Hot weather and even hotter racing recap the National Hot Rod Reunion’s best-ever weekend

BOWLING GREEN, KY – Troy Green and Bowling Green - a match made in motorsports heaven. Destiny may have played a part. Well, at least for Troy it was a very special National Hot Rod Reunion weekend. Troy, of Purcell, OK, defeated veteran reunion competitor Denver Schutz, of Fresno, CA, in a nail-biting race in the Top Fuel category, 6.777 to 6.890.

Winning in the High Speed Motorsports top fueler was only part of the victory, Troy also celebrated his first father’s day with his lucky charm, newly adopted daughter Ava Claire. A few weeks before the Reunion, Troy and his wife Lara partnered with The Collaboration to AdoptUsKids to adopt their little girl. All weekend long, little Ava was part of daddy’s racing crew sporting a baby tee that read “#1 Top Fuel”. A littler charmer indeed!

"We are very excited about being able to bring awareness about adoption to as many people as we can. There are nearly 129,000 foster children available for adoption in the United States. We would like to help these children find forever families," expressed Troy Green on his adoption.

It was déjà vu for a couple of drivers. In the Open Fuel category, Garry Wheeler Jr., of Tulsa, OK, held on to his championship title with an e.t. of 6.635 over Anthony Bronge, of Park Ridge, IL, with an e.t. of 7.857. In the Junior Fuel category, Odie Coker, of Dallas, TX, didn’t let go of his victory seat over Mike Millsap of Sachse, TX.

At this year’s Reunion, the winner’s circle was hotter than ever. All drivers went up against some of the worst weather conditions at Beech Bend Park, but kept cool under pressure and a few took home a victory. Champions include Larry Harlen, of Rockport, IN, in the 7.0 Eliminator category; Rick Lawson, of Brookville, OH, in the Competition category; Sam Patrick, of Sand Point, MI, in the Gas Eliminator category; Kenny Pease, of Dyersburg, TN, in Modified category; Ron Furgye, of Demotte, IN, in the Nostalgia Super Stock category; Chad Mahlosky, of Greenville, KY, in the Top Stock category; Bruce Edwards, of Shelbyville, KY, in the Hot Rod category; and Steve Cregut, of Tecumseh, KS, in the Geezer Gassers category.

Over 400 racers descended upon the historical Beech Bend track and revived the sleepy track.  Although the sweltering heat and boiling turf kept spectators and racers under the shade most of the weekend, the aged wooden theater seats were filled to capacity and Beech Bend Park’s grassy knolls were covered with some of the coolest hot rods and customs.

With its 1950s wooden stadium grand stands and vintage track, Beech Bend Park couldn’t be a more perfect venue for the National Hot Rod Reunion. Both spectators and racers day dreamed of the old days of drag racing even if they never lived during the era. A special treat for fans was a match race with some of the 1970s wildest cars including Dave Hough’s “Nanook” T roadster, Ron Hope’s “Rat Trap” Bantam, Justin Grant’s recreation of Don Schumacher’s “Wonder Wagon” ’Cuda and Randy Wall’s “Super Nova”.   

At sundown, the cackling show began. Fans couldn’t stay in their seats with the excitement of nitro flames lighting up the Kentucky night sky and there wasn’t a dry eye in the stands thanks to the nitro fumes. By the time the cackle cars ran out of fuel, crowds hovered over old-school cacklers like “Big Daddy” Don Garlits and father and son Larry Dixon Sr. and Jr. And, as if planned accordingly by event organizers, a thunder and lightning storm ended the show with a roar of applause and cheers.

Regardless of the scorching heat, Reunion organizers were overwhelmed with positive feedback from racers, hot rodders and most importantly, the fans that keep coming back for more.

This year’s Reunion experience was one not to miss. But, if you did, make plans not to miss the California Hot Rod Reunion, Oct. 16-18 at the Auto Club Famoso Raceway or the 8^th National Hot Rod Reunion in Bowling Green, KY in June 2010.