March Meet and Famoso Dragstrip Etched in American Hot Rod History
Wed, 11 Feb 2026, 11:36 AM ~ Courtesy of Elon Werner, Werner Communications

When Famoso Dragstrip opened in 1954 the converted POSO airstrip was a place for hot rodders to flex their tuning skills and for racers to establish bragging rights. No one knew five years later that the track nicknamed “The Patch” would start one of the of most storied races in drag racing and motorsports history. In 1959 the first Smokers March Meet was contested and over the next nearly 70 years every significant racer or crew chief in drag racing history etched their name into the history books at Famoso Dragstrip. The track has held true to ¼ mile drag racing and burning nitro. When the use of nitro was banned in 1957 due to safety concerns regarding extreme engine explosions and high speeds, Famoso Dragstrip continued to push the envelope of speed and performance ignoring the ban which ended in 1964.

More >>>