Fans were greeted by
Randy Walls Camaro and MC, Bob Frey.
Army Armstrong: A longtime resident of Owensboro, Ky.,
Armstrong has been a radio and television announcer for decades.
His folksy Southern drawl has made him a favorite of thousands
of drag racing and hot rodding fans. Armstrong is currently preparing
for an attempt to set a Bonneville world record with C/Fuel Ford
34 Ford roadster powered by a nitro-burning injected Honda
four-cylinder engine that is expected to produce speeds in the
217 to 225 mph range.
Wally presented by Executive
Director Larry Fisher
Steve Earwood holds the distinction of having enjoyed
tremendous success in motorsports public relations and racetrack
operation/ownership. Earwood worked as the public relations director
for NHRA in the 1970s and 1980s. Hes represented many iconic
racers including Raymond Beadle, Kenny Bernstein and Rusty Wallace,
among others. Earwood purchased Rockingham Dragway in 1992 and
continues to operate it today.
NHRA Museum Curator Greg
Sharp presented the Wally.
Art Marshall has the distinction of being the last
driver to earn a major title with a front-engine dragster with
his victory at the 1972 Le Grandnational. He etched his name
into the history books by defeating the likes of Clayton Harris,
Carl Olson and then Jeb Allen to conquer the field. Marshalls
car is currently on display at the Don Garlits Museum of Drag
Racing.
Richard Maskin: After enjoying a very productive career
as a drag racer and engine builder, Maskin used those experiences
to become one of the of the hot rod industrys premiere
aftermarket manufacturers. Maskin played an important role in
several performance powerhouses in the Pro Stock category throughout
the years including building engines for Jim Yates and Jeg Coughlin,
who won NHRA titles in 1996 and 2000, respectively.
Paul Smith is a self-taught racer who used his hard-earned
skills to become a formidable competitor on the national event
and match race scene and then shared his knowledge to help build
the careers of many aspiring campaigners including Jeff Arend,
Cristen Powell, Johnny Gray, Clay Millican, Phil Burkhart, Jon
Capps and Blake Alexander.
Grand Marshal Walls was not only
one of the countrys quickest Funny Car racers during the
late 1960s and early 1970s, but he did it with genuine Chevy
big block engines at a time when many bowtie teams were switching
to the more powerful Chrysler Hemis. Walls returned to racing
after he found his 1969 Nova in a barn loft in 1997 and his exhibition
runs helped initiate the Nostalgia Funny Car craze in 2004. He
was the series champion that year.
OUT AND ABOUT IN
THE PITS
Back at the track, there
was plenty of eye candy.
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