Dirt
Kentucky Fried Pistons
Tyler Hilton wins fourth straight Wally Parks Nostalgia Nationals Top Fuel title at Beech Bend By Rick Bain
Bourbon and bluegrass, thoroughbreds and horsepower – all key ingredients of a grand Kentucky celebration. As the NHRA Heritage Series rolled into Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky, for the annual Wally Parks Nostalgia Nationals, the retro quarter-mile party was on, heavy on the horsepower.
There were 10 of the finest nostalgia AA / FDs from all parts North, South, East, and West on the grounds in what was a true United States Top Fuel showdown. This was a battle on the Kentucky quarter mile and against the ever-changing weather. Rain claimed Friday, reducing the usual three-session Top Fuel qualifying down to a oneshot deal. Stage your car, take your best shot – it’ s the only one you are going to get.
Michigan’ s Shawn Bowen did exactly that, blasting a 5.80 for the No. 1 spot. Reigning champ Tyler Hilton and the Great Expectations III team landed No. 2 with a solid 5.84, while Georgia’ s Julius Hughes and 2025 March Meet champ Pete Kaiser rounded out the top four qualifiers with a 5.89 and a 6.20, respectively.
With the big Friday washout, the decision was made by NHRA for an all-run Top Fuel show; all teams laddered into a 10-car field with a round two and round three bye run built in. By the semifinal round, the weekend’ s big three heavy hitters were still standing. Kaiser, who laid down a 5.76 trailering Julius Hughes in round two, faced low qualifier Bowen. Hilton, who dispatched his uncle Michael Hilton’ s“ Locomotion” dragster with a 5.84, got the bye run to the final.
Bowen gave Kaiser and his big red KFR machine all they could handle and more, with a lead to the 1,000-foot mark before expiring a motor to get passed in the lights. Kaiser won with a 5.87, to Bowen’ s 5.93 at a mere 206 mph. Hilton’ s bye was the quickest of the round with a foretelling 5.81.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY RICK BAIN
48 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated. com Issue 196