Even Cash for Clunkers, a congressional bill aimed at taking gas guzzling classic automobiles off of the highway, couldn't deter Charlie Harmon. Neither could the major sanctioning bodies in drag racing.

Harmon loves muscle cars, and to him, the more of them gathered in one place, the better.

Harmon presides over both the National Muscle Car Association and the National Mustang Racing Association, smaller drag racing associations when compared to the gigantic NHRA, but in the world of niche filling they are giants.

Even Cash for Clunkers, a congressional bill aimed at taking gas guzzling classic automobiles off of the highway, couldn't deter Charlie Harmon. Neither could the major sanctioning bodies in drag racing.

Harmon loves muscle cars, and to him, the more of them gathered in one place, the better.

Harmon presides over both the National Muscle Car Association and the National Mustang Racing Association, smaller drag racing associations when compared to the gigantic NHRA, but in the world of niche filling they are giants.

The two associations are joined this weekend for the NMCA/NMRA All-Star Nationals this weekend at zMax Dragway, located on the grounds of Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., for a three-day event of drag racing, swap meeting, car shows and vendor shopping.

The longtime drag racing executive has succeeded in serving the gearhead who loves classic muscle yet doesn't prefer the big show of major league drag racing.

“We'd like to believe we have the perfect avenue for the old gearhead to relive those old days gone by, and we sure do our best to accommodate them,” said Harmon. “The racing is just a small part of it when you consider the great amounts of camaraderie which transpires in the pits amongst the competitors and all of the other perks like the car shows and swap meet portions.”

The gathering place for these racers back in the day was either at the track or the local speed shop. The Internet has only increased Harmon's associations to reach out to even more like-minded enthusiasts.

“You didn't have that back in the 1960s,” Harmon added. “But now because of the message boards and different forums, these rivalries get pretty intense at a rapid rate.

“This dynamic and the passion for the muscle car is a large reason why we've survived over the years. We are just a community of racers with a mutual passion and I am proud to be a part of it.”

The weekend's event will combine those racers who prefer their muscle cars of all three major manufacturers, plus the defunct American Motors Company, along with the specialty Mustang series. Normally the two series would run separate but the difficulty in procuring dates for the larger venues such as zMax inspired the groups to run two events in one.

“It certainly doesn't hurt the overhead when you combine them either,” Harmon added.

Harmon might not have a John Force to pack the stands or a 320 mph Top Fuel field, but proclaims an entertainment bang which promises to give race fans a worthwhile time.

“I think if you are a race fan and love the older cars, you not only see some great machines with fan friendly drivers,” Harmon explained. “You get a car show, swap meet and a manufacturing row of vendors. You even get a few jet cars and for the older race fans, you get to see some of the more contemporary race products and race vehicles. Not that you would have an interest initially, but even a veteran muscle car fan has to be impressed with a 2011 Mustang. Some of the racers will have the finest contemporary products on their cars that money can buy. There's a little bit of everything for everybody.”

That's a niche Harmon doesn't mind filling.