The trophy awarded to NHRA national event winners is nicknamed The Wally.
The trophy honors Wally Parks, who founded the National Hot Rod Association in 1951. It was introduced during the 1969 NHRA race season, giving national-event winners a distinctive prize linked directly to the organization’s history. The name refers to Parks, not to a racing maneuver or a particular venue.
The traditional trophy has antique-brass plating over a standard metal mixture and sits on a solid walnut base. It is about 18 inches tall and weighs roughly 12 pounds. Although fans often assume the statue depicts Parks, it is actually modeled on Top Gas racer Jack Jones, who posed for photographs used in its design.
The Wally is easy to confuse with other NHRA terminology. The Christmas Tree is the starting-light system, while The Gator is associated with the prestigious Gatornationals event and The Indy refers informally to the U.S. Nationals. Those names are not the standard nickname for the winner’s trophy. NHRA has also issued special versions in different colors or materials for commemorative seasons.