NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The 17th annual Holley National Hot Rod Reunion presented by AAA Insurance returns to beautiful Bowling Green, Ky., and Beech Bend Raceway Park, June 13-15. This three-day festival of speed celebrating the American hot rod has become a destination for car culture lovers worldwide. The family-friendly event features one of the world’s largest outdoor gatherings of vintage drag racers, classic hot rods, customs and more. 

The reunion’s Axalta Show ‘N Shine car show covers acres of rolling lawns; there’s a vintage parts swap meet, specialty vendors, autograph sessions and three days of ground-pounding, nitro-fueled nostalgia drag racing with hundreds of the classic race cars you remember or were too young to miss the first time around.

The grounds of Beech Bend Raceway Park will come to life with thousands of classic vehicles during the Axalta Show ‘N Shine. Show car owners compete for the opportunity to show their winning rides at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. Those entering the Show ‘N Shine can save up to $100 when they enter a car, driver and guest for all three days. 

For the second year in a row, join the free Reunion Road Tour on Thursday morning, June 13, at Tennessee Speed Sport near Nashville to cruise the backroads to Bowling Green and arrive at the Show ‘N Shine as hot rods, street rods and customs make their way into the scenic grounds of Beech Bend Raceway Park in time for some racing action.

On the track, Nostalgia Top Fuel and Funny Cars will put on an intense and entertaining show with the smell of nitro filling the air. Fans are sure to see some of the most memorable nostalgia racing of the year as competitors from across the nation compete for points in the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series. Returning to the Holley National Hot Rod Reunion is the popular 6.0 Open Fuel racing category and exhibition class offering even more injected and blown nitro racing. Adding to the on-track action will be a pair of Jet Dragsters powering down the quarter-mile each day. World Champion Elaine Larsen and her team will be showing their jet cars up close as they will be on display in the oval all weekend.

When the sun goes down the action continues! This weekend celebrates those who have made a lasting impact on the hot rod world and the sport of drag racing. The Grand Marshal for 2019 will be Randy Walls, a legendary racer best known for his ‘Super Nova II’ Funny car. Joining Randy are our five Reunion Honorees: Army Armstrong, Steve Earwood, Art Marshall, Richard Maskin, and Paul Smith. The Holley National Hot Rod Reunion Honoree Reception and Cruise-In will take place at the National Corvette Museum on Friday, June 14 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Admission to the honoree reception and cruise-in is free.

On Saturday night, don’t miss the grand finale Cacklefest when dozens of race cars take to the track in a mass ignition of flame spewing, nitro burning dragsters and Funny Cars in front of the grandstands. When the Cacklefest roars to life and flames fill the summer sky, it makes for an entertaining and memorable closing ceremony.

Tickets for the 17th annual Holley National Hot Rod Reunion presented by AAA Insurance are on sale now to the general public. Tickets purchased before May 24 are $65 for a three-day pass or $25 for a single day. Children 15 and under are free with a paid adult. AAA members can save even more on this event by entering their first three digits of their membership card at checkout. Tickets can be purchased at www.NHRA.com/Reunion.