Two new venues and the addition of an extra event are among the highlights for the 2009 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series schedule, it was announced today by NHRA officials.

The 2009 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series will feature eight points-earning events and four non-points affiliate events. In 2009, the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series will crown year-end points champions in 14 categories. The Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series year-end points champions in each of the 14 classes will receive a gold Wally trophy; Champion’s jacket and hat; and a cash award.

NHRA developed the Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series in 2007 to help preserve NHRA's rich history and tradition while providing racing opportunities for those enthusiasts who prefer nostalgia drag racing competition. Two new venues and the addition of an extra event are among the highlights for the 2009 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series schedule, it was announced today by NHRA officials.

The 2009 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series will feature eight points-earning events and four non-points affiliate events. In 2009, the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series will crown year-end points champions in 14 categories. The Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series year-end points champions in each of the 14 classes will receive a gold Wally trophy; Champion’s jacket and hat; and a cash award.

NHRA developed the Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series in 2007 to help preserve NHRA's rich history and tradition while providing racing opportunities for those enthusiasts who prefer nostalgia drag racing competition.

“We are looking forward to another exciting season of the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series,” said Peter Clifford, NHRA executive vice president and general manager. “We have made an adjustment to our class structure this year and added two new venues. These changes should increase the popularity of a series that was well-received by fans, competitors and track operators alike in its inaugural season.”

The NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series will once again kick off with the famed March Meet in Bakersfield, Calif., March 7-9 and conclude Oct. 16-18 at the California Hot Rod Reunion, also at Bakersfield's Auto Club Famoso Raceway.

Among the highlighted stops in between are Firebird Raceway in Boise, Idaho, for the Pepsi NightFire Nationals; as well as two popular events scheduled for Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, Calif.; and the The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Two new venues that have been added to the schedule include Speedworld Dragstrip in the Phoenix area and Sacramento Raceway, in northern California.

In all, there will be eight independently produced events, each with different featured classes. Nostalgia Top Fuel Dragster will compete at five of the events and Nostalgia Funny Car will compete at four of the events.

The series’ 14 featured classes include: Nostalgia Top Fuel Dragster; Nostalgia Funny Car; Group 1 (A/Fuel, AA Supercharged, Jr. Fuel (same rules as the 2008 Jr. Fuel B class) and 7.0 Pro) and Group 2 (Nostalgia I, II and III; A, B, C and D/Gas and Hot Rod).  The new 7.0 Pro class is an index class with breakout rules – intended for front engine dragsters, center-steer Altereds and pre-1980 Nostalgia Funny Cars.

Three of the events will feature all 14 classes of competition.

Due to local noise ordinance issues, the Sept. 11-13 event in Fontana, Calif. is currently listed as tentative.

2009 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series Schedule*

March 6-8
March Meet
Bakersfield, Calif.
TF, FC & Groups 1 & 2

April 3-5
Nostalgia Sportsman Shootout
Fontana, Calif.
Groups 1 & 2

May 15-17
Las Vegas Speed Spectacular
Las Vegas
TF & Groups 1 & 2

June 12-14
Arizona Fuel & Gas Nationals
Wittmann, Ariz.
Group 2

July 10-11
WCTA Fremont Reunion
Sacramento, Calif.
Groups 1 & 2

Aug. 13-16
Pepsi NightFire Nationals
Boise, Idaho
   

TF & FC

Sept. 11-13
So Cal Shootout
Fontana, Calif.
   

TF, FC & Groups 1 & 2^

Oct. 16-18
California Hot Rod Reunion
Bakersfield, Calif.
TF, FC, and Group 1
               

* Schedule and categories subject to change
^ Tentative event due to local noise ordinance issues

2009 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series Affiliate Events* (Following are the current list of NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series Affiliate Events. Affiliate events are affiliated with the Series but they will not count as points-earning events toward the 2009 championships.  The host affiliate tracks develop their own classes and rules.)

Date                Event                                                                          Location
May 29-31       Muscle Car Reunion and Nostalgia Drags                  Madison, Ill.
June 19-21       Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion                Bowling Green, Ky.
June 26-27       NostalgiaFest presented by RM Distributing             Cordova, Ill.
Sept. 11-13      Muscle Car Reunion and Nostalgia Drags                  Kansas City, Mo.