NHRA NEWS: Wally Thaker Named Museum Head

	GLENDORA, Calif. - Tony Thacker has joined NHRA as
Executive Director of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, NHRA
officials announced today.
		Thacker, 56, of Pomona, Calif., will be in charge of the
daily operations of the Museum, maintain its extensive displays and
promote the Museum's role within the community. He joins NHRA with
nearly 20 years of experience with marketing, public relations and
communications. He most recently served as the vice president of
marketing for SO-CAL Speed Shop, a world-renowned builder of street rods
and race cars, parts manufacturer and home of an apparel line.
		A native of England, Thacker worked for Specialty
Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and was president of TT Productions,
a marketing firm for automotive aftermarket companies, before taking his
considerable skills in communication and marketing to SO-CAL.
		"The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is full of
high-performance cars, and we need to make it into a high-performance
museum." said Thacker.  "I am extremely excited to work with Wally Parks
and the entire Museum staff."
		Thacker plans to honor the rich history of the museum by
highlighting the sport's storied past. He's already developed a Saturday
matinee film program for the facility - a plan he will work to expand.
		"We are confident that Tony will have an immediate
impact on the Museum and NHRA as a whole," said Peter Clifford, NHRA
executive vice president and general manager. "NHRA is dedicated to
improving our future by remembering our past - and the Museum is the
perfect way to see that resolve. We are looking forward to seeing the
positive results his ideas are sure to bring."
		Tony will also assist NHRA in developing licensing
opportunties.
		"I grew up in England reading Hot Rod magazine when
Wally and other drag racers were huge heroes. I never thought I'd get to
meet them. I never thought I would get to work here in the U.S. or for
NHRA. It's a huge dream. To have the opportunity to hopefully influence
that legacy is absolutely incredible."  Thacker said.
		A long-time dream of Parks,' The Wally Parks NHRA
Motorsports Museum presented by the Automobile Club of Southern
California, opened to the public on April 4, 1998. The
28,500-square-foot building located on the Los Angeles County Fairplex
grounds in Pomona houses vehicles, stories and artifacts responsible for
developing the fascination in automotive speed and style.
		The Museum is open year-round, Wednesday through Sunday,
from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas).
Admission is free for current NHRA members. Admission for non-members
is: $5 for adults; $3 for seniors 60 and older; $3 for juniors 6-15; and
free for children under the age of 5.
		Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary
sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It
presents 23 national events through its NHRA POWERade Drag Racing
Series. NHRA has 80,000 racers and members nationwide and 140 member
tracks. NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series' provide
competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. NHRA develops the
stars of tomorrow by offering the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Xplod
Sport Compact Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series and the Street
Legal Program presented by AAA. NHRA also offers the O'Reilly Auto Parts
Jr. Drag Racing League for youths ages 8 to 17.