The Holley National Hot Rod Reunion® presented by AAA Insurance at Beech Bend Raceway is a multifaceted event with something for everyone. Honoring racing legends, a stunning car show, celebrating the car culture and quarter-mile nostalgia drag racing all take place during the course of the weekend, June 12-14.

The Holley National Hot Rod Reunion® presented by AAA Insurance at Beech Bend Raceway is a multifaceted event with something for everyone. Honoring racing legends, a stunning car show, celebrating the car culture and quarter-mile nostalgia drag racing all take place during the course of the weekend, June 12-14.
 
For John Worm and his family, all of these aspects will be in play during the storied event. His business creations will be on display as his Worm Inc. built USA-1 tribute Funny Car driven by legendary racer Bruce Larson will take to the track during the quarter-mile nostalgia drag racing. His family will also serve an integral part of the weekend as his daughter Audrey will serve as the backup girl for Larson as well as racing her front engine dragster built by her father. His wife of 25 years, Donna, and his 14-year-old son Josiah also support the racing aspect of the family.
 
For over two decades, Worm Inc. has built hot rods and custom classic cars for customers across the globe. His business located in Grantville, Pa., is famous for making chassis that in appearance are near replicas of their 1960s counterparts but with current SFI technical specs and regulations. His quest for safety and his love for classic cars began his thriving business.  
 
“I took everything I liked on nostalgia cars, the looks and the performance, to relieve those years, and made a car that looked period correct,” Worm said. “I built car the first car for myself and it took me six months to build it and we were still doing it for hot rods and chassis for cars, trucks and Funny Cars.”
The USA-1 Funny Car project began two years ago with a breakfast meeting with Larson, the 1989 NHRA Funny Car world champion. Larson had been hesitant in creating a replica of his iconic Funny Car but Worm’s offer was one he could not pass up.
 
“He said he wasn’t interested in anyone using USA-1 in the past and he said he wasn’t interested,” Worm said. “I told him there is a difference, ‘I want you to race the car.’ He kinda lit up and I said I want to build the car and pay tribute to the legends.”
 
Adding to the nostalgic feeling of the event and harkening back to the 1960s and 1970s at the event is the inclusion of backup girls during the racing. In the early days of drag racing, the backup girls were as much of the show as the on track racing action. They would assist the dragsters and Funny Cars as they backed up to the starting line after their burnouts, often wearing outrageous outfits. One of the most famous of the backup girls was ‘Jungle Pam’ Hardy, the backup girl for ‘Jungle Jim’ Liberman in the 1970s. Audrey continues this tradition at events across the country and at the Holley National Hot Rod Reunion® presented by AAA Insurance.
 
“Audrey has been out to dinner with us with Jungle Pam, and people like that,” John added. “Jungle Pam is probably the most famous backup girl and Jungle Pam gets a kick out of Audrey doing it. We are really about the show. We really don’t care how fast we go. My goal with the tribute cars is to relive the 1960s and 1970s, which to me is the best era in drag racing.”
 
“I get a thrill going out there and watching Bruce run,” Audrey said. “I look up to Jungle Pam who is a hero of mine. I’m trying to go out there and do what she did years ago. She had positive things to say about my outfit and the boots I wear and that I was doing a job and she liked what I was doing.”
 
Audrey will also be racing a front engine dragster built by her father during the course of the weekend. Drag racing has long been known as a family sport and in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series 16-time Funny Car world champion John Force and his two daughters, Brittany (Top Fuel) and Courtney (Funny Car) race at each of the 24 national events. For Worm, seeing his daughter in his car is as much of a thrill for him.
 
“When I first ran my front engine dragster it was such a high to run a car like that and I thought ‘It can’t get much better than this,’ boy was I wrong,” he said. “Not that I’m like John Force, but I can see what it’s like to see his daughters, to be inspired by his daughters that run. I know that feeling when you strap your daughter in, and see her run the car; It is 10 times more the satisfaction of me running in the car.”
 
“It is very exciting to drive and I’m very proud of my dad for all that he has done and it is great to be able to go out and drive one of his cars,” Audrey stated. “My adrenaline is pumping and I can’t wait to go down the track as fast as I can and the tires smoking right next to my head is the greatest thing.”
 
The Worm family will be among those racing and on display during the Holley National Hot Rod Reunion presented by AAA Insurance at Beech Bend Raceway Park on June 12-14. The event is produced by the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum and benefits the facility located in Pomona, Calif. The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is a 501c(3) non-profit institution and collects, preserves, exhibits and interprets the vehicles, stories, and artifacts that represent the influence of, automotive speed and style in all its forms.
 
The event comes to life June 12, as thousands of vintage show cars will pour into the facility for the start of the Axalta Show ‘N Shine featuring Hot Rods, Classics and Customs which have all been restored to their former glory by their dedicated owners.
 
The Holley National Hot Rod Reunion presented by AAA Insurance is also a great event for racing enthusiasts of all ages with quarter-mile nostalgia drag racing heavily featured at the multifaceted show. Hot Heads Eliminator and exhibition runs start at 10 a.m. and the Top Fuel qualifying session will kick-off at 3 p.m.
Friday will once again feature thrilling quarter-mile nostalgia drag racing action when time trials begin at 8:30 a.m. and will be followed by Hot Heads Eliminator Funny Car and Top Fuel qualifying sessions at noon and 3 p.m.
 
The weekend concludes on Saturday with another full day of activities including eliminations beginning at 11 a.m. Wrapping up the day are the Final Eliminations, Awards, Honoree Presentation and the Axalta Coatings and Show ‘N Shine parade of champions. The Grand Finale will see the 2013 Reunion Champions crowned, and the NHRA Motorsports Museum’s exclusive Cacklefest® featuring dozens of nitro-fueled vintage dragsters.
 
• SCHEDULE: The event begins at 8 a.m. each day with racing beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 12; Racing starts at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, June 13; and 9 a.m. on Saturday June 14.
• TICKETS: Single day tickets are only $25, $75 at the gate for a three-day ticket, and children 15 and under are free accompanied by paid adult.
• ON THE WEB: For more information about the Holley National Hot Rod Reunion presented by AAA Insurance, please visit www.nhramuseum.com.