NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Graham Light, who earlier this year announced his retirement as NHRA’s senior vice president of racing operations at the end of 2018, will join the Board of Directors of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum presented by Automobile Club of Southern California. Light will put his relationships, knowledge, and years in the sport to the best use possible –- furthering Wally Parks’ dream of creating a world-class motorsports museum to preserve NHRA’s history.

As a member of the board of the Museum, Light will work closely with Museum chairman of the board Tom McKernan, and the other members of the Museum board, to help move the Museum forward. Thus, Light will serve in a key stewardship position for the history of the sport which will be a natural fit due to his strong connections with many of the people who helped to shape that history. Light will be available to work on special projects that may be developed between NHRA and the Museum and will be a key fundraising partner with the Museum’s staff, furthering Wally’s legacy. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Graham to the Museum’s board of directors. I can’t think of a single other person who would bring Graham’s level of passion and knowledge to the Museum and who could play such a key role in the Museum’s advancement efforts,” said McKernan.

Light is looking forward to working with the Museum’s staff to take the institution to the next level. “I know Wally would be happy and impressed by how far the Museum has come since his passing in 2007," he said. "Wally loved the Museum and I am honored to have this opportunity to help advance his dream, while also helping to preserve the rich history of the sport and expose it to more people.”  

We will miss Graham being on NHRA’s board, but we fully support his decision to join the Museum’s board, where he will be able to make such a positive impact on furthering Wally’s dream and advancing the Museum’s mission,” said Dallas Gardner, chairman of the board of NHRA. “Moving to the Museum board is the greatest gift Graham can give to the sport and to Wally.”

Light joined NHRA in 1984 and progressed upwards in the organization, taking over all racing operations in 1993. His institutional knowledge and passion for drag racing are a mainstay in NHRA and the drag racing community. The Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, native started out drag racing in Competition Eliminator before owning and operating a racetrack of his own.