Not only is the fabled March Meet celebrating its 50th, it’s also the first-ever event in the NHRA’s new 7-race nostalgia drag race series. Called the Hot Rod Heritage Series, it all begins at historic Auto Club Famoso Raceway, Mar. 7-9.

“We’re honored to not only be part of this exciting new series, but to have the first one kick-off during our 50th celebration of the March Meet is really exciting,” said Blake Bowser, vice president and general manager of the Kern County Racing Association, operators of Auto Club Famoso and producers of the March Meet. “Nostalgia drag racing fans are in for a once-in-a-lifetime thrill.

According to the NHRA, the Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series was created to “help preserve NHRA’s rich history and tradition while capitalizing on the success of nostalgia drag racing competition.” Series champions will be crowned in 14 categories based on year-end points. Not only is the fabled March Meet celebrating its 50th, it’s also the first-ever event in the NHRA’s new 7-race nostalgia drag race series. Called the Hot Rod Heritage Series, it all begins at historic Auto Club Famoso Raceway, Mar. 7-9.

“We’re honored to not only be part of this exciting new series, but to have the first one kick-off during our 50th celebration of the March Meet is really exciting,” said Blake Bowser, vice president and general manager of the Kern County Racing Association, operators of Auto Club Famoso and producers of the March Meet. “Nostalgia drag racing fans are in for a once-in-a-lifetime thrill.

According to the NHRA, the Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series was created to “help preserve NHRA’s rich history and tradition while capitalizing on the success of nostalgia drag racing competition.” Series champions will be crowned in 14 categories based on year-end points.

“This new series is an exciting step that will appeal to drag racing fans young and old,” said Peter Clifford, NHRA executive vice president and general manager. “It's a great way to introduce the younger generation to the history of our sport and give fans young and old a glimpse of racing the way it used to be.”

And what better place to kick-start the new series than the famed March Meet at Auto Club Famoso in Bakersfield, which will have overflow crowds for its golden anniversary run. The series also concludes at Auto Club Famoso, Oct. 10-12, at the Auto Club of Southern California Hot Rod Reunion.

Among the highlighted stops in between are Firebird Raceway in Boise, Idaho, for the 36th annual Pepsi NightFire Nationals and Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, Calif., and The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

In all, there will be seven independently produced events with each class of competition competing at and earning points toward series championships at five of those seven events. The four groups comprising the 14 categories are Nostalgia Top Fuel Dragster; Nostalgia Funny Car; Group 1, consisting of A/Fuel, Junior Fuel A, Junior Fuel B, and AA/Gas Supercharged; and Group 2, containing the following eight categories: Nostalgia Eliminator 1, Nostalgia Eliminator 2, and Nostalgia Eliminator 3; A Gas, B Gas, C Gas, and D Gas; and Hot Rod.

Each of the seven events will feature at least two of the four groups, and only two events, the March Meet and the Sept. 11-14 So Cal Shootout in Fontana, will feature all four.

NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series Schedule

-- Mar. 7-9, March Meet, Bakersfield, Calif.

-- Apr. 18-20, Sportsman Shootout, Fontana, Calif.

-- May 2-4, FC Feature, Las Vegas, Nev.

-- May 30-June 1 TF Feature, Bakersfield, Calif.

-- Aug. 8-9, NightFire Nationals, Boise, Idaho

-- Sept. 11-14, So Cal Shootout, Fontana, Calif.

-- Oct. 10-12, Auto Club of Southern Calif. Hot Rod Reunion, Bakersfield, Calif.