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The 2021 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series season will kick off this weekend with events in Sacramento, Calif., and Boise, Idaho.

The season officially will begin at the Heritage Nostalgia Reunion, April 29-May 1 at Sacramento Raceway with Groups 1 and 2 in competition at the famed Northern California racetrack.

Group 1 includes A/Fuel, Jr. Fuel, and 7.0 Eliminator, and Group 2 includes Nostalgia Eliminator l, Nostalgia Eliminator ll, Nostalgia Eliminator lll, A/Gas, B/Gas, C/Gas, D/Gas, and Hot Rod Eliminator.

Later that weekend, Firebird Raceway in Idaho will host the 50th annual NAPA Auto Parts Ignitor Funny Car Opener May 1-2 for Nostalgia Funny Cars only.

In addition to the Nitro Funny Car eight-car qualified field, the race will also boast the richest bracket tournament in Ignitor history. Gold Cup categories include: Super Pro, Pro, Sled/Bike, and Sportsman.

The defending 2020 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series champions are Pete Wittenberg (Top Fuel), Bobby Cottrell (Funny Car), Brad Woodard (Junior Fuel), Steve Faller (7.0 Pro), Dustin Lee (Nostalgia Eliminator I), Terry Linblad (Nostalgia Eliminator II), Mike Gillespie (Nostalgia Eliminator III), Tom Fowler (A/Gas), Brent Handley (B/Gas), Mike Rabener (C/Gas), DeAndre Fitzgerald (D/Gas), and Kurt Kaemerle (Hot Rod).

The 2021 Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series will then continue in May with the Good Vibrations Motorsports March Meet at Auto Club Famoso Raceway, which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will now be the series’ third event.

The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum presented by Automobile Club of Southern California will produce two Hot Rod Reunions during the season. The National Hot Rod Reunion will be held at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Ky., June 17-19, and the California Hot Rod Reunion will close the season at Auto Club Famoso Raceway Oct. 22-24. Nostalgia Top Fuel will compete for points at five events during the season, and Nostalgia Funny Car will compete for points at six events.

The NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series was developed in 2008 to help preserve NHRA’s rich history and tradition while providing racing opportunities for enthusiasts who enjoy nostalgia drag racing competition.