Division V drags on tap at Topeka venue

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Aug 21, 2008

The National Hot Rod Association Heartland Division V Championships, a round of the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, will be held Friday and Saturday at Heartland Park Topeka.

Competitors this weekend will earn points leading to divisional and national championships, and more than 450 drivers are expected to compete in the division's eight racing categories.

Categories include Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car divisions will reach speeds of 260 miles per hour.

The event is the fifth of six in West Central Division (Division V) competition. The division's Top Sportsman Series, Ethanol Top Dragster Series and the Sportsman Motorcycle Series will also run this weekend.

Qualifying and time trials begin at9 a.m. Friday, with Comp Eliminator qualifying at 4 and 7 p.m. and Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying sessions at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Final qualifying and time trials are scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday. The Comp Eliminator class qualifies at 11 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualify at 11:30 a.m.

Eliminations begin at noon Saturday, with Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car running the first round of eliminations at 6 p.m.

Gates will open at 7 a.m. both Friday and Saturday. General admission tickets are $15 per day. Two-day passes are $25. Children 2 to 12 will be admitted for $5 each day.

Last year's champions in the Division V event included Shawn Cowie in Top Alcohol Dragster, Cy Chesterman in Top Alcohol Funny Car, Thomas Schmidt in Comp Eliminator, Justin Jenkins in Super Stock, Emporia's Gary Stinnett in Stock Eliminator, Bob Fuller in Super Comp, Sheldon Gecker in Super Gas and Brandon Kanan in Super Street.