Lights to Shine on NHRA at Pomona

Night drag racing, once a weekly staple for Southern California hot rod enthusiasts, will return this summer for one big weekend in Pomona.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the National Hot Rod Assn., a three-day event is planned for July 5-7 at Pomona Raceway, where the 2001 season will start next week with the annual Winternationals.

“As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, it is fitting that we return to our birthplace and offer our fans, for the first time ever, night racing at Pomona,” said Tom Compton, NHRA president.

“Nighttime racing hearkens back to the sport’s early days when there were more than 20 active drag racing strips in Southern California. It has been more than 20 years since the last drag race took place at night in Southern California.”

There will be two qualifying runs on Thursday and Friday nights and final eliminations on Saturday night. No racing will be permitted after 8 p.m. on Thursday and 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

A full complement of cars, from nitro-burning top fuel and funny car dragsters to the Federal-Mogul sportsman vehicles, will compete in the national points event as part of the NHRA’s 24-event schedule.

Racing has been held annually at the drag strip on the Pomona Fairplex grounds since 1953, but this will be its first night event.

The 50th Anniversary Nationals will honor Wally Parks, 88, founder of the NHRA.

“We plan to honor not only the drag racers of the past and present and our loyal fan base, but the man and visionary behind the sport, Wally Parks,” Compton said.

Parks also will be honored Monday at Parker Center by Mayor Richard Riordan and Police Chief Bernard Parks for having helped create, in 1951, an organization designed to eliminate illegal street racing.