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June 16, 2018 - Bowling Green, KY: Every Fathers Day weekend for the past 16 years thousands of hot rodders, nostalgia drag racing fans and cacklecar lovers make their way to Beech Bend Raceway Park for the Holley National Hot Rod Reunion® presented by AAA Insurance. This year was no different including the heat and humidity.

Since its inception, the cacklecar portion of the NHRR has been an integral part of the show. Amid the quality racing and incredible hot rod displays fans can see these restored and recreated memories from the past throughout the pits. Over the weekend they get to see the practice push starts on the track. Then of course, the event is capped off by Cacklefest® on Saturday evening.

To open our coverage, Friday concluded with the Honoree Reception at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green. Various hot rods, customs, and Cacklefest cars were on display as the legends were celebrated during the evening. They were Grand Marshall Larry Lombardo along with the 2018 honorees including Jay Howell, Bo Laws, Ed Miller, Joe Williamson, and Greg Xakellis.

 

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Fans were greeted by Randy Walls Camaro.

 

What else would you find in the National Corvette Museum?

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The room trumped any of the past hotel accommodations.

 

Grand Marshall Larry Lombardo

 

Honoree Jay Howell

 

Honoree Bo Laws

 

Honoree Ed Miller

 

Honoree Joe Williamson

 

Honoree Greg Xakellis

 

 

Larry Fisher, Executive Director opened the event.

 

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MC Bob Frey with the first honoree, Jay Howell

 

 

 

NHRA Museum Curator Greg Sharp presented the Wally.

 

 

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Bo Laws, founded BLP Racing Products in 1965. He was Laws was very successful in drag racing in the late '60s and won several NHRA National Events in the Street Eliminator and Pro Stock divisions. This success helped propel the business and in 1983, he was inducted into the first Southeast Division NHRA Hall of Fame.

 

 

 

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Ed Miller has been a drag racer since the fifties, 1967 NHRA S/S World Champion, Chrysler factory racer 1968 to 1971, 1969 AHRA Ultra Stock "pro stock" circuit champion, 1970 NHRA Division 1 Pro Stock circuit champion. He set 16 National Records in NHRA, AHRA, IHRA & Nascar Drag Racing Division. Still racing a 1965 HEMI Plymouth today.

 

 

 

 

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Joe Williamson from Louisville, Kentucky was a champion sportsman drag racer.

 

 

 

 

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Grand Marshall Larry Lombardo’s racing history includes Pro Stock Performer for “Grumpy’s Circus to Race Motor Maestro. Lombardo’s career as a winning race driver spanned three decades. Today Larry is a respected race engine builder for drag racing and circle track clients in an area covering several Northeastern and North Central states.

 

 

 

 

 

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Following the awards featured the customary kick off of Cacklefest featuring a couple of select cars. This year it was Randy Walls’ nitro Funny Car and Paul Broughton in his "Richie Broughton - Comanche" AA/FD.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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OUT AND ABOUT IN THE PITS

 

Back at the track, there was plenty of eye candy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This would be a much nicer car if it hadn't have been updated to NHRA. In the cacklecar world, more pipe isn't attractive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Page Two - Cacklefest Parade

Cacklefest Proper

 

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