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BIOGRAPHY
PETER CLIFFORD
NHRA Executive Vice President, General Manager
As executive vice president and general manager, Peter Clifford is
responsible for all NHRA-owned race track facilities. In addition,
he oversees Publications, Information Technology, National Event
Business, Ticketing, Customer Service and Human Resources. A
member of the NHRA Board of Directors, Clifford serves as NHRA’s
chief financial officer and is responsible for all fiscal functions
including management of the Accounting and Finance Departments.
During his tenure with NHRA, Clifford has been the driving force behind
the automation of all systems within the company, including those in the Information Technology
Department, Accounting and Competition. He also has streamlined the business relationship
between NHRA and its national event facilities.
Clifford played a major role in the development and execution of NHRA’s strategic plan, as well
as the organization’s current growth initiatives. Before being promoted to executive vice president
and general manager, Clifford held the title of senior vice president and chief financial officer. He
joined NHRA in March 1997.
Prior to joining NHRA, Clifford worked in finance and business planning with Hewlett-Packard, TNT
Express Worldwide, and Emcon.
Clifford received his bachelor’s degree in economics from University of California, Los Angeles and
holds a master’s of business administration in finance from the University of Southern California.
Clifford and his wife, Judy, have two children, Lauren and Brian.
GRAHAM LIGHT
NHRA Senior Vice President, Racing Operations
Graham Light, who became a member of the NHRA Board of
Directors in 2004, oversees competition and operations at all 24 NHRA
Mello Yello Drag Racing Series races. In addition, he oversees NHRA
Field Operations/Divisions, NHRA Technical Department supervises the
NHRA Safety Safari presented by AAA and serves as chairman of the
NHRA Competition Committee.
The Edmonton, Alberta, Canada native got his start in drag racing in
Competition Eliminator, in which he drove a C/Dragster and BB/Gas
dragster. In 1971, he moved to Top Fuel and was a consistent qualifier and posted a runner-up
finish at the 1977 NHRA Finals in Ontario, Calif. Driving the Bubble-Up Top Fuel dragster, he
finished ninth in the 1978 NHRA points standings.
From 1974 to 1982, Light owned and operated Edmonton International Speedway – a world-class
multi-use facility consisting of a drag strip, a 2.5-mile road course, a 1.5-mile road course, a
motocross track and a quarter-mile oval.
Light joined NHRA in 1984 to handle business development in an area that now comprises
NHRA Divisions 6 and 7. In 1986, Light took over as Division 7 director and was promoted to the
position of competition director in 1987. Later that year, he was promoted to vice president for
technical operations and in 1993 was elevated to his current position.
He was inducted into the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame in Toronto in 1996. He also serves
as president of the FIA Drag Racing Commission and is a director for the Automobile Competition
Committee of the United States (ACCUS), the American branch of the FIA worldwide racing organization.
Light and his wife, Faye, reside in Alta Loma, Calif.
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