Hot Wheels ‘77 Plymouth Arrow Funny Car at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 2017 | Source: James Zahn/The Toy Book

Two iconic brands with a storied history together are teaming up once more.

Mattel and NHRA inked a new licensing deal to develop a collection of Hot Wheels die-cast vehicles set for release in June. The new collection will include die-cast hot rods, including a 1974 Chevrolet Vega Pro Stock car and a 1971 Ford Mustang Funny Car that kids, collectors, and NHRA enthusiasts can use to host drag races on the iconic Hot Wheels orange track at home.

Source: NHRA

“Hot Wheels has a long history of working with NHRA teams since our early days with Snake and Mongoose, over 50 years ago,” says Roberto Stanichi, senior vice president and global head of Hot Wheels at Mattel. “We’re honored to once again roll into the staging lanes, watch the tree light up and ignite the Hot Wheels challenger spirit in NHRA fans of all ages.”

Over the years, NHRA and Mattel have partnered to offer a wide assortment Hot Wheels vehicles and playsets steeped in the culture of drag racing. In the 1970s, the companies even teamed up in the real world as Mattel stepped in to sponsor the NHRA Hot Wheels Supernationals for a few years.

“The partnership between NHRA and Mattel is a perfect match,” says Jeffrey Young, NHRA VP of marketing and communications. “NHRA is excited to work with Mattel to bring new products to new NHRA fans across the globe.”

Related: ‘Hot Wheels Unleashed’ Races onto Video Game Consoles this Summer

Over the past few years, Hot Wheels has continued to grow into a lifestyle brand embraced by kids and families of all ages. Similarly, the NHRA licensing program continues to expand through toys and collectibles, houseware, home decor, automotive products, and more.

The 2021 Hot Wheels x NHRA collection will be revealed in the months ahead.

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.

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