Wally Parks 1913-2007

Truly a sad day in NHRA history and racing history as th efounder of the NHRA has passed on. It was his vision to get street racing off the streets and onto a controlled and safe environment on race tracks with safety crews and rules and regulations that has turned the NHRA into what it is today. The following is from the NHRA website:

NHRA founder Wally Parks, 1913-2007;
patriarch of drag racing dies at age 94
Wally Parks, the driving force behind the formation of NHRA, has died at the age of 94. It was Parks’ vision, goals and unconditional commitment to the need for speed and side-by-side racing in a safer, more controlled environment that created what is today the world's largest motorsports governing body.

"Today is a sad day in the world of NHRA and the sport of drag racing," said Tom Compton, president of NHRA. "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."