Wally Parks NHRA Nostalgia Nationals to unify Beech Bend Raceway and Famoso Dragstrip NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series events in 2023
“Big Daddy” Don Garlits and Don “The Snake” Prudhomme named Grand Marshals for the two events.
Pomona, Calif. (March 31, 2023) — For decades the best in nostalgia drag racing has drawn racers, hot rodders, and fans to Bowling Green, Ky., and Bakersfield, Calif., to experience how the sport of drag racing began.
It was always Wally Parks’ vision to unify hot rodders from coast to coast who were looking to measure themselves against the best of the best. The quarter-mile became their chosen measuring stick, and the cars were the stars.
Now, with 30 years of nostalgia racing under its belt, the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum has announced its two 2023 Hot Rod Reunion events will relaunch as the Wally Parks NHRA Nostalgia Nationals.
“Big Daddy” Don Garlits will serve as Grand Marshal of the Wally Parks NHRA Nostalgia Nationals presented by Holley event at Beech Bend Raceway, and Don “The Snake” Prudhomme will be the Grand Marshal of the Wally Parks NHRA Nostalgia Nationals event at Famoso Dragstrip.
“We are excited as we prepare to take nostalgia drag racing to a whole new level at Beech Bend Raceway and Famoso Dragstrip in 2023,” said Dale Coleman, Chairman of the Board of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum. “We aim to create an environment that looks and feels like drag racing in the golden era of our sport. These races will be an opportunity for drag racing fans young and old to experience heads-up quarter-mile drag racing the way it was.”
Both events will feature three days of nostalgia racing, the coolest hot rods, the finest show cars, unheard-of swap-meet finds, and legends of the sport. The Beech Bend Raceway event will take place in Bowling Green, Ky., June 15-17, 2023, and the Famoso Dragstrip event will happen Oct. 13-15, 2023. Both locations are hallowed ground for drag racers and are steeped in ’60s and ’70s drag racing history.
The Wally Parks NHRA Nostalgia Nationals is produced by and benefits the NHRA Motorsports Museum, an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational and cultural organization. All proceeds (ticket sales, racer entries, merchandise sales, memberships, and donations) directly support the daily operations, program, and events of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum.
Arnie Behling from Arlington Heights, Illinois USA (Comp Number: 373) 1972 - Category: FUELFC, Type: FN, Class: AA/FC, Div: 7 "Big John Mazmanian/Plymouth Dealers" Owned by John Mazmanian from Whittier, California USA '72 Plymouth Cuda by Woody Gilmore | Powered by a 484 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi with 2 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: […]
Jerry Albert from Avon, Ohio USA (Comp Number: 3211) 2026 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HN, Class: Top Sportsman, Div: 3 "Mickey Thompson Tires/Jeg\'s" Owned by Jerry Albert from Avon, Ohio USA 1997 Chevrolet Camaro by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 665 cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 6.679 at […]
Brian Tiffe from Middleburg Heights, Ohio USA (Comp Number: 1013) 2026 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HN, Class: PDRA Elite Top Sport, Div: 3 "Schween Motorsports" Owned by Brian Tiffe from Middleburg Heights, Ohio USA 2021 Chevrolet Corvette by Jerry Bickel | Powered by a 941 cubic inch Chevrolet by Fulton Racing Engines with automatic transmission […]
Kevin Edmonds from Montz, Louisiana USA (Comp Number: 488) 2026 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HN, Class: Top Sportsman, Div: 4 "Kevin Edmonds" Owned by Kevin Edmonds from Montz, Louisiana USA 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 655 cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.273 at NHRA […]
Greg Church from Pennsylvania USA (Comp Number: 157) 1986 - Category: PS-MOUNTAIN, Type: UN, Class: Pro Stock, Div: 1 "Church & Church" Owned by Church & Church from Pennsylvania USA '86 Pontiac Trans Am by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 500 cubic inch Pontiac with 4 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: […]
Greg Church from Pennsylvania USA (Comp Number: 157) 1991 - Category: PS-500, Type: LN, Class: Pro Stock, Div: 1 "Church & Church" Owned by Church & Church from Pennsylvania USA '89 Chevrolet Camaro by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 500 cubic inch Pontiac with 4 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.576 […]
Mario Boesch from Kenner, Louisiana USA (Comp Number: 491C) 2026 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HN, Class: Top Sportsman, Div: 4 "MKD Racing" Owned by Mario Boesch from Kenner, Louisiana USA 1998 Chevrolet S-10 by Jerry Haas | Powered by a 540 cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.199 at NHRA D3 Madison […]
Carroll Hine from Douglassville, Pennsylvania USA 1982 - Category: ALKYFC, Type: CN, Class: TA/FC, Div: 1 "Pet Vette" Owned by Carl Ruth from Reading, Pennsylvania USA '79 Chevrolet Corvette by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 500 cubic inch Veney Hemi with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: Unknown at Maple Grove […]
Brooke Foley from Clinton, North Carolina USA (Comp Number: 206B) 2026 - Category: TOPDRAG, Type: PN, Class: Top Dragster, Div: 2 "Warren Engines/MT Tires" Owned by Foley Racing from Clinton, North Carolina USA 2019 Dragster by M&M | Powered by a 582 cubic inch Chevrolet by Warren Engines with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile […]
Bill Yates from Newark, Ohio USA (Comp Number: 3015) 2026 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HN, Class: Top Sportsman, Div: 3 "Piedmont Remarketing" Owned by Bill Yates from Newark, Ohio USA 1968 Chevrolet Camaro by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 665 cubic inch Chevrolet by Pro Fab Racing Engines with automatic transmission 1/4 […]