Don Schumacher Racing executive Mike Lewis will drive the Moreno Valley, Calif., based Nostalgia Funny Car owned by Bob Godfrey at the 20th annual California Hot Rod Reunion, Oct. 21-23, at Auto Club Raceway near Bakersfield, Calif.
 
Godfrey’s “Burn’n’ Money” Camaro will feature special branding to promote the 50th Anniversary of Maple Grove Raceway in 2012.

 “I can’t wait to finally race at one of drag racing’s most revered events,” said Lewis who presides over the Maple Grove Raceway Board of Directors and resides in Avon, Ind. “It was a career highlight serving on the founding committee when the California Hot Rod Reunion was launched in 1992. Steve Gibbs brought us all together 20 years ago and will be honored as grand marshal this year. I’ve been looking forward to attending the reunion and driving Bob Godfrey’s Funny Car will add an extra dose of butterflies and excitement to the Bakersfield adventure.”

Don Schumacher Racing executive Mike Lewis will drive the Moreno Valley, Calif., based Nostalgia Funny Car owned by Bob Godfrey at the 20th annual California Hot Rod Reunion, Oct. 21-23, at Auto Club Raceway near Bakersfield, Calif.
 
Godfrey’s “Burn’n’ Money” Camaro will feature special branding to promote the 50th Anniversary of Maple Grove Raceway in 2012.

 “I can’t wait to finally race at one of drag racing’s most revered events,” said Lewis who presides over the Maple Grove Raceway Board of Directors and resides in Avon, Ind. “It was a career highlight serving on the founding committee when the California Hot Rod Reunion was launched in 1992. Steve Gibbs brought us all together 20 years ago and will be honored as grand marshal this year. I’ve been looking forward to attending the reunion and driving Bob Godfrey’s Funny Car will add an extra dose of butterflies and excitement to the Bakersfield adventure.”

Lewis licensed in Bakersfield in 2007 at the wheel of Joel Gruzen’s blown Fiat altered and it was Gruzen who introduced Godfrey and Lewis by phone.  
 
Godfrey, who normally drives his car, commented, “We are looking forward to the California Hot Rod Reunion. It's always a fun time and we’ll do our best to get in the show.”

Godfrey has enjoyed success as both owner and driver of his Nostalgia Funny Car and Fuel Altered.
 
A noted racecar painter and header coating specialist, Bob includes wife Cathy and daughters Lindsay and Shannon as part of his regular team. Godfrey Racing once competed with a VW powered funny car against the likes of Cory McClenathan in the early 1990s, progressing through several NHRA Sportsman classes before venturing into Nostalgia Funny Car and Fuel Altered racing in 2003.
 
The team won the Goodguys Hot Rod Nationals in Indianapolis in 2007. Team sponsors include K&N Filters, Lucas Oil, Mickey Thompson, 10,000 RPM, Control Cable,  Airheart Sales and Turbo Hot Header Coating.

“Bob’s car is a twin to Justin Grant’s Stardust Funny Car,” added Lewis. “After three years in Justin’s car I should be comfortable if all goes well but we’ll be a darkhorse team for sure.”
 
Over 30 Nostalgia Funny cars are expected to enter the California Hot Rod Reunion and a number of current NHRA stars are expected to compete for the 16 qualifying positions.

Maple Grove Raceway, home of the Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals, was founded in 1962 and has been operated continuously by the family of the late Alfred S. Stauffer. Lewis served as track manager and then president from 1971 to 1989 when he left for a position with NHRA. It was during that stint that the California Hot Rod Reunion was born.