NHRA: Topeka preview

• Jack Durbin
• MNI - Motorsport News International
• Tue Sep 10 21:59:39 EDT 1996

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: NHRA Communications (818) 914-4761

EVERY NHRA RECORD COULD FALL IN AUTUMN WEATHER AT TOPEKA

	TOPEKA, Kan. -- Hold your breath. It's time for the encore.

	It's probably safe to say that no race on the 1996 NHRA Winston 
Drag Racing Series schedule is as eagerly anticipated as the eighth 
annual, $1,473,750 Sears Craftsman Nationals, Sept. 26-29 at Heartland 
Park Topeka.

	Just the thought of the previous NHRA national event this season 
at Topeka, the Western Auto Nationals presented by Slick 50, makes 
almost any racer or fan shake their head in amazement. Consider these 
milestones:

	NHRA elapsed-time and speed national records were set in Top Fuel 
and Funny Car by big margins. The late Blaine Johnson set an elapsed-
time record of 4.592 seconds and Scott Kalitta a speed record of 315.67 
mph in Top Fuel. John Force set an elapsed-time record of 4.889 and Cruz 
Pedregon a speed record of 311.20 in Funny Car. All four records still 
stand in testimony to the incredible ability of the Heartland Park track 
to hold every bit of horsepower that crew chiefs can produce.


	There were 47 300-mph runs, 17 more than the previous NHRA record 
for 300-mph speeds at one national event.


	Joe Amato became the first Top Fuel driver in the 4.50-second 
range with a run of 4.595.

	The Top Fuel field was the quickest in NHRA history with Gordie 
Bonin No. 16 at 4.846.

	Force and Cruz Pedregon produced the quickest Funny Car race in 
NHRA history in their classic final, as Force ran 4.930 to beat 
Pedregon's 4.942. Force recorded a four-second pass on all eight of his 
runs at the event, an unprecedented feat in NHRA history.

	So it's easy to see why anticipation mounts about this event. But 
there's reason to believe that performance at this event could do more 
than match the milestones set in July. It could exceed them.

	The Western Auto Nationals was conducted primarily at night, but 
temperatures still hovered in the 80's. If cool, crisp, fall air 
descends upon the Midwest in late September, traction will be even 
better than in July.

	Plus there is much more at stake in this race, the 17th of 19 
events this season in the $27-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. 
The chase for NHRA Winston championships is tight in three of the four 
pro categories.

	Kenny Bernstein should be near or at the top of the NHRA Winston 
Top Fuel point standings at this event in the Budweiser King Dragster. 
Bernstein became the favorite for the championship after points leader 
Johnson died from injuries suffered in a qualifying crash at the U.S. 
Nationals earlier this month.

	Jim Yates is trying to hold off a desperate Warren Johnson in Pro 
Stock. Yates led Johnson by 129 points after 15 races this season in the 
McDonald's Pontiac Firebird, trying to dethrone Johnson for his first 
NHRA Winston championship. Johnson beat Yates in July at Topeka, and he 
must repeat that feat to stay in contention.

	The closest race is in Pro Stock Motorcycle, which makes its only 
stop at Topeka this season. Defending NHRA Winston champion John Myers 
led Dave Schultz by just two points after 15 races.

	There's also good reason to think that drivers who are out of 
points races will let it rip, keeping an eye on 1997. The big numbers 
possible at Heartland Park intimidate rivals and impress sponsors.

	--Schedule: Pro qualifying starts at 3 p.m. Sept. 27 and is 
followed by a night-qualifying session at 7 p.m. that evening. 
Qualifying ends with sessions at noon and 4 p.m. Sept. 28, with final 
eliminations starting at 11 a.m. Sept. 29. Sportsman competition starts 
at 9 a.m. Sept. 26.

	--Tickets: Tickets are available for the Sears Craftsman 
Nationals. Call (800) 43-RACES for ticket information. Tickets also can 
be purchased at Ticketmaster outlets.

	--On TV: The Nashville Network (TNN) will televise 60 minutes of 
live final-round competition from the Sears Craftsman Nationals at 5 
p.m. (CDT) Sept. 29.
-30-



Jack Durbin                                   indy500@freenet.tlh.fl.us
Motorsport News International                      jackd@motorsport.com
(Moderators for "rec.autos.sport.info")
Homepage          http://www.freenet.tlh.fl.us/users/indy500/index.html