Combining speed and technology with great vision manifests tremendous success for automotive manufacturers. With his vision of inexpensive, reliable vehicles for all Americans innovated through racing, Henry Ford transformed his passion into one of the world's most successful automotive manufacturers. Fittingly the fates of the National Hot Rod Association founded by Wally Parks, and Ford Motor Company are intertwined.

More than 50 years ago, Wally Parks discovered the joy of speed on the dried lakes of southern California after his family moved from the Midwest. As a result, Parks helped form the Southern California Timing Association, which subsequently opened Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats for sanctioned speed trials. In 1948, he assisted Robert Petersen in forming Hot Rod magazine before founding the NHRA in 1951.

Today, the NHRA boasts more than 85,000 members, 26,000 licensed competitors and 3,800 member-track events. Its professional ranks consist of four divisions: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. The Top Fuel and Funny Car categories run highly exotic engines burning nitromethane for speeds above 300 mph.