It was a weather perfect day for drag racing as the 2020 Racers Reunion supporting the Arkansas Drag Racing Hall of Fame got under way at Centerville Dragway. The pits were full of cars and trucks that supported the theme of nostalgia drag racing. This included cars from the Midwest Nostalgia Pro Stock Association.
Bear Brantley was on hand on behalf of the Arkansas Drag Racing Hall of Fame, as well as Hall of Fame members Ray Sullins, Dwight Cox, and many others. They were armed with racing memorabilia and historic stories of drag racing. It was nothing short of a magical experience as race fans had the opportunity to visit with legends of the sport.
As a break in the racing action came during the evening, Rob Ayres and Bear Brantley introduced the 2020 Arkansas Drag Racing Hall of Fame Inductees to the crowd from the starting line of the Centerville Dragway. The 2020 Inductees’ are as follows: goal of having a facility of our own where we will be able to display a larger volume of items that reflect the history of our sport.”t.”
“The Arkansas Drag Racers Hall of Fame was started in 2016 as an effort to preserve and bring attention to achievements that many drivers from the state of Arkansas have accomplished,” stated Bear Brantley. “There is a lot of history in the sport of drag racing right here in the state of Arkansas.”
Brantley went on to say that the Arkansas Drag Racing Hall of Fame is currently housed at The Speed Shop located in North Little Rock, Arkansas. “We can’t thank them enough for providing space for the Hall of Fame. Hopefully one day we can reach our goal to having a facility of our own where we will be able display a larger volume of items that reflect the history of our sport.”
As a break in the racing action came during the evening, Rob Ayres and Bear Brantley introduced the 2020 Arkansas Drag Racing Hall of Fame Inductee’s to the crowd from the starting line of the Centerville Dragway. The 2020 Inductees’ are as follows:
Henry Harrison: Born and raised in Arkansas, Harrison became a top pilot of fuel altered’s on the California drag racing scene during the nineteen fifties. Later during the nineteen sixties, seventies, and early eighties, Harrison drove funny cars, and dragsters. Some for many notable teams such as those owned by Mickey Thompson and the famed L.A. Hooker funny car.
Danny Nelson: The first person from Arkansas to be crowned an NHRA World Champion by winning the title in 2019 in the Top Dragster Division. Nelson also owns and operates Race Craft Chassis in Batesville, Arkansas.
Emual Hunt: A multiple event winner of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). Was also highly regarded around the state of Arkansas for racing Ford brand race cars and the power that they produced.
J.V. Brotherton: The founder of Brodix Cylinder Heads located in Mena, Arkansas, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of aftermarket performance cylinder heads. Brotherton is also an accomplished drag racer in Arkansas and surrounding states.
The Arkansas Drag Racing Hall of Fame also recognized Jeff Henry of Arkadelphia, Arkansas for Coolest Car of the race with his 1959 Edsel drag car. And Roy Goshien of Bryant, Arkansas received the award for the Best Appearing Race Car of the event for his 1966 Nova drag car.
The afternoon also had three different divisions of drag racing action. The results are as follows.
Old Timer Race (55 & Older)
Winner: Jack Lineberry, Sallisaw, Oklahoma
Runner up: Ronnie Silvey, Mansfield, Arkansas
Semi: Bill Frye, Greenbrier, Arkansas Dewayne Hooker, Batesville, Arkansas
GEEZER ELIMINATOR
Winner: Danny Radar, Russellville, Arkansas
Runner up: Bobby Jackson, Texarkana, Arkansas
Semi: Roy Goshien, Bryant, Arkansas Eddie Hazel, Danville, Arkansas
VINTAGE BRACKET
Winner: Jaylen Whitmore, Sherwood, Arkansas
Runner Up: Eric Foster, Pottsville, Arkansas
Semi: Rob Ayres IV, Rogers, Arkansas Jack Mullins, West Helena, Arkansas
Arkansas Motorsports Magazine encourages all racing fans to check out and support the Arkansas Drag Racers Hall of Fame. Also, when you see a member at the races, thank them for their contribution to the sport. You will be glad that you did.
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