NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum welcomed nearly 150 enthusiast vehicles on Saturday morning as the June Cars & Coffee gathering once again transformed the Museum grounds into a celebration of America's diverse automotive culture—and a chance for the automotive community to give back.

From vintage hot rods and purpose-built drag cars to modern supercars, muscle cars, road race machines, meticulously restored classics, lifted 4x4s, Volkswagen buses, Corvettes, and Porsches, the event showcased the remarkable variety that continues to define the automotive hobby. Every generation, every style, and every passion found a place in Pomona.

Adding to the experience were displays from the Lions Automobilia Foundation & Museum, American Racing Wheels, and Olvera's Car Care detailing services, giving visitors even more opportunities to connect with the companies and organizations helping preserve and advance automotive culture.

The event also demonstrated that the car community is about more than horsepower. Thanks to the generosity of Cal Rods, the Museum donated 75 backpacks to students in the Pomona Unified school district, while participants in the Cars & Coffee gathering filled collection bins with school supplies—including notebooks, pencils, crayons, folders, and other classroom essentials—to help local students at Lincoln Elementary, under the direction of Principal Mr. Sam Padilla (who was in attendance) begin the upcoming school year.

That spirit of community has always been at the heart of the National Hot Rod Association.

This is NHRA's Origin Story

Long before 345-mph Top Fuel dragsters and sold-out national events, NHRA began as a car club of car clubs. Wally Parks believed that bringing enthusiasts together—whether to hot rod, learn, share ideas, serve their communities, race, or simply admire one another's machines—would strengthen the entire hobby.

Seventy-five years later, that vision remains unchanged.

On the national stage, NHRA competitors this weekend at the 2026 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Norwalk, Ohio, were pushing the limits of performance at more than 345 mph. Across America, thousands of racers gather at local tracks. And at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, enthusiasts came together to celebrate the history, craftsmanship, innovation, friendships, and generosity that built the sport in the first place.

Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum's Cars & Coffee is more than a car show. It is a living expression of the culture that made NHRA possible—a place where longtime racers stand beside first-time enthusiasts, where stories are shared, ideas are exchanged, and the next generation is welcomed into the hobby. Because preserving our history isn't simply about displaying race cars. It's about continuing the traditions that created them.

As NHRA celebrates its 75th anniversary, gatherings like Cars & Coffee remind us that the Association has always moved forward together. Every conversation, every volunteer, every restored car, every race entry, every donation, and every new enthusiast helps carry Wally Parks' vision into the future.

The speed of the race is the speed of the Association. Let's go faster—together.

Join Us for the Next One—September 19, 2026

The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum invites enthusiasts of every make, model, and era to join us for the next Cars & Coffee on Saturday morning, Sept. 19. Admission is free, museum admission is complimentary for attendees, and everyone is encouraged to bring a vehicle, enjoy the community, make a donation, and help continue the tradition that has united hot rodders for 75 years.