Closing the Season: California Hot Rod Reunion, Goodguys 25th Southeastern Nationals, and NHRA Toyota Nationals

The 2018 season of hot rodding is, sadly, coming to a close. And while we still have a few events left, we can’t help but to feel the depression settling in. Before we dive headfirst into a winter-hating lull, there’s still some fun to be had that will keep us running on anything but fumes until next year’s festivities. The California Hot Rod Reunion, Goodguys 25th Southeastern Nationals, and the NHRA Toyota Nationals can all be caught long before the last leaves of Fall have hit the ground.

California Hot Rod Reunion

Running from October 19-21, the 27th annual California Hot Rod Reunion will be underway soon. The event is hosted by the Automobile Club of Southern California in Bakersfield and is the ultimate celebration of all things great about California hot rodding.

Created as a one-time reunion in 1992 for old drag racers, the event quickly grew into an annual celebration of speed and racing history. Tipping its hat to the heroes that paved the way for the sport to become what it is today, the California Hot Rod Reunion brings hot rodders of all ages and backgrounds together to celebrate what they love most: fast cars.

“The Hot Rod Reunion events are part of the museum’s ‘living history’ philosophy, which works to bring to life the sights, sounds, and people who made history in the early days of drag racing and the golden age of American car culture.” -NHRA Motorsports Museum

The Hot Rod reunion welcomes hot rods of all years, including the latest and greatest. During the three day event, participants will have a plethora of activities to participate in, including the final races of the NHRA Hot Rod Herritage Drag Racing session. For many, this event signals the end of the hot rod season. We say it’s the perfect way to enter those cold months with the motivation to come back swinging next year!

Goodguys 25th Southeastern Nationals

Anyone who knows a thing or two about big deals in this industry, knows a thing or two about the Goodguys auto events. With that in mind, this year marks the 25th annual Goodguys Southeastern Nationals.

A blend of automotive activities, the Southeastern Nationals includes auto cross, drag racing, and, of course, a swap meet. (The last of which is perfect for those gearing up to take on some winter projects this off-season!) Not to mention, there will be about 2,500 participants at the event, meaning you’ll have a hard time running out of things to marvel at and talk about.

Ready to be one of the Goodguys? Event coverage you can't miss!

Like the California Hot Rod Reunion, this event helps mark the closing of the hot rod event season. This is one of the last times the Goodguys will be stopping along the East Coast for the year of 2018. So, if you’re in the area—don’t miss out! The Goodguys 25th Southeastern Nationals will be held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway and will run the span of two days. Your chance to check out things out is the weekend of October 19-20 and participants are welcome to register during the day of the event.

NHRA Toyota Nationals

Breaking away from the east coast we return to the west side with the NHRA Toyota Nationals. Spanning over 3 days, the event runs from October 25-28 and is held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Motorsports Complex.

The NHRA Toyota Nationals marks the next-to-last event of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. The event is nothing but high-stakes, high-speed drag racing. Onlookers will get the chance to watch drivers in classes including Top Alcohol, Nitro Eliminators, Pro Stock Eliminators and Pro Mod duke it out for the title of Champion. But that’s not all that fans will be treated to! The event’s website proudly declares that enthusiasts can “get direct access to the teams, see firsthand as the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from [their] favorite NHRA drivers.”

Get those tickets early because these are three events you don’t want to miss!

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