It’s the clarion call for racing fans as they listen to the radio, “Sunday, Sunday, Sunday.”  It’s the day for eliminations at the drag races and this Sunday was no different in that respect.  The 4th Annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion finished with a bang at Beech Bend Raceway Park.

Unfortunately, that "bang" came from a thunderstorm that ended the racing activities at Bowling Green a bit earlier than expected.  NHRA officials determined results based on elimination runs that had been completed before the rains came, and on best qualifying time for those classes that had not yet run an elimination round.

After the race had been called, the two Top Fuel semi-final winners, Sean Bellemeur and Adam Sorokin, suited up anyway and raced down the track in golf carts.  Bellemeur won, but the timing lights had already been shut down, so there was no record of the run.

Earlier in the day, Bellemeur defeated Ernest S. McClain and Howard Haight along the way to the finals. Sorokin defeated Brendan Murry and Roger Lechtenberg.  The drivers each was presented with half of the combined $7,500 purse for winner and runner-up.  The match will be settled during the 15th Annual NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California, at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif., Oct. 6-8.

The day began with two special presentations from DuPont Hot Hues Custom Finishes.  Jerry and Pat Baltes of Richmond, Va., were presented with the “Most Accurate Restoration” award for the Croshier-Baltes-Lavato dragster.  Mike and Kathy Hill of Villa Ridge, Mo., were presented with the “Hot Color Award” for their 53 Studebaker.  The awards were presented by Tom Mellis of DuPont.

The 5th annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion, presented by DuPont, will be held June 15-17, 2007.