California Hot Rod Reunion at Bakersfield

Hodgson tops stellar FC field for first Famoso win; Dunlap breaks Bartone TF win streak

Words by Jeff Burk
Photos by Tim Marshall

The NHRA Hot Rod Heritage series finished its 2015 season at the legendary Southern California Auto Club Famoso drag racing facility Oct. 23-25. In addition to dozens of exhibition and cackle cars, fuel alts and index classes, the hardcore race fans in the CHRR saw 33 AA/FC and 13 T/FD racing for the Hot Rod Reunion title and a Wally trophy.

In Top Fuel the dominating Bartone Brothers team and tuner Steve Boggs had clinched the 2015 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series Top Fuel points championship and didn’t need to attend the race but came anyway to support the class.

Prior to this event the Funny Car title was still up for grabs. Second generation Funny Car shoe Steven Densham was able to outlast the competition to claim his first NHRA Hot Rod Heritage championship even though he didn’t win the race this year.

“It’s an amazing feeling and we have had a pretty good year all year long,” Steven Densham said. “We ended winning the championship and I’m super excited it happened.”

Steven (center) is the son of long time NHRA Funny Car team owner and driver Gary Densham, who is also the team owner of the CHRR championship-winning Funny Car team.