Dates Announced for the 2011 California and National Hot Rod Reunions

POMONA, CA— Organizers of the annual California Hot Rod Reunion, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California, and the Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion have announced new dates for the popular nostalgic weekend festivals.

“Start your engines and plan ahead for next year, race fans!” said Reunion Director Tony Thacker, “The new dates for the 2011 Reunions were selected to best accommodate NHRA race fans, and we’ll be better than ever in 2011.”

In 2011, the Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion will now take place on Thursday through Saturday, June 16-18 at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, KY. The new dates will provide Reunion fans more action on the track with night racing on Friday and allow fans to spend Father’s Day with family.

In 2011, the 20th Anniversary California Hot Rod Reunion will take place on Friday through Sunday, Oct. 21-23 at the Auto Club Famoso Raceway in McFarland, CA.

Tickets to the 2011 Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion go on sale Dec. 16, 2010 and tickets for the 2011 California Hot Rod Reunion go on sale June 16, 2011. To purchase tickets online and information on HOT ROD REUNION events, visit Reunions.

The HOT ROD REUNION™ is a series of events produced by the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California, and located in Pomona, Calif. The HOT ROD REUNION events are part of the museum’s “living history” philosophy, which works to bring to life the sights, sounds and people who made history in the early days of drag racing, land speed racing and the golden age of American car culture.

Unique among motorsports events, HOT ROD REUNION honor some of the top names in hot rodding from the past and feature a fabulous array of cool drag cars, street rods and customs of the historic and present-day hot rod eras.

Each HOT ROD REUNION event features a wide variety of activities, including NHRA vintage drag racing, featuring some the sport’s most famous and historic cars and drivers racing in such classes at Nostalgia Top Fuel, Funny Car, Fuel Altereds, Supercharged Gassers, Classic Super Stock, Hot Rods and others.

NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series officials announced today the 2011 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing schedule, which includes affiliate events at Beech Bend Raceway Park and Maple Grove Raceway.

The Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion will be held June 16-18 at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Ky. and the Geezers at the Grove will be held July 2-3 at Maple Grove Raceway, in Reading, Pa.

In total, the 2011 schedule includes 11 events and will begin with the Arizona Fuel & Gas Nationals, March 5-6 at Speedworld Dragstrip in Wittmann, Ariz.

In addition to the affiliate events at Beech Bend Raceway Park and Maple Grove Raceway, the series will make stops at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif., Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, Calif., Firebird Raceway in Boise, Idaho, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, and Sacramento Raceway in Sacramento, Calif.

“We’re excited to be hosting the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage series at Auto Club Dragway at Auto Club Speedway again in 2011,” said Mike Yurick, vice president of operations at Auto Club Speedway. “Drag racing started here in Southern California and the event has become a key part of our schedule. We wish all the racers the best of luck in 2011 and welcome them back to Auto Club Dragway.”

A new addition to the 2011 schedule will be that the Group 1 classes will join Nostalgia Top Fuel Dragster and Nostalgia Funny Car in finishing their season and crown champions at the California Hot Rod Reunion presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif., while Group 2 classes will finish their seasons in July at the Nostalgia Reunion at Sacramento Raceway.

“We’re extremely happy with the success that the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series has had and look forward to yet another exciting season,” said Peter Clifford, board member, NHRA Wally Parks Motorsports Museum. “The support shown from our host tracks around the country, combined with the efforts of the NHRA Wally Parks Motorsports Museum and the Hot Rod Reunions has been tremendous in showcasing the commitment shared by all to maintaining the history of the great sport of drag racing.”

The NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series consists of two nitro categories: Nostalgia Top Fuel dragsters, Nostalgia Funny Cars, and two groups of additional classes. Group 1 includes Jr. Fuel, A-Fuel, AA/Gas, and 7.0 Pro, while Group 2 includes NE I, NE II, NE III, A/Gas, B/Gas, C/Gas, D/Gas and Hot Rod. Each class will run a combination of events in which they will score points toward the championship.

The NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series was developed in 2008 to help preserve NHRA's rich history and tradition while providing racing opportunities for those enthusiasts who enjoy nostalgia drag racing competition.

2011 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series Schedule
Date                       Event                               Location               Featured Classes
March 5-6 Arizona Fuel & Gas Nationals   Speedworld Dragstrip, Wittmann, AZ  Groups 1&2
March 18-20 March Meet Auto Club Famoso Raceway, Bakersfield, CA      TF, FC, Group 2
April 16-17 Sportsman Shootout Auto Club Dragway, Fontana, Calif.  Groups 1&2
April 29 – May 1 NAPA Auto Parts Ignitor   Firebird Raceway, Boise, Idaho                         FC
May 13-14 Nitro Night of Fire Sacramento Raceway, Sacramento, Calif.               TF
May 28-29 Las Vegas Speed Spectacular The Strip at LVMS, Las Vegas  Groups 1&2
July 15-16 Fremont Reunion Sacramento Raceway, Sacramento, Calif.  Groups 1&2
Aug. 11-14 Pepsi Nightfire Nationals Firebird Raceway, Boise, Idaho                    TF, FC
Oct. 21-23 California Hot Rod Reunion Famoso Raceway, Bakersfield  TF, FC, Group 1

2011 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series Affiliated Events
June 16-18: NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion Beech Bend Raceway Park, Bowling Green, Ky.
July 2-3: Geezers at the Grove Maple Grove Raceway, Reading, Pa.