Drag racing has lost an ambassador for the preservation of major league drag racing’s history.

 

Larry Fisher, Executive Director of the NHRA Motorsports Museum, passed away Friday evening at Loma Linda Medical Center. 

 

Fisher began his work with the museum in 2012 and made a host of improvements during his tenure. NHRA, the NHRA Motorsports Museum, and the entire racing community extend their deepest condolences to his family and friends. 

 

“Larry made many contributions to the museum, including building greater awareness of its mission and improving the educational elements of museum programs,” said Tom McKernan, chairman of the NHRA Motorsports Museum board. “His love and commitment for the museum and motorsports history, as well as his robust experience, will be greatly missed. Our thoughts, prayers, and deepest sympathies are with his family during this difficult time.”

 

CompetitionPlus.com spoke with Fisher back in July at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals, as he, as well as former NHRA VP of Operations, Graham Light, walked the pits bringing awareness of the museum’s importance in the drag racing world. 

 

It wasn’t hard to see the passion Fisher had for the NHRA Motorsports Museum.

 

“You know, anybody that’s in the sport knows that if we don’t know where we came from, we don’t really know where we’re going,” Fisher said. “We really need to preserve our history, and we need also to inspire young kids that are coming in to get excited about it. Maybe they’re not necessarily aware of the sport yet, but through programs like our outreach programs to schools, they become aware of it. 

 

“Through the YES programs and some of the other programs the museum works on as well, we hope to bring those kids out. Ultimately it’s to preserve the sport and ensure that those memories and all that important material is kept for the future and that we can inspire other people. Hopefully, beyond us, our grandchildren and their grandchildren.”

 

And thanks to Fisher’s tireless efforts, it will.

 

“Larry was always good to us here at CompetitionPlus.com because he understood we have been on the same team in ensuring drag racing’s past remained alive in our future,” CompetitionPlus.com Founder/Publisher Bobby Bennett said. “Drag racing will miss Larry and his contributions to the sport. We have indeed lost a great ambassador connecting drag racing’s past to the future.”