NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Photos by  FuelFest/Thomas Campos

Southern California car culture was born from sunshine and the freedom that comes from putting your foot to the floor on a drag strip. Los Angeles is the home of hot rodding, where your car isn’t just transportation—it’s identity, expression, and a way of life. And on Saturday June 28, 2025, at the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, FuelFest 2025 reminded the world why SoCal remains the heartbeat of automotive passion.

Tens of thousands of fans poured into the Pomona dragstrip—one of the most sacred grounds in California’s automotive history—to show off their rides, feel the rumble of horsepower, and celebrate everything from drift cars to muscle cars and imports to exotics and full-blown race cars. This place isn’t just a racetrack—it’s emotional bedrock. It's where generations of hot rodders and racers earned their stripes and where legends launched careers. So to host an event like FuelFest here? It’s like bringing your guitar to play at SoFi Stadium.

Founded by Cody Walker, and inspired by the legacy of his late brother, Paul Walker, FuelFest has become a global celebration of automotive performance and community. But there’s something undeniably special about the Pomona stop. With NHRA’s historic presence and the location’s deep roots in racing culture, FuelFest Pomona was the perfect partnership of new school and old school, import and domestic, street and strip, fame and future, safety and speed.

FuelFest isn’t just another car show — it’s a global movement rooted in passion, purpose, and legacy. Launched in honor of actor and automotive enthusiast Paul Walker, FuelFest reflects the vision he shared with fans around the world: bring people together through their love of cars while supporting meaningful causes. Known to millions as Brian O’Connor in the Fast & Furious franchise, Walker’s real-life bond with co-star Vin Diesel was just as powerful. Their shared commitment to car culture lives on through events like FuelFest — and through the franchise’s future.

As Vin Diesel shared from the main stage at FuelFest Los Angeles:

“The studio said to me, ‘Vin, can we please have the finale of Fast & Furious in April 2027?’

I said, under three conditions:
The first — bring the franchise back to Los Angeles.
The second — return to the car culture.
The third — reunite Dom and Brian O’Connor.”

You could feel the electricity in the air long before the gates opened. Cars rolled in at 10 a.m., with detailing spray bottles in hand and engines roaring. Vendors lined the midway with everything from performance parts to T-shirts. And as the afternoon sun lit up the San Gabriel Mountains in the background, the main stage came alive with live music, celebrity appearances, and a sea of phones capturing every second. More than 600 cars participated in the car show, there were 160 drag racers, and 60 drift cars. 

What makes FuelFest unique is its balance—it’s not just a car show, it's not just drift cars, it’s not just a music event, and it’s not just about racing. It’s a full-spectrum celebration of what driving means to people. That’s what Paul Walker lived for, and what Cody Walker and the FuelFest team continue to deliver: a sense of community powered by combustion and connection.

Fans packed the dragstrip grandstands as racers lit up the track with burnouts, side-by-side passes, and rolling tributes to the Fast & Furious franchise. NHRA’s presence reminded everyone that while car culture is evolving, its soul still lives 1,320 feet at a time.

"Our whole team was excited to work with the FuelFest family to bring drag racing to their LA event," said Mathew DeYoung, NHRA Division 7 Director. "As we walked through the venue, you could hear the drag cars launching down the strip, drift cars tearing through the course, the DJ rocking the main stage, vendors connecting with fans, and people bonding over their builds in the car show. The energy was incredible.

“What stood out most was how motorsports fans were there connecting across disciplines—drifters in awe of drag racers, and drag racers hopping in for ride-alongs with drift drivers. These moments truly highlight the diversity and unity within our sport and car culture. We're proud to be part of it."

As the sun set over Pomona, the smell of fuel still hung in the air. People lingered, not wanting to let go of the energy, the camaraderie, and the simple joy of being around others who live for the same thing.

FuelFest 2025 wasn’t just an event. It was proof that California car culture is still alive, still loud, and still leading the way.