NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Pete Kaiser capped off a dominant weekend at the NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion by claiming the Nostalgia Top Fuel title at Beech Bend Raceway, leading a talented group of champions during the annual celebration of drag racing heritage.

Kaiser, of Pleasant Hill, Calif., drove his Bowen-built machine to a winning 5.905-second pass at 251.77 mph to defeat Gerald Hangey in the Nostalgia Top Fuel final. Kaiser also qualified No. 1 and recorded both low elapsed time and top speed of the event with a 5.761-second run at 258.42 mph, completing one of the most impressive performances of the weekend.

Michael Sexton added another strong performance in the 6.0 Pro category, defeating hometown racer Larry Greer in the final round after qualifying No. 1. Gordon Horn earned the 7.0 Pro victory in his ’63 Corvette, while Kentucky racer Jaxon Messamore scored the 7.50 Pro title in a thrilling side-by-side final-round battle against Tyler Allen.

The Messamore family doubled up in the winner’s circle as Trevor Messamore captured the Pro Comp championship. Other event winners included Mike Vance in Pro Gas, Tom Strayer in Modified Production, Matt Reed in Nostalgia Super Stock, Leonard Mattingly in Nostalgia Gasser, and Logan Alford in Hot Rod Eliminator.

The annual NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion once again delivered a weekend filled with nitro-burning nostalgia, vintage race cars, and championship competition, honoring the spirit of hot rodding while showcasing many of the sport’s most passionate racers and fans.

Missed the action from Beech Bend Raceway? Watch the sights, sounds, and speed of the NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion on NHRA.tv, where fans can relive the nitro-burning excitement of nostalgia racing  from one of drag racing's most cherished traditions. NHRA.tv subscribers can watch live and on demand from anywhere, with hundreds of hours of racing action available year-round.

Watch now: NHRA.tv National Hot Rod Reunion Replay

Beyond the racing action, the NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion serves a larger purpose. Produced in partnership with Beech Bend Raceway, the event benefits the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, Calif., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the heritage of drag racing, hot rodding, and American motorsports. Through exhibits, educational programs, historic vehicle preservation, and events like the National Hot Rod Reunion, the museum continues the vision of NHRA founder Wally Parks by ensuring the stories, innovations, and personalities that shaped the sport are preserved and shared with future generations.

NOSTALGIA TOP FUEL
W: Pete Kaiser, Pleasant Hill, Calif., ’20 Bowen - 5.905, 251.77
R/U: Gerald Hangey, Quakertown, Pa., ’02 Neil & Parks - 5.939, 215.31
#1 Qualifier: Pete Kaiser, 5.761, 258.42
Low E.T.: Pete Kaiser, 5.761
Top Speed: Pete Kaiser, 258.42

6.0 PRO
W: Michael Sexton, Bloomington, Ind., ’07 Neil & Parks - 6.230, 229.78
R/U: Larry Greer, Bowling Green, Ky., ’79 Mustang - Broke
#1 Qualifier: Michael Sexton, 6.163, 228.89

7.0 PRO
W: Gordon Horn, Rockport, Ind.,, ’63 Corvette - 7.023, 198.26
R/U: Billy Smith, Pickerington, Ohio , ’03 Holt - 6.950, 188.02
#1 Qualifier: Larry Harlen, 7.020, 196.16

7.50 PRO
W: Jaxon Messamore, Hanson, Ky., ’57 Bel Air - 7.528, 183.54
R/U: Tyler Allen, Manchester, Ky., ’63 Corvette - 7.533, 183.32
#1 Qualifier: Ric Burdine, 7.502, 184.60

PRO COMP
W: Trevor Messamore, Slaughters, Ky., ’27 T - 9.538, 139.85
R/U: Brett Edwards, Lincoln, Ill., ’29 Ford - 8.979, 143.61
#1 Qualifier: Trevor Messamore, 9.500, 140.28

PRO GAS
W: Mike Vance, St. Peters, Mo., ’57 Chevy - 10.002, 132.14
R/U: Jim Halverstadt, West Harrison, Ind., ’73 Vega - 9.482, 138.91
#1 Qualifier: Tracey Sackett (#219), 9.000, 148.84

MODIFIED PRODUCTION
W: Tom Strayer, Kent, Ohio, ’74 Vega - 9.507, 139.50
R/U: John Renfroe, Litchfield, MI, ’67 Nova - 9.564, 139.11
#1 Qualifier: Randy Tull, 9.505, 143.78

NOSTALGIA SUPER STOCK
W: Matt Reed, Huntingdon, Tenn., ’65 Chevelle - 19.814, 39.50
R/U: Mitch Reed, Huntingdon, Tenn., ’65 Chevelle - 18.620, 36.07
#1 Qualifier: Danny Whitford, 9.750, 137.51

NOSTALGIA GASSER
W: Leonard Mattingly, Columbia, Ky., ’62 Falcon - 6.975, 96.60
R/U: Jessica Lile, Taylorsville, Ky. - 6.187, 109.46
#1 Qualifier: Larry Bagwell, 6.500, 105.42

HOT ROD ELIMINATOR
W: Logan Alford, Pendleton, Ind., ’70 Nova - 12.014, 111.50
R/U: Michael Myer, Duncan Falls, Ohio, ’60 Lark - 11.443, 115.45
#1 Qualifier: Joe Foster, 8.998, 146.00