The Wally
Encyclopedia
The Wally is the trophy awarded to winners of an NHRA national event. They have been handed out at national events starting with the 1969 NHRA race season. With an antique brass plating over a standard metal mix and a solid walnut base, the "Wally" (named after NHRA founder Wally Parks
) is 18 inches tall and weighs 12 pounds. Contrary to popular belief, the Wally trophy does not feature Parks himself, but is rather modeled after Top Gas racer Jack Jones.http://www.nhra.com/results/thewally.aspx
in 1951 in an effort to promote the sport of drag racing while keeping young people from racing on local roads. The first national event was held in 1955 in Grand Bend, Kansas on an abandoned air strip.http://www.nhra.net/2001/news/may/052401.html The first national event winner in the NHRA was 25-year-old Calvin Rice of Santa Ana, CA.http://www.nhra.net/50th/years.html?year=1955
In the June 30, 1995 issue of National Dragster, Jack Jones said, "Believe it or not, Wally Parks called me at my job and asked if I’d do him a favor, pose for pictures that would be used as models for the trophy." The Wally was modeled after the images taken of Jones during a photo shoot at Pomona Raceway
in California in 1969.http://www.northridge-montgomery.k12.oh.us/HallofFame/biography%20PDF/jones.pdf
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Driver
! National Event Wins
|-
| John Force
| 132
|-
| Warren Johnson
| 97
|-
| Frank Manzo
| 91
|-
| Bob Glidden*
| 85
|-
| Pat Austin
| 75
|-
| David Rampy
| 74
|-
| Dan Fletcher
| 70
|-
| Kenny Berstein*
| 69
|-
| Jeg Coughlin Jr.
| 66
|-
| Tony Schumacher
| 66
|-
| Greg Anderson
| 65
|-
| Larry Dixon
| 60
|-
| Joe Amato*
| 57
|-
| Bob Newberry*
| 50
|-
| Don Prudhomme*
| 49
|-
| Dave Schultz*
| 45
|-
| Edmond Richardson
| 44
|-
| Gary Scelzi*
| 43
|-
| Tony Pedregon
| 43
|-
| Angelle Sampey
| 41
|-
| Jeff Taylor
| 41
|-
| Jay Payne
| 39
|-
| Peter Biondo
| 39
|-
| Kurt Johnson
| 39
|-
| Cory McClenathan
| 38
|-}
* Denotes retired or inactive drivers
Wally Parks
Wallace Gordon Parks was instrumental in establishing drag racing as a legitimate amateur and professional motorsport. He was the Founder, President, and the Chairman of the Board of the National Hot Rod Association, better known as NHRA...
) is 18 inches tall and weighs 12 pounds. Contrary to popular belief, the Wally trophy does not feature Parks himself, but is rather modeled after Top Gas racer Jack Jones.http://www.nhra.com/results/thewally.aspx
Background
The NHRA was formed by Wally ParksWally Parks
Wallace Gordon Parks was instrumental in establishing drag racing as a legitimate amateur and professional motorsport. He was the Founder, President, and the Chairman of the Board of the National Hot Rod Association, better known as NHRA...
in 1951 in an effort to promote the sport of drag racing while keeping young people from racing on local roads. The first national event was held in 1955 in Grand Bend, Kansas on an abandoned air strip.http://www.nhra.net/2001/news/may/052401.html The first national event winner in the NHRA was 25-year-old Calvin Rice of Santa Ana, CA.http://www.nhra.net/50th/years.html?year=1955
In the June 30, 1995 issue of National Dragster, Jack Jones said, "Believe it or not, Wally Parks called me at my job and asked if I’d do him a favor, pose for pictures that would be used as models for the trophy." The Wally was modeled after the images taken of Jones during a photo shoot at Pomona Raceway
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, formerly known as Pomona Raceway, is a racing facility located in Pomona, California that features a quarter-mile dragstrip. The dragstrip is most famous for hosting the NHRA's Winternationals event since 1961, the traditional season opener, as well as the seasons last...
in California in 1969.http://www.northridge-montgomery.k12.oh.us/HallofFame/biography%20PDF/jones.pdf
Variations
Variations of the Wally exist for other special purposes. Some of which include the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Wally, a scaled down replica of the national event Wally. The NHRA National Dragster Challenge Wally, awarded to NHRA Summit Series E.T. Bracket racers, is the same size as the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Wally but with a pewter finish. Beginning in 1994, a full scale Wally with a square base was first awarded to NHRA Junior Drag Racing League national champions. A variety of special awards including plaques and glass etched trophies integrate the image of the Wally.Most Victories
The table below outlines the drivers with the most NHRA national event victories in professional and sportsman categories. (As of Dec 27, 2010){| class="wikitable"
|-
! Driver
! National Event Wins
|-
| John Force
John Force
John Harold Force is an NHRA drag racer, a 15-time Funny Car champion driver, and a 17-time champion car owner. Force owns and drives for John Force Racing. He is one of the most dominant drag racers in the sport with 133 career victories...
| 132
|-
| Warren Johnson
Warren Johnson
Warren Johnson is an NHRA drag racing driver. He is the driver with the most wins in pro stock with 97 career wins, earning himself the nickname The Professor of Pro Stock.-Career:...
| 97
|-
| Frank Manzo
| 91
|-
| Bob Glidden*
| 85
|-
| Pat Austin
| 75
|-
| David Rampy
| 74
|-
| Dan Fletcher
| 70
|-
| Kenny Berstein*
| 69
|-
| Jeg Coughlin Jr.
| 66
|-
| Tony Schumacher
| 66
|-
| Greg Anderson
| 65
|-
| Larry Dixon
| 60
|-
| Joe Amato*
| 57
|-
| Bob Newberry*
| 50
|-
| Don Prudhomme*
| 49
|-
| Dave Schultz*
| 45
|-
| Edmond Richardson
| 44
|-
| Gary Scelzi*
| 43
|-
| Tony Pedregon
| 43
|-
| Angelle Sampey
| 41
|-
| Jeff Taylor
| 41
|-
| Jay Payne
| 39
|-
| Peter Biondo
| 39
|-
| Kurt Johnson
| 39
|-
| Cory McClenathan
| 38
|-}