Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion Concludes With Spectacular Race Action

Bellemeur Goes Back to Basics for Back-to-Back Top Fuel Win

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - (June 19, 2005) - Racers from across America ran side by side as the 3rd Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion came to a successful conclusion Sunday at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Ky.

In categories ranging from Top Fuel to the 130 cars in Quick 64, racers roared down the quarter-mile, past nostalgic covered grandstands in their quest to be the best.

In the Top Fuel finale, Sean Bellemeur won his second consecutive National Hot Rod Reunion title, with a 6.429 second and 225.03 mph victory over Brendan Murry, whose 9.295 second, 74.87 mph run reflected a parts failure.  But it wasn't only Murry whose parts failed.  Bellemeur said afterwards that "we blew it up on the last lap.  I threw [connecting] rods at 1,000 feet."  During earlier qualification runs, Bellemeur was far off the pace, qualifying only in ninth position, but he was able to battle back and beat teammate and woman's speed record holder Mendy Fry on his way to the victory.

The youthful Bellemeur, who also races in the NHRA's PowerAde Drag Racing Series in the Top Alcohol class, said the team had "tried a new tune-up.  For the last round, we went back to basics."  And it wasn't just winning the race that made him happy.  "This is probably our favorite race.  The Kentucky fans are so receptive.  We'll definitely be back next year."

Bellemeur's sentiments were echoed over and over again by racers, vendors, street rodders, hot rodders and fans of every stripe. 

Billy Bush of Floyd's Knob, who finished as runner-up in the Nostalgia Gas class for the second consecutive year in his 1958 Rambler American, praised the Reunion organizers.  "You all have put on a fantastic show.  We brought lots of new people here who hadn't been to anything like this before and they really enjoyed themselves.

Ron Whitehead, who drove one of the Quick 64 cars said, "I had a good time here.  This was my first time and I'll be here on Wednesday next year."

Jack Harris, the California Hot Rod Reunion Top Fuel Champion, lost to Murry in the semi-finals on Sunday after his tires went up in smoke.  After the run, Harris said, "This is the first time that I've ever seen a drag strip that looks like a golf course.  Everybody's just great.  We took some clutch off."  In qualifications on Saturday evening, Harris set track time and speed records at 5.913 seconds and 245.94 mph.

"This reunion was even more successful than the last two," said Sam Jackson, executive director of the non-profit Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, which produces the event and benefits from its income.  "We had a 50-percent increase in entries among the street rods and our racing was sold out.  We suggest that people enter as early as possible for next year's reunion, using forms on the Museum's web site at http://museum.nhra.com."

Results:

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Sunday's final results from the Third Annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion, presented by DuPont Automotive Finishes at Beech Bend Park. 

TOP FUEL -- Sean Bellemeur, 6.429, 225.03 def. Brendan Murry, 9.295, 74.87.

Open Fuel -- Jim Swedberg, 6.830, 204.57  def. Dom Paris, broke.

A JUNIOR FUEL -- Scott Parks, 7.104, 185.97  def. Stu Sandhaus, 7.182, 182.95.

B JUNIOR FUEL -- Bob Crouse, 7.826, 165.46  def. Larry Hunter, 8.161, 165.46.

Oldies -- Mitch Righ, Dragster, 10.904, 123.29  def. Allan Burns, Dragster, 8.067, 159.02.

Geezer Gassers -- Ron Doran, Willys Coupe, 9.949, 117.81  def. Ron Malmsten, Willys P/U, 10.805, 111.67.

Nostalgia Comp -- Christopher Buck, Dragster, 8.628, 149.51  def. Don Wellman, Dragster, 9.528, 91.09.

Nostalgia Gas -- Rob Davis, Chevy Nova, 8.616, 156.26  def. Bill Bush, Rambler American, foul.

Classic Super Stock -- Dennis Kohr, Dodge, 12.025, 111.39  def. Dave Duell, Plymouth, 10.161, 115.69.

Quick 64 -- Terry Lindsey, Chevy Camaro, 9.305, 138.47  def. Eddie Hockman, Dodge Demon, 9.709, 134.34.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Final round-by-round results from the Third Annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion, presented by DuPont Automotive Finishes at Beech Bend Park, the first of two events in the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Mendy Fry, 6.425, 175.80 def. James Day, foul; Sean Bellemeur, 6.284, 236.88 def. David Pace, foul; Brendan Murry,  6.493, 220.62 def. Roger Lechtenberg, 6.587, 171.77; Jack Harris, 6.023, 227.31 def. Mark Worden, 7.013, 218.48;

SEMIFINALS -- Bellemeur, 6.321, 240.68 def. Fry, 8.342, 111.94; Murry, 6.488, 217.42 def. Harris, 6.619, 212.29;

FINAL -- Bellemeur, 6.429, 225.03 def. Murry, 9.295, 74.87.

OPEN FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Bob Beedy Jr., 7.192, 200.92 def. Matt Borvo, 7.164, 189.90; Dom Paris, 7.106, 204.57 def. Mark Vaught, 7.213, 189.10; Martin Schmidt, 6.764, 203.65 def. Steve Teklinski, 7.508, 179.30; Jim Swedberg, 6.981, 200.92 def. Lincoln Hassell,  7.186, 187.52;

SEMIFINALS -- Paris, 7.453, 182.95 def. Schmidt, 7.754, 133.54; Swedberg, 7.036, 200.92 def. Beedy Jr., 7.221, 193.16;

FINAL -- Swedberg, 6.830, 204.57 def. Paris, broke.

A JUNIOR FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- David Dupps, 7.250, 182.21 def. Jon Rowley, 7.301, 180.02; Stu Sandhaus, 7.203, 183.69 def. Brian Darcy, 7.240, 182.95; Scott Parks, 7.108, 185.21 def. Pat Malloy, 8.710, 120.33;

SEMIFINALS -- Parks, 7.157, 185.21 was unopposed; Sandhaus, 7.191, 187.52 def. Dupps, 7.253, 182.95;

FINAL -- Parks, 7.104, 185.97 def. Sandhaus, 7.182, 182.95.

B JUNIOR FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Bob Crouse, 7.898, 165.46 def. Mike Millsap, 7.960, 162.47; Larry Hunter, 8.057, 163.06 def. Troy Wilson, foul; Chuck Rearick, 7.998, 161.88 def. Bruce Hacker, 7.887, 165.46;

SEMIFINALS -- Hunter, 7.950, 168.56 def. Rearick, 8.042, 160.73; Crouse, 7.839, 167.93 was unopposed;

FINAL -- Crouse, 7.826, 165.46 def. Hunter, 8.161, 165.46.