2002 California Hot Rod Reunion (Oct. 4-6)

  Friday Results
  Saturday Results
  Sunday Results

  Photo Gallery

  Fact Sheet
  Grand Marshal
  Spotlight
  Honorees
  Highlights
  Cacklefest
  Schedule of events
  Things to remember

PAST CALIFORNIA
HOT ROD REUNIONS
  2001 California
  Hot Rod Reunion

  2000 California
  Hot Rod Reunion

  1999 California
  Hot Rod Reunion

Rance McDaniel accepts his Nitronic Research AA/FD 5-second club jacket. McDaniel, who suffered major injuries in a racing accident two months ago, was accompanied by his wife, Lisa, on the podium and received cheers from more than 6,000 fans at the event. (Bill Groak photo for the NHRA Motorsports Museum)

BAKERSIELD, Calif. - Historic and legendary are the words often used to describe the NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion. Now you can add miraculous. That's the way the thousands of spectators felt at Famoso Raceway as 62-year-old Rance McDaniel, severely injured in a crash just two months ago, made a surprise appearance at the Reunion. McDaniel, the two-time defending Goodguys Nostalgia Top Fuel champion, was honored with 11 other members of the Nitronic Research AA/FD 5 Second Club.

McDaniel, who suffered severe head injuries (which left him unconscious and in critical condition) in the Aug. 11 crash in Boise, Idaho, was accompanied by wife Lisa at the Reunion. When told he "looked great, like he just got off the golf course," McDaniel, known for his sharp wit, responded, "I always do."

The stirring, emotional return of McDaniel was one of several highlights on the second day of the 11th annual NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California. An overflow crowd (the largest ever), were treated to another family-fun day packed with highly competitive nostalgic drag racing, a 5,000-plus BBQ and an incredible display of street rods and hot rods.

The evening's festivities included "Cacklefest III," a true Reunion favorite, and the nitro-charged debut of "The Ring of Fire." That's where 1,320 fans got a once-in-a-lifetime chance to stand inside a circle, surrounded by about 50 vintage dragsters that fired it up at the same time.

Top qualifiers on Saturday for Sunday's 11th Annual NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California:

Top Fuel A
1. Gerry Steiner, San Jose, 5.99ec., 244.43 mph
2.  Jack Harris, Kayville, Utah, 6.004
3. Glenn Hutchison, Sacramento, 6.010
4. Rich Howell, Yorba Linda,  6.013
5. Jim Murphy, Santa Rosa, 6.063
6. Rick McGee, Exeter, 6.066
7. Bob Hallock, Costa Mesa, 6.071
8. John Shoemaker, Sacramento, 6.095

Top Fuel B
1. Bill Dunlap, Capitola, 6.098, 229.88 mph
2. Brendan Murry, San Jose, 6.102
3. Troy Green, Purcell, Okla., 6.123
4. Kerry Moreira, Richfield, Id., 6.149
5. Bill Alexander, Sun land, 6.152
6. Denver Schutz, Fresno, 6.171
7. Lee Jenningt, Chino, 6.199
8. Marc Malde, Santa Rosa, 6.208

Nostalgia Eliminator
1. Ronnie Lennon, Sonoma, 7.608, 181.19 mph
2. Bobby Runyon, Jean, Nev., 7.644
3. Bob Hensel, San Bruno, 7.649
4. Gil Valencia, Tehachapi, 7.664
5. Mike Cross, Culver City, 7.665
6. Chuck Bayuk, San Diego, 7.674
7. Scott Christlieb, Leona Valley, 7.686
8. Phil Lukens, Pasadena, 7.697
9. Dave Gruzen, Lakewooed, 7.711
10. Woody Duke Jr., Pacific Palisades, 7.717
11. Bob Murphy, Clovis, 7.731
12. Alan Hull, Arcadia, 7.738
13. Chris Davis, Spokane, Wash., 7.781
14. Todd Miller, Sparks, Nev., 7.792
15. Tony Lemmon, Garden Grove, 7.820
16. Roy Victor, Citrus Heights, 7.842

A Fuel
1. Bill Wayne, Bullhead City, Ariz., 6.615, 208.14 mph
2. Ron Attebury, Morgan Hill, 6.637
3. Steve San Paolo, Salinas, 6.758
4. Jim Paul, Foresthill, 6.784
5. Jeff Diehl, Salinas, 6.797
6. Jim Lange, Simi Valley, 6.920
7. Rick White, San Diego, 6.983
8. Jason Richey, Pleasanton , 7.035
9. Greg Uffens, Tracy, 7.134
10. Dusty Renteria, Hollister, 7.148
11. Sean Bellemeur, La Canada, 7.186
12. Mark Mittel, Tulare, 7.220
13. Darby Neagle, Las Vegas, 7.274
14. Jack Beckman, North Hills, 7.324
15. Ed Schwarz, Santa Fe Springs, 7.360
16. Tom Taros, San Pedro, 7.373

Junior Fuel
1. Wayne Ramay, Simi Valley, 7.199
2. Dean Carter, Glendale, 7.209
3. Scott Parks, Burlingame, Kan., 7.312
4. Mike Chrisman, Lake Forest, 7.343
5. Kelly Craig, Campbell, 7.355
6. Stacy Paul, Foresthill, 7.375
7. Jon Rowley, Amado, Ariz., 7.402
8. Todd Movius, Long Beach, 7.421
9. Don Enriquez, Mission Viejo, 7.429
10. Brett Murphy, Hillsborough, 7.496
11. Kol Johnson, Escondido, 7.509
12. Brad Woodard, Oceanside, 7.547
13. Bud Hammer, Oxnard, 7.559
14. J.D. Zink, Chico, 7.731
15. Dan Fenton, San Lorenzo, 7.742
16. Jim Moore, Watsonville, 7.758

AA/Gas
1. Steve Woods, San Leandro, 6.886
2. Gary Reinero, Merced, 6.975
3. Howard Anderson, Applegate, 7.054
4. Tim Burns, San Jose, 7.101
5. Carl Harry, Ariel, Wash., 7.124
6. Rich Roberts, Winton, 7.125
7. Chris Abbey, Clovis, 7.148
8. Ron Nunes, Danville, 7.251

A/Gas Eliminator
1. Steve Castelli, Windsor, 7.629
2. Sean Renteria, Hollister, 7.666
3. Jim Pace, Fairfield, 7.691
4. Larry Ofria, Northridge, 7.798
5. Rich Facciano, Stockton, 8.087
6. Art Gustafson, Stockton, 8.134
7. John Overhouser, Selma, 8.573
8. Jim Data, Ojai, 8.716

A/FX
1. David Franklin, Ramona, 9.955
2. Phil Weatherston, Stockton, 10.049
3. Robert Dietz, Highland, 10.175
4. Glenn Gibbons, Mesa, Ariz., 10.212
5. Joel Miner, San Diego, 10.311
6. Bob Shahan, Signal Hill, 10.520
7. David Troffer, Signal Hill, 10.811
8. Doug Hampton, Calinas, 10.859
9. Mitch Kaers, San Diego, 10.864
10. Steve Whitemore, Livermore, 10.955
11. Glenn Holland, Yucaipa, 12.443
12. Sharai and Steve Steinbacher, La Verne, 12.622