NHRA Summit Racing Series Finals - Saturday Results from Heartland Park Topeka
NHRA SUMMIT RACING SERIES - WEST CENTRAL DIVISION HEARTLAND PARK TOPEKA SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2004 Summit Finals Race of Champions winners crowned at Heartland Park TOPEKA, Kan. - NHRA's West Central Division wrapped up it's second day of racing at the Summit Racing Series Finals by completing time trials and crowning it's first winners of the weekend, Craig Johnson and Tom Gilligan, who emerged victorious in their respective Race of Champions categories on Saturday afternoon. In the Car category, Interstate Dragway representative, Johnson drove his '64 Chevelle to victory when he defeated 1991 and 2003 Race of Champions winner Steve Roehrs, representing Rock Falls Raceway. In the final round bout, both drivers had nearly perfect reaction times, with the slight advantage going to Johnson, who was able to hold off Roehrs for the win. The final in the Motorcycle category came down to a true race of champions with defending West Central Division NHRA Kerker Motorcycle Series champ, Gilligan of Fremont, Neb., facing off again reining Summit Racing Series National Champion Brian Johnson of Burns Township, Minn. Johnson and Gilligan are very familiar with one another having raced head-to-head several times in the Kerker Motorcycle Series. With the coveted Race of Champions title on the line, the race between the rivals was sure to be a close one. At the starting line the advantage went to Team Nebraska Motorplex representative Gilligan, which was enough to narrowly hold of Grove Creek Raceway's, Johnson. Tomorrow, the individual championships in Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman and Motorcycle/Snowmobile will be crowned. Those winners qualify for the NHRA Summit Racing Series National Finals, in November held during the NHRA Finals at Pomona Raceway. In Pomona, the West Central Division champs will join champions from NHRA's six other geographic regions to compete for national championships. Last year a pair of West Central Division racers, Lane Weber of Longmont, Colo., and Brian Johnson Burns Township, Minn., claimed the Summit Racing Series National Championship titles in Super Pro and Motorcycle. Gates will open Sunday at 7 a.m., with eliminations set to begin at 8 a.m. For more information call Heartland Park Topeka at (800) 43-RACES or visit them on the web at www.HPT.com. The following are Saturday's final results from the NHRA West Central Division Race of Champions held in conjunction with the Summit Racing Series Finals at Heartland Park Topeka: CAR Craig Johnson, Hope, N.D., '64 Chevelle, .002 reaction time, 10.86 dial-in, 10.872 seconds def. Steve Roehrs, Grantsburg, Wis., .82 Camaro, .005, 11.60, 11.614 MOTORCYCLE Tom Gilligan, Fremont, Neb., .020 reaction time, 9.44 dial in, 9.458 seconds def. Brian Johnson, Burns Township, Minn., .037, 9.23, 9.239