Harker ready to defend O'Reilly Summer National's title

Topeka, May 29, 2009: Australian Top Alcohol Funny Car driver, Steve Harker is geared up and ready to defend his National Event win from this event in 2008. Harker and his team are preparing to compete against nineteen other teams this weekend at the NHRA O'Reilly Summer Nationals to be held at Heartland Park Raceway.

Last year Harker defeated west coast competitor, Sean O'Bannon with an impressive 5.644 seconds run at over 256 mph. This was also a personal victory for Steve as he and wife, Jenelle celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary that Sunday of the event.

Harker and his team are also coming off a successful season start with two wins and a runner-up victory from their first three events. Harker is also the reigning South Central Division Four Top Alcohol Funny Car Champion and number two in the National Championship in 2008.

"We are looking forward to a competitive weekend" comments Harker "We got bitten by an electrical bug at our last event in Houston. We finally got the problem fixed and the car ran well but not enough to get us through round one. This weekend we are looking to keep the consistency going that we had at our first three events."

Qualifying for the Top Alcohol Funny Cars and Dragsters begins Friday at 11am and 2pm with final session on Saturday at 10am. Eliminations for the Top Alcohol category begin Saturday afternoon at 3.30pm following the Professional Cars qualifying session. Sunday will see the conclusion of Eliminations for all NHRA categories.