Later this summer, after more than three decades of faithful service to NHRA and its members, Southeast Division Director Bill Holt will lock the office door in Gainesville for the final time as he takes a well-deserved retirement. Known for his easygoing demeanor, hearty laugh, and ability to display grace under pressure, Holt's upbringing in rural Tennessee and his love of all things mechanical made him a natural fit as the division director for NHRA's southern states, and his retirement leaves a void that won't easily be filled.

As a division director and a respected member of several of NHRA's competition committees, Holt helped shape the face of NHRA Drag Racing, particularly among Super Stock and Stock competitors, who have always been nearest and dearest to his heart. Long before he became an official - first as the tech inspector at his home track, Music City Raceway, and later as the Division 2 tech director - Holt was first and foremost a racer, so he understands how the game is played as well as anyone. How many people own a special-edition silver Wally from the 25th annual U.S. Nationals? Holt has one, thanks to his former racing partner, Don Wolff, who shifted the venerable Welker, Mabry, Holt & Wolff Super Stock Chevy II wagon to a win at one of NHRA's most memorable events. The team also claimed victories in Columbus, Ohio, and Gainesville.

During my first few years working for NHRA, Bill and I shared the Southeast Division office in Gainesville, and we often talked about all things drag racing. Inevitably, the conversations involved ideas to help grow and improve the sport. Bill and I also racked up a lot of highway miles, traveling to events all over the South.

One of our most memorable trips came in March 1993 at the Atlanta Dragway Lucas Oil Series event. Early on, we knew we were headed for trouble because The Weather Channel was calling for blizzard-like conditions with as much as a foot of snow possible for the metro Atlanta area. Years later, it still seems like a bad joke. Snow in Atlanta? In March? Sure enough, by the time we awoke Friday morning, the white stuff was coming down in buckets, and there was seemingly no end in sight. Bill quickly postponed the event and encouraged the racers to get on the road quickly before the highways became impassable. It was just one of many tough but ultimately correct decisions he had to make during his tenure. Driving home, Bill guided us through the back roads of Georgia, which, by then, were littered with hundreds of stranded motorists. Looking back, it is amazing that we didn't get stuck or freeze to death.

Speaking of freezing to death, Holt's inauguration as the Southeast Division director also provided one of the more memorable moments of his career. During his first champions' banquet, former Top Fuel great Art Malone, who was then the operator of the tracks in St. Petersburg, Fla., and Bradenton, Fla., welcomed Holt by dunking him in the frigid waters of the hotel swimming pool, threepiece suit and all. Malone and former Division Director Lex Dudas also ended up taking an unplanned dip in the icy waters.

During the ensuing years, Holt developed a strong bond with many of the track operators in his division, including veterans Malone; the late Dick Moroso; Carl Weisinger of Orlando Speed World Dragway; Ed Swearingen of Silver Dollar Raceway; George Howard, who has owned and operated multiple tracks in the division; and Rick and Charlotte Gonzales, who manage Music City Raceway.

"I won't miss some of the long hours on the road and the rainouts, but I will certainly miss the many great people I have met along the way," said Holt. "I have a great relationship with a lot of the racers, sponsors, and track operators in this division, and I value that more than anything. I will also miss my crew a lot. Most of them have been with me for a long time; some of them were here before me, and they are a special group. They say that you are only as good as the people you surround yourself with, and I've been fortunate enough to be surrounded by some good ones over the years. I don't think there is enough room for me to thank all the people who have helped me during my career here. I may be retiring, but I'm not about to ride off into the sunset. I don't make a good spectator, but I'm sure I'll still show my face at a few races here and there. I could never walk away completely."

The job of an NHRA division director is both challenging and rewarding. Each of NHRA's seven DDs lives within his geographic region, allowing close contact with racers and track operators. Despite the geographic advantages, division directors also spend many nights away from home, traveling to and from Lucas Oil Series races, Summit Racing Series events, National Opens, and other NHRA-related functions, such as banquets and track-operator meetings. There are also days when DDs are forced to make difficult decisions. True to his beliefs, Holt never shied away from making any calls, even the tough ones. He could be firm if he felt the situation dictated it, but he is also compassionate and had a keen sense of fair play, working diligently to accommodate the best interests of the racers, track operators, and NHRA.

The search is under way for Bill's replacement, and it is a good thing that he isn't retiring for several months because it might well take that long to find someone who is wellsuited to become the next caretaker of the Southeast Division. Whoever is the next DD, he or she must possess many of the same qualities that Bill brought to the job, and that won't be easy to find.

Author affiliation:

kmckenna@nhra.com