Paying Homage to Drag Racing History in Bowling Green
By Tommy Lee Byrd – Images by the Author
If you’re a fan of nostalgia drag racing, you’re likely already familiar with the Wally Parks NHRA Nostalgia Nationals, formerly known as the Hot Rod Reunion. The idea for this event was born in the early ’90s, as the first California Hot Rod Reunion took place in 1992. Eleven years later, the NHRA took the event east of the Mississippi, choosing Beech Bend Raceway to honor the legends of drag racing. Now, more than 20 years after its inception, the event continues to take over Bowling Green, Kentucky, every Father’s Day weekend.
The month of June offers unpredictable weather in Kentucky, and it seems the low-lying Beech Bend facility has a weather pattern all its own. The one certainty is humid conditions that make an 80-degree day feel like 95. This year, the event had favorable weather on Thursday, but showers came in on Friday and Saturday that threw a wrench in everyone’s plans. Even still, there was a nice turnout of cars in the show-and-shine area and hundreds of cars throughout the drag racing pits. The variety in the pits covers the entire spectrum, including nitro-burning dragsters and fuel altereds, sky-high gassers in the Straight Axle Mafia, stick-shift cars in Modified Production and many other index classes. With a multitude of classes, including a group of Nostalgia Pro Stock cars, the dragstrip is always hot with action when the weather allows.
We captured some of the early action from the Wally Parks NHRA Nostalgia Nationals and found some gems scattered throughout the beautiful property. The highlights include a barn fresh 1967 Nova with a cross-ram-inducted small-block, a cool Two-Lane Blacktop ’55 Chevy replica, and a few cool Pro Street builds, but there is plenty of cool stuff to take in during the three-day event.
Take a look at some of our favorites from the event and be sure to circle Father’s Day weekend on your calendar for next year. This is an event you don’t want to miss.
