Day One of the NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion is Picture Perfect!

As usual, the 3-day Father's Day Weekend event opens with big crowds and "Chamber of Commerce weather" 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - (June 17, 2005) - The tradition continues! Just like the first two years, the crowds pouring into Beech Bend Raceway for the opening day of the 3rd annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion, presented by DuPont Automotive Finishes, were treated to a picture-perfect day in every respect.

From the "chamber of commerce weather" to all the family-fun events, the National Hot Rod Reunion, which runs through the 19th, was once again the place to be. "Every year they say it can't get any better, but it does," said Sam Jackson, executive director of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, producers of the Reunion. "Look at all the families and kids enjoying this incredible weather and spectacular cars and racing. We can't ask for anything more!"

Jackson is correct. Besides the amazing weather (80 degrees, blue skies, no humidity!), the crowds soaked up the ambiance. More than 1,200 eye-catching hot rods, muscle cars and classics dotted the rolling hills around Beech Bend Park. Everything from flamed '32 Ford Roadsters to two-tone '57 Chevys to shiny Willys, Camaros, Mercs, Rat Rods and more were there. The heart and soul of American hot rodding at its finest, proudly displayed in the ideal setting.

Yet that's only part of the Reunion story. Nitro and burning rubber kept racing fans cheering as the several categories of top-notch vintage drag racing began in earnest. Even Sean Bellemeur, the reigning National Reunion Top Fuel champ, had some fun by letting a local TV reporter sit in his car as he fired it up. "I love Bowling Green," Bellemuer said. "Everyone treats us so well here. The whole city gets behind the Reunion."

Bowling Green does indeed support the Reunion. There's a buzz in town that begins the week of the event and builds into Top Fuel roar as the weekend approaches. Hotels are packed for miles around, restaurants are full, and cash registers are ringing. Up at Beech Bend, folks flock to the Reunion swap meet to find sweet deals on all manner of auto goodies from rusted car bodies to old trophies. Down at the Manufacturers Midway, the offerings include t-shirts, jewelry, die-cast cars, performance parts, paint, tires, decals and more. It's Father's Day the entire weekend. 

Dads take their kids to see drag racing legends such as "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, and to check out the cars they saw race when they were kids. It's Memory Lane with burned rubber. It's nostalgia with a supercharged engine. It's the National Hot Rod Reunion.

And this was only Day One*.