NHRA SUMMIT RACING SERIES DIVISION FINALS STORMS THROUGH TOPEKA

NHRA SUMMIT DRAG RACING SERIES - WEST CENTRAL DIVISION
HEARTLAND PARK TOPEKA
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2002



Topeka, Kan. - The top racers from eighteen of NHRA's West Central Division tracks raced down Heartland Park Topeka's quarter-mile during the opening day of time trials at the NHRA Summit Racing Series West Central Division Finals.  
Over five hundred racers will be competing this weekend to earn an event win in one of nine racing categories, Super Pro, Pro E.T., Sportsman, Pro Bike, High School, Jr. Dragster (8-9), Jr. Dragster (10-12), and Jr. Dragster (13-17), while earning points for their respective track towards a team championship.  
Individual champions in Super Pro, Pro E.T., Sportsman, and Pro Bike will also be invited to compete against event winners from the other six divisions for the NHRA Summit Racing Series National Championship later this year.  The event will be held in November at the NHRA Automobile Club of Southern California Finals at Pomona Raceway in Calif.  
"It was an honor just to represent the division," said 2001 Super Pro National Champion, Mike Wibleshouser.  "The most memorable moment of my racing career."
Last year, the division lived up to its nickname "High & Mighty", as two of the four national champions called the West Central Division home.  Both Wibleshouser in Super Pro and Tim Pazour in Pro Bike, will be in competition here this weekend in hopes of making a return visit to Pomona.
 "There's so many good riders in this division, it will be tough," said Pazour.  "They're very good and have been for a very long time."
Racing will begin tomorrow at 8 a.m., with the Race of Champions, a race featuring the top driver and motorcyclist from each track beginning at 1 p.m.  For more information, call Heartland Park Topeka at (800) 437-2237.  

The following is a list of tracks that are competing at the NHRA Summit Racing Series West Central Division Finals:

Bandimere Speedway; Denver
Brainerd International Raceway; Brainerd, Minn.
Douglas International Raceway; Douglas, Wyo.
Grove Creek Raceway; Grove City, Minn.
Heartland Park Topeka; Topeka, Kan.
Interstate Dragways; Morehead, Minn.
Julesburg Dragstrip; Julesburg, Colo.
Kansas City International Raceway; Kansas City, Mo.
Kearney Raceway Park; Kearney, Neb.
Mid-America Dragway; Arkansas City, Kan.
Mid-America Raceways; Wentzville, Mo.
Nebraska Motorplex; Scribner, Neb.
Pueblo Motorsports Park; Pueblo, Colo.
Rock Falls Raceway; Eau Claire, Wis.
S.R.C.A. Dragstrip; Great Bend, Kan.
Tri-State Raceway; Earlville, Iowa
Western Colorado Dragway; Grand Junction, Colo.
Wichita International Raceway; Wichita, Kan.