The 33rd running of the California Hot Rod Reunion rolled through a picture-perfect Saturday at Famoso Dragstrip, where the stands were packed and the nostalgia roared to life. Fans soaked up the sunshine, the nitro fumes, and the kind of racing that celebrates drag racing’s golden era — with plenty of modern horsepower on display.
Shane Westerfield continued his domination in Nostalgia Funny Car, storming to the No. 1 qualifying spot with a 5.516-second blast at 265.64 mph. He kept the momentum rolling into Saturday’s first round of eliminations, taking the win to set up a can’t-miss matchup against Ryan Horan on Sunday — a true barn burner between two of the class’s top stars.
In Nostalgia Top Fuel, Tyler Hilton rocketed to the top of the field with a strong 5.669 at 258.10 mph, setting the tone for what promises to be a wild Sunday showdown among the nitro rails.
The Fuel Altereds added their own brand of unpredictable excitement. Greg Leahy muscled his short-wheelbase beast to the top spot with a 6.032 at 237.96 mph — proving once again why these fan favorites are the wildest rides in drag racing.
California Hot Rod Reunion glory and the coveted NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series titles were on the line Sunday when the event wrapped up with eliminations. Check back this week for an event recap and photos.
This story was originally published on October 27, 2025. 
