RIP, Wally Parks

The founder of the NHRA and the person who made drag racing what it is today, has passed away. Wally Parks, founded the NHRA in 1951 and served as the governing president for over 2 decades. His passion for side-by-side racing and his ambition to bring it to a safer, more controlled environment is what led to the formation of the largest motorsports sanctioning body in the world.Parks still served on the NHRA Board of Directors, and maintained the The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum presented by Automobile Club of Southern California at Fairplex in Pomona, Calif.

“Today is a sad day in the world of NHRA and the sport of drag racing. Words simply can’t describe the immeasurable impact Wally has had on the sport he created and the millions of people’s lives he touched along the way. The name Wally Parks is synonymous with drag racing, and his vision and direction will guide NHRA for years to come. Everyone in drag racing, and the industries formed to service the sport, will forever be indebted to Wally, his vision, his focus and his desire to create, build and grow NHRA.” –Tom Compton, president of NHRA.

 

Rest in peace, Wally.