NHRA: National Hot Rod Association Unveils 50th Anniversary Logo
5 September 2000
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
|
The momentous announcement completed a festive pre-race ceremony and kicked-off final eliminations for the $2.6 million race at the quarter-mile facility that has been the stage for many of NHRA's most historic moments over the past five decades.
The 50th anniversary logo was jointly unveiled by the sport's founding father, Wally Parks, and NHRA president, Tom Compton.
"When Barbara and I first started the NHRA, we never could have dreamed that it would grow and become what it is today," said Parks. "We thank all of the drivers, team owners, sponsors, track operators, fans and NHRA employees that have dedicated a major part of their lives to achieve the current level of popularity associated with NHRA Drag Racing."
The logo features a boldly structured golden 50 atop the familiar NHRA oval. An artistic rendering of headers with fire blazing in the distance -- an image synonyomous with NHRA Drag Racing since its inception in 1951 - completes the creative image.
A comprehensive program regarding multi-promotional, marketing, media and broadcasting plans for the 50th anniversary season will be announced later in the year.
"It is an honor for me to serve as president as we approach our golden anniversary," said Compton. "With all of the excitement being generated around the sport, I believe we are already building significantly on the foundation passed down by Wally and Dallas Gardner and am confident we will take NHRA Drag Racing to new heights. Today is a great day to be a fan of NHRA Drag Racing."
Wally Parks founded NHRA in the early 1950s to unify the ever-growing number of car clubs springing up around the country and to take this new breed of race car enthusiasts off the street and into an organized racing venue. The very first national event took place in Great Bend, Kan., and featured a variety of roadsters, coupes and other exotic vehicles engineered specifically to be the first to the finish line from a standing start. More than 200 participants from around the country converged on the small midwestern city for the meet.
As part of NHRA's 50th anniversary celebration, the NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series will compete at Heartland Park Topeka on Memorial Day weekend in 2001, offering tribute to that first NHRA sanctioned national event in Kansas.
Working with civic leaders and local law enforcement, Wally Parks began building nationwide recognition and support for his vision, and in a short time, the NHRA emerged as the premier sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing. During its first 50 years the sport has seen continued growth, in part by the sponsorship by R.J. Reynolds' Winston brand starting in the the mid-'70s. Today, NHRA and Winston are celebrating a 26-year partnership, one of the greatest marketing relationships in all motorsports.
As the world's largest sanctioning body with more than 85,000 members and more than 250,000 racers nationwide and 144 member tracks, the NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States.
The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series' provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Street Legal Program. The NHRA also offers the Castrol GTX Jr. Drag Racing League for youths ages 8 to 17.
NHRA's national headquarters are located in Southern California, long considered the birthplace of organized drag racing.
The 50th anniversary logo was developed by SME Power Branding, a division of SFX Entertainment.
Text provided by Anthony Vestal
Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos
and art, visit
The Racing
Photo Museum and the
Visions
of Speed Art Gallery.