NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The 2018 California Hot Rod Reunion presented by Automobile Club of Southern California completed competition at Auto Club Famoso Raceway on Sunday crowning not only event winners but also many champions in the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series.
 
Mendy Fry piloted her High Speed Motorsports dragster to victory with a 5.61-second pass at 259.36 mph in the Nostalgia Top Fuel final taking out Rick McGee. Fry was the top qualifier for the weekend and achieved the low ET for the event in the semi-finals with a 5.550 ET.
 
“To win the 2018 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series championship and the California Hot Rod Reunion – I’d call that a good day at the races,” said Fry. “My team gave me the car to beat, and I didn’t screw it up. So this win is theirs. I’m just glad they picked me.”
 
In Nostalgia Funny Car, Jason Rupert took home the Wally when he ran a 5.63 pass at 259.51 in his 1969 Camaro bettering Rian Konno’s 5.855 pass at 241.84 .
 
“The car ran so good last night (in the first round of eliminations), I was hoping this would happen,” said Rupert. “I go to every race with the intention of winning but everyone else does too. We had a lot of weird stuff happens in the pits but my guys persevered. They do a great job.”
 
Other winners included Brian Hope in AA / Fuel Altered, Drew Austin in A / Fuel, John Marottek in Junior Fuel, Steve Faller in 7.0 Pro, Bernie Plourd in Nostalgia Eliminator 1, Robert Johnson in Nostalgia Eliminator 2, Lindsey Lister in Nostalgia Eliminator 3, Brian Rogers in A / Gas, Val Miller in B / Gas, Bill Becker in C / Gas, Bill Norton in D / Gas, Scott White in AA / Gas, Roger Holder in Pro Mod, Jack Goodrich in A / FX, and Alex George in Hot Rod.
 
The 2018 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series champions are Mendy Fry in Top Fuel, Bobby Cottrell in Funny Car, Drew Austin in A / Fuel, John Marottek in Jr. Fuel, Brad Denny in 7.0 Pro, Dustin Lee in Nostalgia Eliminator 1, Robert Johnson in Nostalgia Eliminator 2, Ed DeStaute in Nostalgia Eliminator 3, Frank Merenda in A / Gas, Kevin Riley in B / Gas, Chris Rea in C / Gas, Ed Carey in D / Gas, and Dale Hicks in Hot Rod.
 
***
 
 BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Sunday's final results from the 27th annual California Hot Rod Reunion, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California at Automobile Club Famoso Raceway.
NOSTALGIA TOP FUEL
Mendy Fry, Hadman, 5.610, 259.36 def. Rick McGee, Tedford, 5.749, 256.50.
NOSTALGIA FUNNY CAR
Jason Rupert, Camaro, 5.634, 259.51 def. Rian Konno, Mustang, 5.855, 241.84.
JUNIOR FUEL
John Marottek, N + P, 6.997, 155.96 def. Don Enriquez, Farr, Foul - Red Light.
A FUEL
Drew Austin, Parker, 5.862, 233.88 def. Wayne Ramay, N + P, 6.053, 225.63.
AA/FUEL ALTERED
Brian Hope, Bantam, 6.456, 203.55 def. Rodney Flournoy, Ford, 8.863, 96.87.
7.0 PRO
Steve Faller, Bantam, 7.004, 193.52 def. Brad Denney, Bantam, Broke - No Show.
A/FX
Jack Goodrich, Belvedere, 9.977, 133.61 def. Ken Moreland, Chevelle, Foul - Red Light.
PRO MOD
Roger Holder, Camaro, 8.133, 123.37 def. Ed Thornton, Camaro, 9.135, 101.79.
AA GAS
Scott White, Willys, 6.449, 214.69 def. Gary Reinero, Austin, 6.701, 211.93.
A GAS ELIMINATOR
Brian Rogers, Nova, 7.650, 179.33 def. Frank Merenda, Rambler, 7.664, 165.29.
B GAS ELIMINATOR
Val Miller, Barracuda, 8.555, 161.36 def. Kevin Riley, Barracuda, Broke - No Show.
C GAS ELIMINATOR
Bill Becker, Willys, 9.467, 144.50 def. Mark Capps, Mustnag, Foul - Red Light.
D GAS ELIMINATOR
Bill Norton, Nova, 10.586, 125.41 def. Larry Cook, Fairlane, 10.530, 125.49.
NOSTALGIA ELIMINATOR I
Bernie Plourd, Batam, 7.437, 175.05 def. Jim Seivers, Ford, Foul - Red Light.
NOSTALGIA ELIMINATOR II
Robert Johnson, S & W, 8.592, 153.02 def. Jaclyn Generalao Jones, Ford, 8.580, 154.09.
NOSTALGIA ELIMINATOR III
Lindsey Lister, Shoemaker, 9.600, 135.51 def. Wes Anderson, Ford, 9.597, 133.63.
HOT ROD ELIMINATOR
Alex George, Maverick, 10.090, 104.92 def. Mark Dyck, Nova, Foul - Red Light.
*** 
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Final round-by-round results from the 27th annual California Hot Rod Reunion, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California at Automobile Club Famoso Raceway.

NOSTALGIA TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Rick McGee, Tedford, 6.077, 222.66 def. Jim Young, Dragster, Foul - Red Light; Mendy Fry, Hadman, 5.582, 258.42 def. Tyler Hilton, Horton, 6.308, 251.25; Pete Wittenberg, Stirling, 5.734, 244.52 def. Rick White, Hansen, Broke - No Show; Adam Sorokin, Sterling, 5.889, 213.70 def. Bret Williamson, Uyehara, 11.118, 73.02; 
SEMIFINALS
McGee, 5.748, 233.12 def. Sorokin, 6.008, 182.43; Fry, 5.554, 261.62 def. Wittenberg, 6.153, 169.53; 
FINAL
Fry, 5.610, 259.36 def. McGee, 5.749, 256.50.

A FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Drew Austin, Parker, 5.972, 232.95 was unopposed; Dennis Allen, Allen, 6.033, 224.92 def. Jerry Kumre, Sterling, 7.439, 182.33; Kin Bates, Tuttle, 6.100, 212.23 def. Sabrina Capps, Davidson, 8.270, 103.51; Gary Wheeler, Yancer, 6.179, 222.00 def. Rick Ewens, Sarmento, 6.346, 190.22; Wayne Ramay, N + P, 11.514, 73.28 def. Shayne Stewart, Ford, 6.739, 150.15; 
QUARTERFINALS
Austin, 5.976, 231.95 def. Wheeler, 6.300, 221.67; Ramay, 6.047, 223.69 def. Allen, Broke; Bates, Broke was unopposed; 
SEMIFINALS
Austin, 28.000, no speed was unopposed; Ramay, 28.000, no speed was unopposed; 
FINAL
Austin, 5.862, 233.88 def. Ramay, 6.053, 225.63.
 
JUNIOR FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Matt Baldonado, Farr, 7.204, 186.02 def. Michael Lardy, Boulton, 7.995, 164.73; John Marottek, N + P, 7.083, 157.65 def. Ken Mickey, RHC, 8.330, 155.60; Don Enriquez, Farr, 7.169, 185.23 def. Ward Francev, Dragster, Broke; Tim Beeman, Uyehara, 7.171, 187.29 def. Brad Woodard, Dragster, Foul - Red Light; Alan Hull, Farr, 7.086, 186.64 def. Wayne Williemsen, Dragster, Foul - Red Light; 
QUARTERFINALS
Enriquez, 7.232, 181.40 def. Beeman, 7.121, 185.15; Baldonado, 7.190, 183.52 def. Hull, Broke; Marottek, 7.093, 152.97 was unopposed; 
SEMIFINALS
Marottek, 7.214, 144.91 def. Baldonado, Broke; Enriquez, 7.186, 175.11 was unopposed; 
FINAL
Marottek, 6.997, 155.96 def. Enriquez, Foul - Red Light.
 
NOSTALGIA FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Matt Bynum, Camaro, 5.748, 251.67 def. Tim Nemeth, Firebird, Foul - Red Light; Geoff Monise, Monza, 13.290, 57.06 def. Steven Densham, Camaro, Foul - Red Light; Dan Horan, Camaro, 6.177, 246.26 def. Bill Windham, Camaro, 6.471, 221.23; Jeff Arend, Firebird, 5.682, 253.80 def. Cory Lee, Challenger, 6.156, 189.82; Brad Thompson, Camaro, 5.742, 232.87 def. John Hale, Camaro, 5.969, 220.37; Bobby Cottrell, Camaro, 5.767, 245.45 def. Ryan Hodgson, Camaro, 5.809, 257.83; Rian Konno, Mustang, 5.838, 245.81 def. Matt Melendez, Challenger, 5.862, 234.57; Jason Rupert, Camaro, 5.638, 232.79 def. Tony Jurado, Camaro, 5.826, 246.57; 
QUARTERFINALS
Cottrell, 5.745, 248.07 def. Horan, 6.479, 229.35; Konno, 5.826, 247.61 def. Monise, 6.008, 204.98; Arend, 5.754, 252.05 def. Thompson, 5.744, 245.36; Rupert, 5.653, 257.43 def. Bynum, 5.656, 260.41; 
SEMIFINALS
Konno, 5.912, 230.96 def. Arend, 5.920, 232.79; Rupert, 5.653, 254.47 def. Cottrell, 5.727, 250.27; 
FINAL
Rupert, 5.634, 259.51 def. Konno, 5.855, 241.84.
 
7.0 PRO:
ROUND ONE
Lawton Ferreira II, Fiat, 7.053, 192.22 was unopposed; Jerry Buckley, Comstock, 7.476, 184.52 def. Blake Reynolds, Fiat, Broke; Chris Bates, Ford, 7.009, 194.80 def. Aaron Wardell, Stirling, 7.140, 190.78; Brad Denney, Bantam, 7.070, 188.44 def. Dewayne Sanders, Tuttle, 7.097, 192.19; Ronnie Lennon, Bantam, 7.082, 190.81 def. Vince Generalao Jr., Bantam, Foul - Red Light; Richard High, Dragster, 7.040, 191.24 def. Eily Stafford-day, Hansen, 6.995, 194.24; Derrick Moreira, Bantam, 7.288, 150.65 def. Tony Trimp, HWB, Broke; Steve Faller, Bantam, 7.047, 176.40 def. Joacim Ljungberg, Ford, 6.703, 204.76; George Vanderpool, Uyehara, 7.066, 190.94 def. Dave Rosenberg, DRE, Broke; Ed Middlebrook, Fiat, 7.111, 175.80 def. Dwight Garland, Dragster, Broke; 
QUARTERFINALS
Denney, 7.091, 189.82 def. Vanderpool, Foul - Red Light; High, 7.076, 180.45 def. Ferreira II, 7.020, 191.35; Faller, 7.017, 192.52 def. Bates, Foul - Red Light; Buckley, 7.042, 189.12 def. Moreira, 7.128, 188.83; Middlebrook, 7.002, 191.24 def. Lennon, Broke; 
SEMIFINALS
High, 7.125, 175.37 def. Buckley, 7.383, 188.28; Denney, 7.019, 192.52 def. Middlebrook, 6.951, 194.77; Faller, 7.005, 192.66 was unopposed; 
FINAL
Faller, 7.004, 193.52 def. Denney, Broke - No Show.
 
PRO MOD:
ROUND ONE
John Durden, Corvette, 5.854, 244.56 def. Sean Renteria, Valiant, 6.617, 152.47; Mike Doushgounian, Camaro, 7.494, 172.39 def. Justin Wake, Corvette, Broke; Ed Thornton, Camaro, 5.773, 265.59 def. Ed Marx, Corvette, 6.225, 224.47; Jeremy Hanger, Corvette, 5.693, 257.83 def. Wade Sjostrom, Bel AIR, 11.863, 85.57; Rob Cacioppo, Corvette, 6.136, 232.83 def. Jay Diedrich, Camaro, 6.419, 178.31; Mike Maggio, Camaro, 5.819, 258.12 def. Garret Richards, Mustang, Foul - Red Light; Roger Holder, Camaro, 5.969, 254.14 def. Rick Snavely, Camaro, 6.426, 180.79; Bret Williamson, Corvette, 8.212, 119.44 def. Karl Wilson, Corvette, Foul - Red Light; 
QUARTERFINALS
Thornton, 5.781, 265.38 def. Durden, Foul - Red Light; Hanger, 5.762, 255.63 def. Williamson, 6.112, 250.18; Holder, 5.940, 253.71 def. Cacioppo, 6.191, 223.43; Maggio, 5.825, 247.47 def. Doushgounian, 7.194, 132.93; 
SEMIFINALS
Holder, 5.952, 254.90 def. Hanger, 10.541, 83.07; Thornton, 5.807, 264.39 def. Maggio, Foul - Red Light; 
FINAL
Holder, 8.133, 123.37 def. Thornton, 9.135, 101.79.
 
AA/FUEL ALTERED:
ROUND ONE
Rodney Flournoy, Ford, 6.126, 198.50 def. Chris Bennett, Bantam, 13.615, 58.75; Brian Hope, Bantam, 6.234, 213.57 def. David Giles, Bantam, 10.212, 86.00; Shawn Callen, Bantam, 6.756, 185.08 def. Randy Bradford, Fiat, 8.272, 214.35; Ron Hope, Bantam, 7.892, 139.21 def. Kyle Hough, Ford, 5.971, 243.15; Joe Morrison, Ford, 7.304, 193.90 was unopposed; 
QUARTERFINALS
Giles, 6.393, 183.79 def. Bradford, 6.780, 208.65; Flournoy, Broke was unopposed; B. Hope, Broke was unopposed; 
SEMIFINALS
B. Hope, 6.456, 203.55 def. Flournoy, 8.863, 96.87.
 
AA GAS:
ROUND ONE
Scott White, Willys, 6.439, 210.05 def. Mike Oconnor, Chevrolet, 7.070, 170.99; Gary Reinero, Austin, 6.775, 205.29 def. Mark Gordon, Mustang, 6.880, 206.20; Garry Fauble, Studebaker, 7.261, 186.72 def. Chuck Moore, Corvette, Broke; 
SEMIFINALS
Reinero, 6.740, 206.23 def. Fauble, Broke; White, 6.438, 212.63 was unopposed; 
FINAL
White, 6.449, 214.69 def. Reinero, 6.701, 211.93.

SATURDAY

The second day of the 2018 California Hot Rod Reunion presented by Automobile Club of Southern California delivered high-speed competition and entertainment to the massive throng of fans who gathered at Auto Club Famoso Raceway on Saturday.
 
California Hot Rod Reunion honorees including Grand Marshal Kelly Brown, Bob Brandt, Jerry Darien, Jim Murphy, Rick Voegelin, and Dave Wallace Jr. were on hand to sign autographs and interact with fans throughout the day before taking part in a celebratory parade that evening. NHRA Mello Yello Series Funny Car drivers John Force and Robert Hight also participated in autograph sessions providing a special treat for fans of the series.
 
In Nostalgia Top Fuel, Mendy Fry kept her No. 1 spot, running a 5.592 ET at 239.14 mph. She will face Dan Horan in the first round of eliminations on Sunday morning.
 
In Nostalgia Funny Car, the third and final qualifying pass set the 16-car field in the early afternoon. Steve Densham maintained his top qualifying position from Friday. Densham turned on the red light in his match-up against Geoff Monise in one of only a handful of upsets during the first round of eliminations on Saturday evening.
 
Several NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series championships were secured throughout the day including Bobby Cattrell who clinched the Nostalgia Funny Car championship when he qualified seventh at the event. This marks Cattrell’s first series championship in this category. Ed Carey also clinched the championship in D Gas.
 
The day concluded with the ever-popular Cacklefest featuring restored or recreated nitro-burning machines firing up with the help of a push start, reminiscent of the early days of drag racing.
 
Eliminations at the California Hot Rod Reunion presented by Automobile Club of Southern California continue Sunday at 8:30 a.m. with nitro coming to the track at 11 a.m. 

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Final round-by-round results from the 27th annual California Hot Rod Reunion, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California at Automobile Club Famoso Raceway, the of two events in the NHRA Motorsports Museum:
 
A FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Drew Austin, Parker, 5.972, 232.95 was unopposed; Dennis Allen, Allen, 6.033, 224.92 def. Jerry Kumre, Sterling, 7.439, 182.33; Kin Bates, Tuttle, 6.100, 212.23 def. Sabrina Capps, Davidson, 8.270, 103.51; Gary Wheeler, Yancer, 6.179, 222.00 def. Rick Ewens, Sarmento, 6.346, 190.22; Wayne Ramay, N + P, 11.514, 73.28 def. Shayne Stewart, Ford, 6.739, 150.15;
 
JUNIOR FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Matt Baldonado, Farr, 7.204, 186.02 def. Michael Lardy, Boulton, 7.995, 164.73; John Marottek, N + P, 7.083, 157.65 def. Ken Mickey, RHC, 8.330, 155.60; Don Enriquez, Farr, 7.169, 185.23 def. Ward Francev, Dragster, Broke; Tim Beeman, Uyehara, 7.171, 187.29 def. Brad Woodard, Dragster, Foul - Red Light; Alan Hull, Farr, 7.086, 186.64 def. Wayne Williemsen, Dragster, Foul - Red Light;
 
NOSTALGIA FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Matt Bynum, Camaro, 5.748, 251.67 def. Tim Nemeth, Firebird, Foul - Red Light; Geoff Monise, Monza, 13.290, 57.06 def. Steven Densham, Camaro, Foul - Red Light; Dan Horan, Camaro, 6.177, 246.26 def. Bill Windham, Camaro, 6.471, 221.23; Jeff Arend, Firebird, 5.682, 253.80 def. Cory Lee, Challenger, 6.156, 189.82; Brad Thompson, Camaro, 5.742, 232.87 def. John Hale, Camaro, 5.969, 220.37; Bobby Cottrell, Camaro, 5.767, 245.45 def. Ryan Hodgson, Camaro, 5.809, 257.83; Rian Konno, Mustang, 5.838, 245.81 def. Matt Melendez, Challenger, 5.862, 234.57; Jason Rupert, Camaro, 5.638, 232.79 def. Tony Jurado, Camaro, 5.826, 246.57;

FRIDAY

The 2018 California Hot Rod Reunion presented by Automobile Club of Southern California roared to life on Friday with an exciting day featuring more nostalgic side-by-side racing action and classic cars than ever before at Auto Club Famoso Raceway. The three-day event is a favorite among racing fans and car enthusiasts alike.

“The opening day of the California Hot Rod Reunion did not disappoint,” said Larry Fisher, executive director of the NHRA Motorsports Museum. “We welcomed fans around the world as the largest competitive field in event history took to the lanes. And classic hot rods filled the pits providing even more nonstop entertainment and killer eye-candy.”

A long line of spectators flooded the gates upon opening at 8 a.m., eager to see the first pairs of classic Hot Rod Heritage cars fire their engines on the starting line. The annual swap meet also drew quite a crowd with one-of-a-kind objects quick to catch the eye of savvy collectors and restorers.

Nostalgia Top Fuel driver Mendy Fry, who secured the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series 2018 championship in her category earlier this year, landed in the provisional top qualifier position on Friday evening with an impressive 5.60-seconds at 231.44 mph in her High Speed Motorsports dragster. Steven Densham powered his Nostalgia Funny Car to lead the category with an impressive 5.679 at 252.90.

"Give it up to my dad," Densham said of his crew chief and father Gary Densham. "We were lost earlier in the year, and he kinda figured it out. We were able to pick up the pace with better 60-foot times. We had also gotten lost in the clutch. Now we are back."

Low qualifiers in all other categories include: Jeremy Hanger in Nostalgia Pro Mod, Frank Merenda in A Gas, Chuck Moore in AA Gas, Randy Armstrong in B Gas, Jason Barta in C Gas, Ed Carey in D Gas, Dave Lawson in Nostalgia Eliminator 1, Michael Nitz in Nostalgia Eliminator 2, Wes Anderson in Nostalgia Eliminator 3, Lawton Ferreira II in 7.0 Pro, Drew Austin in A-Fuel, Don Enriquez in Jr. Fuel, and Dave Budgett in A/FX.

The California Hot Rod Reunion will continue Saturday with two additional qualifying rounds for Top Fuel and Funny Car and nostalgia racing beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday evening will also feature the famous Cacklefest with crowd-pleasing push starts and displays of dozens of nitro-burning machines.