The Bakersfield March Meet, a world famous 52-year-old drag race, and now the season opener of the NHRA’s Hot Rod Heritage Series, continues its historic run, Mar. 5-7 at Auto Club Famoso Raceway near Bakersfield, Calif. Five hundred cars from around the globe, the country, the state and Kern County, are set to compete in 14 classes during the 3-day festival of speed.

“For fans and racers, the March Meet is all about drag racing and always has been,” said Blake Bowser, vice president and general manager of the Kern County Racing Association, operators of Auto Club Famoso Raceway and producers of the March Meet. “This year we again have a full field and all the top racers in nostalgia drag racing will be here. It’s going to be a great show – don’t miss it.”

The March Meet is such a draw, NHRA Funny Car legend and 14-time champion John Force is the Grand Marshal this time.

The Bakersfield March Meet, a world famous 52-year-old drag race, and now the season opener of the NHRA’s Hot Rod Heritage Series, continues its historic run, Mar. 5-7 at Auto Club Famoso Raceway near Bakersfield, Calif. Five hundred cars from around the globe, the country, the state and Kern County, are set to compete in 14 classes during the 3-day festival of speed.

“For fans and racers, the March Meet is all about drag racing and always has been,” said Blake Bowser, vice president and general manager of the Kern County Racing Association, operators of Auto Club Famoso Raceway and producers of the March Meet. “This year we again have a full field and all the top racers in nostalgia drag racing will be here. It’s going to be a great show – don’t miss it.”

The March Meet is such a draw, NHRA Funny Car legend and 14-time champion John Force is the Grand Marshal this time.

Speaking of Funny Cars, the Nostalgia Funny Car field has 32 entries in it, making it the largest field since 1980.

“It’s a real blast from the past for nostalgia drag racing fans,” said Bowser. “Fans love the wild looks and sounds of these famous, colorful Nostalgia Funny Cars from the 1960s and ’70s. The fact that this year’s March Meet will have the largest field of Nostalgia Funny Cars in 30 years is incredible.”

Among the stellar field of Nostalgia Funny Cars is one that teams two-time NHRA Funny Car champion Cruz Pedregon and 10-time NHRA Division 6 champion Bucky Austin. Pedregon, the 2009 March Meet Grand Marshal, will drive a replica of the Joe Pisano 1978 Plymouth Arrow Funny Car. Austin, who won Nostalgia Funny Car titles at the 2008 and 2009 March Meets, will be the crew chief this time.

Other notable Nostalgia Funny Car entries include 2009 Hot Rod Reunion Champion Kris Krabil; Troy Green, who has jumped from Nostalgia Top Fuel and is now tuning the Bomb Squad with stand in driver Chris Bennett; Mendy Fry, who will be in Gary Messenger’s Future Flash; Mark Sanders driving the Mr. Explosive car and Ed Dougan in the Fighting Irish car.
 
Others drivers include Mike Halstead, Jim Adolph, Nathan Bugg, Bob Godfrey, Dan Horan Jr., Dale Van Gundy, Roger Garten and Craig Michael. Newcomers include Paul Romine and Jason Rupert.

Competition is going to tough in all categories, especially Nostalgia Top Fuel. A field of 20-26 cars will by vying for the title, including local favorite Brad Thompson in his new ride from Highspeed Motorsports.

Thompson of Visalia, runner up in the ’08 March Meet, will face a top-notch field including four-time winner March Meet winner, Jim Murphy (Santa Rosa, Calif.); Rick White (San Diego), RB Entertainment/Champion Speed Shop team Adam Sorokin (Glendale, Calif.); “Mr. Boston” with Tom Steed; “Nitrodiction” with Howard Haight and Bob Bradley with Lincoln Hassel; and Brendan Murry’s “Running Wild.”

While Nostalgia Top Fuel and Nostalgia Funny Car are the big draws, the lure of competing in any class at the March Meet brings racers from everywhere. “What a field of cars and competitors,” said Bowser. “All I can say is let’s race.”

Now celebrating 52 years of racing, the March Meet is a three-day speedfest that enthusiasts call ‘the jewel of Nostalgia Racing.’  It attracts drag racers and spectators from around the world and also includes a hot rod car show, swap meet and a vendors’ midway. Drag racing legend John Force is this year’s Grand Marshal.

The 2010 March Meet is also the first race of the Hot Rod Heritage Series, the NHRA’s 9-race nostalgia racing series.

Fans can purchase a Super 3-Day Pass for $75 online now at www.autoclubfamosoraceway.com and pick them up at the track the week of the event. There are no service charges for tickets purchased online.
 
Individual day tickets for the event will go on sale Mar.1, but will be available only at the track. Ticket prices are $25 for Fri., Mar. 5; $30 for Sat., Mar. 6; and $30 for Sun., Mar. 7.