Bowling Green, KY - June 13 - 15, 2008: After a 2007 detour to not so nostalgic National Trial Raceways in Ohio, the NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion returned to where it started in 2003 and most assuredly belongs - Beech Bend Park Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Starting on Tuesday trailers started to fill the ample and scenic pit area. By Friday, between the race cars and over 275 street rod/show cars, there was little or no room left - a good thing for the NHRA Wally Parks Motorsports Museum and the Beech Bend Park owners. Other than a real mixed bag of weather - from blazing sunshine to thunder storms - everyone had a great time and eliminations went off without a hitch.

Nostalgia drag racing is one of the fastest growing sports around and the record racing field at the 6th Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion (NHRR) proved it. According to Steve Gibbs, former NHRA VP and current board member of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum (producers of the Reunion), some 460 nostalgia race cars made their way to Beech Bend Raceway and were greeted by a national event quality drag strip within one of the nicest facilities in the country.

“Despite the slowness in the economy, a full complement of guys (and gals) to Bowling Green to race,” said Gibbs. “This event means a lot to young and old racers alike. They wanted to compete at Beech Bend. It’s a special place and special event.”

It wasn't the economy but the weather that effected the car count, especially in Top Fuel. Brad Thompson, who won the 2007 California Hot Rod Reunion, came all the way from Visalia, Calif. for the the first time. Troy Green, who took over from three-time champion Sean Bellemeur last year and won, was back in the High Speed Motorsports fueler from Anaheim, Calif. looking for the teams fifth consecutive NHRR win.

Others included Adam Sorokin, who finished as runner-up to Bellemeur in 2006, came to challenge Green for the title in Brian Van Dyke’s RB Entertainment car from Tulare, Calif. Brendan Murray, who survived a spectacular fire at last years Reunion, made his 6th consecutive trip to the event. Making his NHRR debut was David Pace in Brad Green’s “Speed Merchant” from Siloam Springs, Ark. Also making its debut was the "Nitro Diction" owned by Alan Aroneck and Jim Didio out of New York with Howard Haight in the seat.

Also on hand was Art Dromgoole’s “Backyard Guys” from Charlotte, N.C. with Rick Rogers scheduled to drive. When Rogers was unable to make the event they put John Dromgoole in the car to get his license. Dan Horan continuted on his mission to renew his Top Fuel license and at the end of the day needs one more pass to get it.

Scheduled to come but failed to show were Ernest McClain’s Tri State Racing “Mill Road Boys” car from Elkton, Md. and Randy Bridges of Virden, Ill and Julius Hughes II in the “Zot 5” from Atlanta, Ga.

Finally, conspicuously absent was the “Orange Crate” fueler owned by Dale Suhr and driven by Roger "Radar" Lechtenberg of Waterloo, Iowa. At last report, Suhr's entire operation was under water with the car literally floating in the trailer. Lechtenberg was the winner at 2003’s inaugural National Reunion. Their presents at this NHRR was sorely missed.

 

3:12 p.m. After clean up from an earlier thunder storm, with skies darkening again the Top Fuel cars had a window of opportunity to beat mother nature and get the first session in.

 

In spite of the threatening weather, this was one of the largest Friday crowds ever at the NHRR.

Grand Marshall, Dick LaHaie was all over the property taking in all the cacklecars and of course, Top Fuel.

Brad Thompson and Adam Sorokin wasted no time getting out to test the track which, in spite of heavy rain, looked excellent.

Out of the box Thompson set the stage for what promised to be a performance riddled weekend with a 5.807 at 247.93. Sorokin was right there with a 5.993 at 5.907 at 254.76. These two would hook up again in the final on Sunday.

Pace's ride left good while Haight was soft - using up a bunch of clutch.

Pace got a little out of the groove at 1000ft and he clicked it early to a 6.655 at 190.89. Haight got a baseline 6.278 at 213.30 under his belt.

Green had some good numbers to half track and then executed a planned shut off with an early chute to clock 6.156 at 176.56. This told crew chief Brett Johansen all he needed to make an all out assault in session two.

After a soft leave Murry got out of the groove at the 330' mark and made a move toward the wall wisely shutting off to a 9.262 to 94.83.

Wrapping up nitro for Friday was John Dromgoole in Jeremy Hasket’s new “Backyard Guys”. When scheduled driver Rick Rogers had medical issues and couldn't come East, the team decided it was time for Dromgoole to get his license starting here.

 

After a nice burnout John staged the car and made a nice move. He got a little out of the groove about 300' out and shut off. A very nice first license pass. The rain returned shortly after TF qualifying and the show was done for the day.

2:22 p.m - hot and humid - amid the threat of more thunder showers the Top Fuel cars came out for their second shot at what was proving to be an excellent Beech Bend track.

 

From noon on, the stands and fence areas filled at a steady pace.

 

 

 

 

 

Out first was Troy Green and Brad Thompson.

 

At the other end it was Green getting there first with a 5.836 at 248.93. Thompson started eating a piston or three on the top end and clicked it a bit early to a 5.892 at 222.55.

Under cloudy and threatening skies, the second pair out was Howard Haight and Brendan Murry.

Murry, who has been fighting a tune-up issue all season, had some high level help on the line in the forms of Bob McClennan and Brett Johansen.

Murry used a bunch of lane and again he was forced to lift before the finish but improving with a 6.791 at 168.77.

In the other lane Haight really had his hands full and actually tagged the wall pretty hard past half track. He tore the Canard wing off the right side and bent up the chassis bad enough to end their weekend. In the pits Howard was more upset than the owners.

Sorokin used up a bunch of clutch at the hit and slowed from Friday to a 6.115 at 241.89. The incrementals were a bit off with: 60ft -1.125, 330ft - 2.829, 660ft - 4.123/194.46 and 1000ft 5.203.

8:07 p.m. The first car out was Adam Sorokin who waited for the sun to set as it was directly in the driver's eyes.

With the cooler air and high expectations for the Cacklefest it was SRO the entire quarter mile of Beech Bend Park Raceway.

Sorokin launched hard and on the topend was a wall of piston smoke - the aluminum gods were happy. His 5.944 at 246.44 did not better his earlier 5.90.

The only pair of the session was Brad Thompson and Brendan Murry.

Murry was on a decent pass but shut off early with no apparent damage to the engine. Thomson ripped off a stout 5.745 at 253.71 to stay #1 and reset his own track record.

The HSMS car planned to only go 900 feet or so but that plan was abbreviated by tire shake about 300' out.

 

Final Order of Qualifying: 1 - Brad Thompson  5.745 @ 253.71 2 - Troy Green   5.836 @ 248.93 3 - Adam Sorokin  5.907 @ 254.76 4 - Howard Haight  6.278 @ 213.30 5 - David Pace  6.655 @ 190.89 6 - Brendan Murry  6.791 @ 168.77

 

Sunday Eliminations

 

 

Order Photos

Paul Broughton Photos

Paul Hutchins

Don Ewald

 

 

Related Links

Thompson & Bless Racing

High Speed Motorsports

All American Fuel Dragsters

 

 

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