Heat from Beech Bends quarter mile track distorts racers as they make their way towards the finsih line during racing action at Beech Bend Racerway Park Saturday afternoon. (Photo by Paul Conrad)

Buick drivers and enthusiasts converged on Southcentral Kentucky Saturday, the final day of the Buick GS Nationals at Beech Bend Raceway Park. This years event featured the largest turnout in several classes in what has become the largest Buick event in the world. In all, there were about 1,000 participants in five categories. Competitors were placed in one of five brackets based on speed. We come out to watch every year, David Matthews of Scottsville said. We missed it last year when it was held somewhere else. The competition moved to Columbus, Ohio, in 1999 only to move back to Bowling Green. Aside from 1999, the Buick GS Nationals has been a mainstay in Bowling Green since 1984. The event will return to Beech Bend once again next year. Participants at this years event voted to have next years event in Bowling Green during the second week of June. Spectators witnessed some of the fastest turbo classes ever. Buddy Cox of Salisbury, Md., raced his 1987 Grand National to a top speed of 165.46 in the Super Turbo class Saturday morning. I hope I can keep this up during elimination and into the bracket, Cox said. Races also featured Buicks looking for new homes, as they were for sale or trade by other Buick lovers. Ive thought about taking one of these babies home with me, Bill Givens of Toledo, Ohio, said. My brother has one and he let me drive it a couple of times. Spectators also witnessed a serious accident during early racing Saturday. A Skyhawk driven by David Haumel went over the wall, flipping numerous times. The car didnt survive the accident but the driver did, walking away with only a few bumps and bruises. Some of us become a fairly close-knit group after meeting here, said David Buschur of Wakeman, Ohio. Its scary to watch a fellow competitor wreck like that. Final results of Satrudays races were not available as of press time.