Mike Dunn will serve as Grand Marshal for this weekend's California Hot Rod Reunion at Auto Club Famoso Raceway.

Dunn, son of “Big Jim’ Dunn and 22-time NHRA professional winner, scored victories in both Top Fuel and Funny Car. One of his most recognized wins is his 1986 Funny Car victory at the NHRA U.S. Nationals, the world’s most prestigious drag race.

Mike Dunn will serve as Grand Marshal for this weekend's California Hot Rod Reunion at Auto Club Famoso Raceway.

Dunn, son of “Big Jim’ Dunn and 22-time NHRA professional winner, scored victories in both Top Fuel and Funny Car. One of his most recognized wins is his 1986 Funny Car victory at the NHRA U.S. Nationals, the world’s most prestigious drag race.

Dunn earned his Top Alcohol Funny Car license in his dad’s car in 1976, began racing nitro Funny Cars in 1980, and scored his first major win in one of Roland Leong’s Hawaiian Funny Cars in 1981. He went on to record 10 Funny Car wins through 1991 and added 12 victories in Top Fuel from 1993 to 2001.

Dunn was named driver for Darrell Gwynn’s race team in 1993. After working with crew chief Frank Bradley through 1996, he was tuned to four victories by Ken Veney in as many final-round appearances in 1999 and named the Car Craft All-Star Top Fuel Driver of the Year. The team received prestigious backing from the New York Yankees at the end of 2000, and Dunn left the operation when the team dissolved in mid-2001.

With all premium rides taken for the 2002 season, Dunn signed a one-year contract to do color commentary for ESPN. Though the role began as a temporary stint, Dunn’s vast racing background, considerable insight, and enthusiasm led to a new career, which has given him even more recognition. Currently at each of the 24 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events, Dunn showcases his vast knowledge of the sport and has become one of drag racing’s premier announcers as the lead analyst for the ESPN2 telecasts.

Also slated to be honored during the weekend at the 2014 California Hot Rod Reunion presented by Automobile Club of Southern California are Bob Brooks, the Cortopassi Brothers and Doug Butler, Hugh Tucker, Dennis Varni and Sid Waterman.

Dunn and all the honorees will be recognized during the busy weekend. On Friday the California Hot Rod Reunion Honoree Reception will take place at the Double Tree hotel at 7:30 p.m. in Bakersfield. After the honorees are recognized, the festivities will move outside under the stars with hot rods and vintage race cars on display. The evening will conclude with a fiery demonstration by several of the nitro-burning dragsters that will be racing and on display all weekend.