afternoon thunderstorm as teams prepared for their final rounds.
In
the Nostalgia Top Fuel, Delaware native McClain beat last year’s
Reunion champion Lincoln Hassel in earlier rounds. In the finals,
McClain went up against opponent Keith Burgan and blasted past him with a
6.284 at 226.16 mph.
“My
team and I are walking on clouds after our win, it’s a great feeling to
win a National Hot Rod Reunion for the first time after attending every
single one for the past 10 years,” said McClain. “I would not be here
celebrating without my team of dedicated crew members made up of family
and close friends.”
Spectators were on the edge of their seats when 7.0 Pro raced on the quarter mile. Last year’s Reunion Champ Ron “Tikiman” Huegli, always a great showman,
put on some impressive tire-smoking runs throughout the event while
Robbie Freels sized up his competition and steered his way to the
winner’s circle. In the final, Freels of Island, Ky., faced off with
John Hadyniak. Freels blasted past Hadyniak with a 7.012 second, 184.45
mph run over Hadyniak’s 8.780 second, 109.49 mph run.
“I’m
so excited to win my first National Hot Rod Reunion,” said Freels. “And
to win it in my home state is all the better. My team and I had a great
time and we will definitely be back to win it again.”
There
was plenty of nail-biting excitement in the Junior Fuel class. Texas
native Tera Wendland was taken with emotion after three days of
heart-pounding runs. Making her Reunion debut, Tera climbed to the top
and proved to be a fierce competitor.
In
the final, Tera battled fellow Texan Ken Hawkins. Tera used a holeshot
to pick up her first National Hot Rod Reunion championship title with a
performance of 7.469 seconds at 1178.59 mph while Hawkins picked up a
7.444 second at 175.80 mph run.
“I
am so thrilled to win and to think a few weeks ago I didn’t think I
would be here, but thanks to Darrell Walden who believed in me as well
as my entire team, Frank and Scott with Neil & Parks racecars
for building such a beautiful car and my supportive boyfriend Chris
Graves,” said Wendland. “This Reunion will be one of my most memorable
because it was so much fun and one awesome final. I can’t wait for the
11th Reunion.”
Tera’s
sentiments were echoed over and over again by racers, vendors, street
rodders, hot rodders and fans following the conclusion of the 10th Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion.
“The racing element of the Reunion is unique and reminiscent of the early days in drag racing when teams
didn’t have the big sponsor dollars like we see today. It was all about
racing just for fun, meeting new friends and reuniting with old
friends,” said Steve Gibbs, event co -director. “The Reunions bring back
that nostalgia feel and we hope we can continue these great events for
years to come.”
FINAL RESULTS:
NOSTALGIA TOP FUEL
Results
of final, round 2 eliminations in Nostalgia Top Fuel at the Wally Parks
NHRA Motorsports Museum, 10th annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod
Reunion presented by AAA:
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
111 Ernest McClain 890 Keith Burgan
E2 ****WINNER**** 0.179 6.284 226.16 0.269 8.321 140.20
Prior rounds:
E1 (L Hassell ) 0.116 6.285 228.46 (R Lechtenber) 0.473 28.000 244.60
Qualified: #2 6.275 228.46 #4 28.000 NS
NOTE: Actual lanes not known. Winner listed first.
Burgan's car was way off the pace early in the race, but McClain made another run within a thousandth of his first today and within a hundredth of his qualifying run to take the Nostalgia Top Fuel title.
Burgan's car was way off the pace early in the race, but McClain made another run within a thousandth of his first today and within a hundredth of his qualifying run to take the Nostalgia Top Fuel title.
NOSTALGIA FUNNY CAR
Results
of final, round 2 eliminations in Nostalgia Funny Car at the Wally
Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, 10th annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod
Reunion presented by AAA:
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
295 Troy Ray Bye
E2 ****WINNER**** 0.284 8.694 109.76
Prior rounds:
E1 (M Smith ) 0.330 9.169 123.97
Qualified: #99 No Time Bye
NOTE: Actual lanes not known. Winner listed first.
Only three of the four cars were able to come back for a second pass. Ray's car labored to get down the track.
Only three of the four cars were able to come back for a second pass. Ray's car labored to get down the track.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
117 Jon Capps 462 Mike Smith
E2 ****WINNER**** 0.162 6.139 233.20 0.142 12.826 61.22
Prior rounds:
E1 (R Baker ) 0.148 6.898 133.94 (T Ray ) 0.159 6.334 175.11
Qualified: #99 No Time #99 No Time
Capps
made a very nice pass to close out his weekend on a high note. Smith's
car did all kinds of evil things early in the run and he limped to the
stripe.
JUNIOR FUEL
Results
of final, round 3 eliminations in Junior Fuel at the Wally Parks NHRA
Motorsports Museum, 10th annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion
presented by AAA:
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
4507 Tera Wendland 4676 Ken Hawkins
E3 ****WINNER**** 0.003 7.469 178.59 0.035 7.444 175.80
Prior rounds:
E2 (R Muncy ) 0.023 7.427 179.30 (R Laird ) 0.074 7.495 175.80
E1 (C Rearick ) 0.122 7.411 177.88 (M Millsap ) 0.025 7.599 173.76
Qualified: #1 7.356 180.74 #7 7.725 167.30
NOTE: Actual lanes not known. Winner listed first.
This was great final round, as expected after they ran within a few hundredths of each other in the semifinals. Wendland had a great light to take a holeshot victory against a quicker hawkins, who had a pretty decent light, but left the starting line three hundredths behind Wendland. Tera Wendland's MOV: 0.0070 seconds (approximately 22 inches).
This was great final round, as expected after they ran within a few hundredths of each other in the semifinals. Wendland had a great light to take a holeshot victory against a quicker hawkins, who had a pretty decent light, but left the starting line three hundredths behind Wendland. Tera Wendland's MOV: 0.0070 seconds (approximately 22 inches).
7.0 PRO
Results
of final, round 4 eliminations in 7.0 PRO at the Wally Parks NHRA
Motorsports Museum, 10th annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion
presented by AAA:
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed
3564 Robbie Freels 1707 John Hadyniak
E4 ****WINNER**** 0.029 7.012 184.45 0.219 8.780 109.49
7.0 Index: 7.00 (+/-): 0.012 7.0 Index: 7.00 (+/-): 1.780
Prior rounds:
E3 (R Huegli ) 0.080 7.076 0.076 (G Horn ) 0.285 7.172 0.172
E2 (M Vaught ) 0.033 7.058 0.058 (J Sanborn ) 0.075 7.123 0.123
E1 (M Lewis ) 0.035 7.001 0.001 0.110 7.042 0.042
Qualified: #2 7.064 0.064 #1 7.005 0.005
NOTE: Actual lanes not known. Winner listed first.
Freels was on time at the green and close to the index at the stripe to post a decisive win in 7.0 Pro Eliminator.
Freels was on time at the green and close to the index at the stripe to post a decisive win in 7.0 Pro Eliminator.
AA/GAS SUPERCHARGED
Results
of final, round 3 eliminations in AA/Gas Supercharged at the Wally
Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, 10th annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod
Reunion presented by AAA:
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
150 Fred Bear 2506 Franklin Coverdale
E3 ****WINNER**** 0.037 5.754 112.79 -0.065 5.871 128.95
Prior rounds:
E2 (S Crook ) 0.122 5.643 115.98 (J Cryan ) 0.050 5.758 122.96
E1 (R Pirrone ) 0.059 5.733 107.92 (D Cobb ) 0.066 5.936 119.05
NOTE: Actual lanes not known. Winner listed first.
Coverdale went red and Bear gets the AA.Gas Supercharged title.
Coverdale went red and Bear gets the AA.Gas Supercharged title.
GEEZER GASSERS
Results
of final, round 4 eliminations in Geezer Gassers at the Wally Parks
NHRA Motorsports Museum, 10th annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod
Reunion presented by AAA:
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed
8119 Gary Raber 3141 Chuck Lipka
E4 ****WINNER**** 0.081 11.136 112.79 0.653 10.001 132.75
D/GG Dial: 11.00 (+/-): 0.136 B/GG Dial: 10.00 (+/-): 0.001
Prior rounds:
E3 (J Bush ) 0.125 11.093 0.093 (J Gray ) 0.168 10.025 0.025
E2 0.123 10.983 -0.017 (S Bacon ) 0.610 10.239 0.239
E1 0.310 11.242 0.242 0.623 10.186 0.186
Qualified: #2 11.067 0.067 #1 10.017 0.017
NOTE: Actual lanes not known. Winner listed first.
Raber had a huge holeshot on Lipka's tardy reaction and won handily. Lipka ran within a thousandth of his index, but it was all over long before he got to the stripe.
Raber had a huge holeshot on Lipka's tardy reaction and won handily. Lipka ran within a thousandth of his index, but it was all over long before he got to the stripe.
COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
Results
of final, round 5 eliminations in Competition Eliminator at the Wally
Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, 10th annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod
Reunion presented by AAA:
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed
4503 Mickey Smith 384G Eric Gallay
E5 ****WINNER**** 0.016 8.533 138.47 0.124 8.026 164.85
C/C Dial: 8.50 (+/-): 0.033 B/C Dial: 8.00 (+/-): 0.026
Prior rounds:
E4 (P Lamont ) 0.007 8.560 0.060 (M Iles ) 0.078 8.012 0.012
E3 (R Snyder ) 0.024 8.542 0.042 (T Wilson ) 0.096 8.001 0.001
E2 (D Cox ) 0.126 8.402 -0.098 (D Secrest ) 0.043 8.120 0.120
E1 (B Lehmann ) 0.104 8.523 0.023 (E Masminster) 0.042 8.065 0.065
NOTE: Actual lanes not known. Winner listed first.
Smith had a good light and a strong run to earn the Competition title.
Smith had a good light and a strong run to earn the Competition title.
GAS ELIMINATOR
Results
of final, round 6 eliminations in Gas Eliminator at the Wally Parks
NHRA Motorsports Museum, 10th annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod
Reunion presented by AAA:
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed
2682 Mike Fuqua 719 Marc English
E6 ****WINNER**** 0.101 9.247 126.41 No Time
D/G Dial: 9.00 (+/-): 0.247 E/G Dial: 9.50 (+/-): 90.499
Prior rounds:
E5 0.051 13.059 4.059 (D Donaldson ) 0.079 9.535 0.035
E4 (D Hobbs ) 0.077 9.068 0.068 (D Wathen ) 0.120 9.497 -0.003
E3 (K Pease ) 0.046 9.002 0.002 (S Hudson ) 0.079 9.520 0.020
E2 (R Egner ) 0.053 9.076 0.076 (G Porter ) 0.115 9.555 0.055
E1 (D Mullin ) 0.052 9.091 0.091 (R Walker ) 0.280 9.859 0.359
NOTE: Actual lanes not known. Winner listed first.
English was a no-show and Fuqua gets the Gas title on a "walkover."
English was a no-show and Fuqua gets the Gas title on a "walkover."
MODIFIED ELIMINATOR
Results
of final, round 6 eliminations in Modified Eliminator at the Wally
Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, 10th annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod
Reunion presented by AAA:
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed
JX39 John Castellaw B262 Jody Blalock Sr.
E6 ****WINNER**** 0.082 10.032 134.34 0.068 11.078 120.01
A/M Dial: 10.00 (+/-): 0.032 C/M Dial: 11.00 (+/-): 0.078
Prior rounds:
E5 (B Todd ) 0.072 9.939 -0.061 0.112 11.020 0.020
E4 (M Baute ) -0.058 10.025 0.025 (M Spence ) 0.100 10.977 -0.023
E3 (S Yeater ) 0.069 9.986 -0.014 (G Stone ) 0.043 11.049 0.049
E2 (R Montgomery) 0.043 10.105 0.105 (E Beaumont ) 0.061 11.006 0.006
E1 (B Mitchell ) 0.018 10.032 0.032 (B Kueber ) 0.066 11.050 0.050
NOTE: Actual lanes not known. Winner listed first.
John Castellaw's MOV: 0.0320 seconds (approximately 6 feet) to earn the Modified title.
John Castellaw's MOV: 0.0320 seconds (approximately 6 feet) to earn the Modified title.
TOP STOCK ELIMINATOR
Results
of final, round 5 eliminations in Top Stock Eliminator at the Wally
Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, 10th annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod
Reunion presented by AAA:
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET-- Speed
2035 Mike Welfel 162 Ken Vaughn
E5 ****WINNER**** 0.121 11.457 96.98 0.092 10.961 115.39
D/S Dial: 11.50 (+/-): -0.043 C/S Dial: 11.00 (+/-): -0.039
Prior rounds:
E4 (D Walker ) 0.019 11.580 0.080 (N Broyles ) 0.057 11.019 0.019
E3 (J Eddy ) 0.007 11.467 -0.033 0.050 10.986 -0.014
E2 (J Gower ) 0.014 11.579 0.079 (T Arnett ) 0.005 10.966 -0.034
E1 (B Cassady ) 0.086 11.941 0.441 (B Owens ) 0.039 11.197 0.197
NOTE: Actual lanes not known. Winner listed first.
Vaughn got the win light on a double breakout., but was disqualified for losing control of the car and Welfel is the Top Stock winner.
Vaughn got the win light on a double breakout., but was disqualified for losing control of the car and Welfel is the Top Stock winner.
Results on www.dragracecentral.com
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