NHRA Summit Racing Series - Race Notes from Heartland Park Topeka
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NHRA SUMMIT DRAG RACING SERIES - WEST CENTRAL DIVISION HEARTLAND PARK TOPEKA - RACE NOTES SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2002 DYKSTRA AND VOSS CAR AND MOTORCYCLE RACE OF CHAMPION WINNERS Topeka, Kan. - Delray Dykstra and Mike Voss earned wins Sunday morning after being victorious in the Race of Champions, a competition held in conjunction with the NHRA Summit Racing Series West Central Division Finals in Heartland Park Topeka. This race enlists the top car and motorcycle from each track, making them compete against each other to determine who the premier car and motorcycle racers are in the division. "I'm really happy to be here. I am so happy that I can't explain how I feel right now," exclaimed Dykstra. Representing Interstate Dragways, Dykstra took the win in the Car category after his opponent, Eric Anderson, lost on a breakout. Voss earned bragging rights in the Motorcycle class for the same reason, defeating Tracy Helmhold in the final. "I felt very lucky today," said Voss. "I had reaction time problems all morning because of the sun." Once a regular on the divisional event circuit, the Maplewood, Minn., resident has been making a slow and steady comeback into racing after severely breaking his arm three years ago. Voss raced exclusively at Brainerd Int'l Raceway this season, but should be a fixture next year in the NHRA Kerker Motorcycle Series. The following are final results in Car and Motorcycle from the Race of Champions at Heartland Park Topeka: CAR Delray Dykstra, Litchville, N.D., '73 Camaro, 10.924 seconds, 137.26 mph def. Eric Anderson, Eau Claire, Wis., '96 Racecraft, 8.086, 166.46 MOTORCYCLE Mike Voss, Maplewood, Minn., '00 Kawasaki, 9.039, 139.96 def. Tracy Helmhold, Morrison, Colo., '86 Kawasaki, 9.403, 131.52 TROXLER TAKES ON TOPEKA AT AGE 75 Topeka, Kan. - After racing a full season at Douglas Int'l Raceway, Bob Troxler, age 75, accumulated enough points to make the team and compete at the NHRA Summit Racing Series West Central Division Finals in Heartland Park Topeka. Troxler not only made the team, he qualified for it in overwhelming fashion as he is the current overall points leader at his track. This success earned the Lakewood, Colo., resident, an invitation to also compete this weekend in the Race of Champions, an exclusive competition featuring only the top driver and motorcyclist from each track. "I used to tell my racers, I'm pretty old, why don't you let me win," joked Troxler. "They got used to that excuse so it doesn't work anymore." Despite being a mechanic by trade, Troxler didn't begin his racing career until he was 69 years of age. It was not until fixing a racing engine for his son that Troxler decided to try what his son had been raving about for years. "I didn't understand the concept of going racing and putting all that money into it," said Troxler. "It turned out to be a lot of fun." A heart attack slowed him down earlier this year, but Troxler has not missed a race in Douglas all year, as he drives over three hours to compete at his beloved track. He's even received encouragement from his doctor to continue racing. Although Troxler was unable to reach the winner's circle this weekend in Topeka, look for him to continue racing and having fun at Douglas Int'l Raceway in Douglas, Wyo. "The sport has been great to me," said Troxler. "I don't know if there is anyone older than me that is racing, but if there is, god bless him." BRAINERD WINS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP Topeka, Kan. - Brainerd Int'l Raceway in Brainerd, Minn., earned the track championship after accumulating 51 points during Sunday's racing action. Rock Falls Raceway of Eau Claire, Wis., finished in second with 48 points, and Kansas City Int'l Raceway was third with 47. One point is awarded to each track per round win. Brainerd International Raceway; Brainerd, Minn. 51 Rock Falls Raceway; Eau Claire, Wis. 48 Kansas City International Raceway; Kansas City, Mo. 47 Tri-State Raceway; Earlville, Iowa 46 Interstate Dragways; Morehead, Minn. 39 Heartland Park Topeka; Topeka, Kan. 37 Nebraska Motorplex; Scribner, Neb. 37 Bandimere Speedway; Denver 32 Mid-America Dragway; Arkansas City, Kan. 27 Wichita International Raceway; Wichita, Kan. 27 S.R.C.A. Dragstrip; Great Bend, Kan. 24 Mid-America Raceways; Wentzville, Mo. 23 Kearney Raceway Park; Kearney, Neb. 21 Grove Creek Raceway; Grove City, Minn. 19 Pueblo Motorsports Park; Pueblo, Colo. 17 Douglas International Raceway; Douglas, Wyo. 15 Western Colorado Dragway; Grand Junction, Colo. 9 Julesburg Dragstrip; Julesburg, Colo. 5 -- 30 --