The relationship between Hot Rod magazine and the NHRA goes back some time. In 1948, NHRA founder Wally Parks helped co-publishers Bob Petersen and Bob Lindsay introduce the most iconic publication to ever feature high-performance automobiles. Two years later, Hot Rod was used as the springboard for the formation of the National Hot Rod Association.

Just like Hot Rod has survived a sometimes tumultuous publishing landscape, the NHRA has survived the trials and tribulations of being drag racing’s premier race series. 

This weekend, they will come together as Hot Rod Drag Week competitors make their way to the big stage of drag racing. They will participate in a special drag and drive exhibition during the NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway. This special feature marks the first time Drag Week competitors have attended the historic facility in Epping.

Eight cars will showcase this style of competition that Hot Rod magazine created and developed into one of the more popular racing formats of modern drag racing. It’s not the first time the format has appeared on the big stage of drag racing, as an 8.60 Street Race exhibition took place at the NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte and two weekends ago at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago.  
 
The exhibition in Epping will feature standouts Glenn Hunter, Frank Romano, Rick Steinke, Jeff Oppenheim, Tony Niemczyk, Jason Rousseau, Mark Sussino, and the ringleader who helped put it all together, Jeff Sias.
 
“Growing up at New England Dragway, I had a front-row seat to see the coolest and fastest street cars in the region. This is the ultimate version of that,” said Brian Lohnes, lead broadcaster for NHRA on Fox and longtime Drag Week announcer. “The racers coming to throw down at the New England Nationals represent an awesome cross-section of the drag-and-drive world, and it makes me beam with pride that they’ll be doing it at the track which now and forever will be considered my home.”  

There will be quite the exhibition, featuring boosted and naturally aspirated engine combinations, ranging from varying power levels, 700 hp to over 2,000 hp.
 
“We’re proud to have this group of racers attend and showcase their cars. They show the diversity of vehicles of Drag Week and the remarkable achievements of running fast on the drag strip and being capable of driving over 1,000 miles,” said Mike Galimi, network director of HOT ROD.  
 
The Drag and Drive exhibition takes place all three days of competition. The first round of qualifying is on Friday evening, with final qualifying and round one of eliminations on Saturday. The final two rounds of the eight-car field will be held on Sunday.  
 
“It is an honor for us to collaborate with NHRA and bring Drag Week to its events,” Galimi added. “The relationship between HOT ROD and the NHRA has existed since the sanctioning body’s start in 1951, and even before that when Wally Parks was named the first editor of HOT ROD in 1948. Somewhere, Mr. Parks and Mr. Robert Petersen are smiling, and this friendship continues today, over 75 years later.”  
 
The NHRA New England Nationals is the seventh of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and takes place May 31-June 2 at New England Dragway in Epping. The HOT ROD Drag Week 2024 competition takes place later this year, beginning and ending at National Trail Raceway in Hebron, Ohio, from Sept. 15-20. It will also visit Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich., and Milan Dragway in Milan, Mich.