Tim Netherland of Columbia, Tenn., relaxes with his wife, Cindy, before his superstock race in a 1967 Buick at the Edelbrock Hot Rod Muscle Car Nationals at Beech Bend Park Saturday afternoon. The event continues today. Photo by Miranda Pederson

Thousands of racing fans broke out their NASCAR T-shirts and gear Saturday for the second annual Edelbrock Hot Rod Muscle Car Nationals at Beech Bend Park. The event, which began Friday and ends today, featured races, car show and swap meet, where race fans could buy and trade car parts. The event involved more than 200 racing cars that were participating in 11 different classes. Scott Sparrow, editor of Fastest Street Car Magazine, said the vehicles have a range of top speeds. The fastest class is the Denso pro street car that can reach speeds over 200 miles per hour, Sparrow said. The slowest car is the DTS nostalgia car that goes about 100 miles per hour. Its fast, its crazy, its exciting, but at the same time, cars are built to maintain safety, Sparrow said. Louisville resident Tom Eberhardt came to the event for the first time and said he was having a blast. I like to come to any car races they have at Beech Bend. Of all the things they have here today, I like drag racing the best, Eberhardt said. I used to drag race myself, so I like to come out and watch. Ron Williams and Jim Bannier drove more than two hours from Decatur, Ala., to see the event. I come to this event every year wouldnt miss it for the world, Williams said. I love watching them run. Bannier said he doesnt like to race because hes too old and its too expensive, but he loves to watch cars reach high speeds as they streak down the roadway. As dozens of muscle cars lined the crew pits, fans were nearly on the track behind the wire safety fence, viewing the race through binoculars. Jeff Green of Paris, Tenn., enjoyed a hamburger far from the racing. Ive been coming up here for the last 10 years or so. I love it so much, he said. Im just a big racing fan, especially the street racing cars. An estimated 17,000 to 18,000 people had been expected at the event this year, but far fewer attended due to the unpredictable weather. The event continues today.