NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

NHRA fans and racers are finding new and unique ways to help celebrate NHRA’s 75th Anniversary season, and one of the most spectacular is a 75th anniversary logo piece of art comprised largely of NHRA member cloisonné pins.

KaBrina Kringen, a Phoenix-based race fan and experienced crafter with her own Etsy shop, came up with the idea of using surplus NHRA member pins provided by Division 7 Director Matt DeYoung to create her masterpiece, which measures 4 feet wide by two-and-a-half feet tall. In all, 250 member pins make up the decorative part of the numerals.

“When Matt told me he had a collection of extra member pins from over the years, my crafting mind immediately started turning,” she said. “I knew I wanted to create something meaningful with them. Since this year marked the 75th anniversary, the special honorary logo felt like the perfect way to showcase the history and significance behind those pins.

“I had another [Etsy] creator cut the logo on his CNC, using MDF as the base. Once I had the piece, I painted the entire surface white to create a clean foundation. From there, I carefully filled each section with its appropriate color. For the numbers 7 and 5, I painted the base blue first so that when I added the member pins from throughout the years, they would really pop against the background.

“Working with resin can be tricky — you have to move quickly and mix in smaller batches. I would mix one color at a time, fill all the areas that needed it, and then move on to the next color. After all of the lettering was filled and cured, I poured a clear coat of resin over the entire piece to seal everything in and give it that smooth, glossy finish that really makes it shine. It was actually my first time working with resin, and I have a feeling it won’t be my last. I may have just found a new favorite!”

“I’ve always loved crafting in all its forms. From pottery and stained glass to photography, creating has always been part of who I am. Right now, I’m completely obsessed with my laser and spend most of my free time designing and making all kinds of projects for my Etsy shop, Studio Kab.”

"When KaBrina showed me this for the first time, I was in awe,” said DeYoung. “I simply can't get over that the member pins make up the core of this, just as our racers and members make up the core of NHRA."

Kringen may not have as much free time in the future as she recently attended a racing school to prepare for her competition debut and has a deep passion for the sport.

“My good friend, Mallory Reis, races Top Dragster, and I’ve been going to the track with her and her family for the past 10 years,” she said. “I’ve grown to love everything about it, especially studying the weather and trying to help figure out her dial. There’s just something about the strategy behind it that I really enjoy. The track has given me more than just a passion for racing — it’s actually where I met my boyfriend, Cody Stevenson. We met at the Vegas track while I was there with Mallory.”