When there's a tradition, regardless of the circumstances, there are diehards who will find a way to make it work. Case in point, the Bakersfield March Meet is a staple of nostalgia drag racing, and for the folks at Famoso Dragstrip in Bakersfield, Ca., they were prepared to wait out a pandemic.

Thus, this weekend was the Bakersfield March Meet in May. Some things are worth waiting for.

Taking home top professional honors were Bobby Cottrell (Nostalgia Funny Car), Dan Horan Jr. (Nostalgia Top Fuel), Eric Gates (Fuel Altered), and Jeremy Hangar (Pro Modified).

Cottrell, the defending NHRA Heritage Series AA/FC champion, entered eliminations from the No. 2 qualifying position and stopped Matt Melendez, Kamaka Pocock, Kris Krabill, and Michael Peck Jr.

For his part, Peck entered into eliminations entered eliminations as the eighth quickest qualifier and scored victories over Tony Jurado, Brad Thompson, and Jason Rupert, subbing on the weekend for Jerry Espeseth.

Horan, who lost in the first round of Funny Car, was unstoppable in his AA/FD. He qualified No. 2 in the dragster and scored victories over Frank McBee Jr., Pete Wittenberg, and third-gen fuel racer Tyler Hilton in the final round.

Gates managed to derail the Johnny West freight train, which had run roughshod over the Fuel Altered field in qualifying. Starting from the No. 3 spot, he scored wins over Pete Peterson, James Generaldo Jr., before scoring an easy win as West fouled.

Hanger drove supercharged 1959 Corvette to the Pro Modified title by stopping Josh Kalish, John Durden, and Ed Marx.

A full compliment of sportsman divisions were on hand with Steve Cluck (CA Funny Cars 6.75), James Maher (CA Funny Cars 7.10), Kin Bates (A/Fuel), Dan Enriquez (Jr. Fuel), George Vanderpool (7.0 PRO), Steve Schoenfield (NE-1), Trent Scaduto (NE-2), Ed DeStaute (NE-3), Roy Castagnetto (A/Gas), John Salliani (B/Gas), Bryson Kleeman (C/Gas), Dan Fournier (D/Gas), and Marvin Rules (Hot Rod).