The California Hot Rod Reunion Provides 2X the Excitement

With apologies to Wrigley’s Doublemint gum, the 26^th edition of the CHRR offered up a double dose of excitement: Not only did you experience the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series’ final event of the season, featuring more than 50 nitro-burning entries, you were also treated to dozens of classic nitro cackle cars, and most especially Saturday night’s famous, fabled, fabulous Cacklefest. Traditionally, not only does the prestigious CHRR race win go down to the final round, but so does the Heritage Series championship, and this year was no exception.

With perennial N/TF terminator Tony Bartone MIA this year, the Top Fuel competition was fierce.

Going into the Reunion, Jim Murphy had an oh-so-slight advantage over Mendy Fry and Adam Sorokin. Murphy, not noted for experiencing an abundance of good fortune, was able to cash in during eliminations. In the semis, his nemesis, Fry, fell to Jim Young and he defeated Sorokin. In that bout he murdered an engine and pranged off the guardrail, damaging the dragster. Though out of competition, his win and their loss provided enough cushion to secure him the Heritage Series championship. Sorokin displayed a ton of sportsmanship in the final Top Fuel go. Instead of the fans witnessing a Young single pass for the event win, Sorokin faced off against him.

Ryan Hodgson and Jason Rupert had been battling hammer and tong for the Heritage Series N/FC championship, but Rupert failed to qualify at the Reunion, handing the title to Hodgson. He made it to the third round before bowing out to eventual CHRR winner Bobby Cottrell. In the final, Cottrell defeated Matt Bynum, 5.67/253.61 to 5.74/256.62. Additionally, he was the Heritage Series 7.0 Pro champ.

The battle for A/Fuel supremacy between Kin Bates and Drew Austin continued to the final round of the final race. Bates prevailed, 5.86/233.68 to 5.93/236.64, for the event win and his ninth Heritage Series crown.

Other CHRR winners included: Nick Davies AA/Fuel Altered, John Marottek Jr. Fuel, Pete Peterson 7.0 Pro, Lloyd Harder NE1, Terry Newton A/Gas, Jeremy Hanger Pro Mod, Gary Reiner AA/Gas, Bob Moreland iA/FX and Bob Tingler Super Stock.

NHRA Hot Rod Heritage champions were: Murphy in Nostalgia Top Fuel, Ryan Hodgson in Nostalgia Funny Car, Bates in A/Fuel, Don Enriquez in Jr. Fuel and Cottrell in 7.0 Pro.

Thanks to Auto Club of Southern California for your continuing support of a doubly delicious event.

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