“Thanks to NHRA, my father was able to make a career out of drag racing and the motorsports parts industry. When I was presented with the opportunity to give back not just to NHRA, but to the Sportsman Racers who are the backbone of the sport, I jumped at the opportunity. Over 50 years ago, Buddy Martin of Sox & Martin fame gave my father the opportunity to showcase his driving and tuning skills for the number one team in drag racing. I can’t think of a better way to show my appreciation than lending my support to this unique event, which will now become the Sox & Martin HEMI Challenge presented by the McCandless Collection. Since this is also the 60th anniversary of the 426 HEMI, an engine that totally changed drag racing, we felt this was another great reason to take over this event,” said Mike McCandless, founder and CEO of The McCandless Collection and youngest son of iconic Mopar drag racer Herb McCandless.
The Sox & Martin NHRA HEMI Challenge presented by the McCandless Collection is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 30 at Indianapolis Raceway Park during the running of the 70th annual NHRA US Nationals. The Sox & Martin HEMI Challenge presented by the McCandless Collection is open to all NHRA SS/AH competitors and will require one Grade Point from a Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event or National Open before entering the NHRA US Nationals to compete in the HEMI Challenge. All SS/AH racers are encouraged to submit their event entry before Friday, Aug. 23.
“The HEMI Challenge has always been a huge part of the U.S. Nationals weekend, and to add Sox & Martin and the McCandless Collection to this great event will make the HEMI Challenge even more special,” NHRA Vice President and Chief Development Officer Brad Gerber said. “Those are iconic names in our sport and have been such incredible ambassadors for the HEMI and Mopar brands, which makes them a perfect fit for an event like the HEMI Challenge. We’re thrilled to have Sox & Martin and the McCandless Collection be a part of the biggest weekend in drag racing, and we can’t wait to see all these terrific cars compete in the HEMI Challenge.”
To purchase tickets to the 70th annual NHRA U.S. Nationals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult. For more information about NHRA, including the full 2024 schedule, visit www.NHRA.com.
***
About Sox & Martin
Sox & Martin is known far and wide as one of the most legendary teams in the history of drag racing. With the precise, Superman-like driving skills of Ronnie Sox, and the marketing and business acumen of Buddy Martin that brought new sponsors into the sport, drag racing was forever changed. From spotless race cars, matching team uniforms, and an overall professional clean image, Sox & Martin raised the bar. In 1967, Sox & Martin, along with their primary sponsor at the time, Chrysler’s Plymouth Division, initiated the revolutionary Supercar Clinic program at dealerships across the country. It showcased Plymouth’s latest muscle cars, Mopar and aftermarket performance parts, and driving tips that encouraged young enthusiasts to race at NHRA sanctioned drag strips. Sox & Martin were also instrumental in the creation of NHRA’s Pro Stock class in 1970 and went on to become multi-time world champions. Ronnie Sox passed away in 2006, but Buddy Martin is still active in the Mopar community and enjoys the opportunity to attend enthusiast events.
Sox & Martin is a registered trademark of the McCandless Collection
About the McCandless Collection
The McCandless Collection was founded by Mike McCandless in honor of his father, Herb McCandless. Known as “Mr. 4 Speed,” Herb McCandless blazed a trail across the country racing his HEMI-Powered machines in the 1960s before being hired by the legendary Sox & Martin racing team in 1970. The McCandless family’s passion for racing was passed down through the generations, and now numerous classic cars, as well as many other examples of vintage automotive memorabilia are on display at this museum located in Burlington, North Carolina. The McCandless Collection is also the culmination of Mike McCandless’s passion for all things Mopar and his love of Chrysler’s 1955-1961 “Forward Look” era. The vision of the McCandless Collection is to properly preserve, restore, and share the history associated with these rare Mopar artifacts.
The McCandless Collection is a Nonprofit 501-C3 |