Words by Chris Graves  
Photos by Max Cackle Photography

Texas Raceway in Kennedale is known as the “Fastest Little Drag Strip in Texas” and for decades has been a headline facility hosting the area’s main drag racing attractions including the Texas Outlaw Pro Mods, Outlaw Fuel Altereds and much more. Each summer, on the first Friday of August, the staff at TXR puts together their largest single night event of the season which showcases a truly unique line up of drag racing machines in an all out, non-stop ambush of nitro fumes and header flames, the annual B.H.R.A. Nationals memorial event.
     
The B.H.R.A. (Bill Hielscher Racing Association) Nationals began in 2003 as a celebration of the life, achievements and memory of long time track owner and legendary drag racer Bill “Mr. Bardahl” Hielscher. Bill’s daughter, Cindi Hielscher McMillan, now owns and manages Texas Raceway and has no stops when putting together the event line-up that features everything a drag racing enthusiast could hope for. From jet dragsters and nostalgia funny cars to outlaw Pro Mods and fuel altereds, the fans and racers alike know the B.H.R.A. is an event that cannot be missed.

The “Gizzle Hopper” is the re-creation of the original AA Competition Coupe run by the Perrenot family from late 1960 through 1962. It has a 1958 430-ci Lincoln engine and a 1931 Bantam Coupe body.