FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Meyer, Stidham win at Motorplex

ENNIS, Texas - Originally scheduled as the NHRA South Central Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series season opener in February, the O'Reilly Divisional crowned champions this weekend at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas.

In the Top Alcohol Dragster Final it was No. 1 vs. No. 2 with Randy Meyer out running Shelly Howard for the win. Meyer qualified No. 1 and ran a 5.457 second pass at 252.28 mph to Howard's 9.453, 73.62. Howard had trouble right off the start as her car dropped cylinders throughout the run.

This is Meyer's fourth win of the season picking up wins earlier this year in Englishtown, N.J.; Memphis, Tenn.; and Great Bend, Kan. The runner-up finish moves Howard up in points and closer to the division point's leader Ashley Force.

No. 1 matched up with No. 2 in the Top Alcohol Funny Car Final as well but this time it was the No.2 qualifier Jackie Stidham taking the win and increasing his points lead over Tate Branch. Stidham took the win by just 6/100ths of a second with a 5.915 second pass at 245.94 mph to Branch's 5.946, 220.48.

Stidham took out local racer Richard McClain of Lake Dallas, Texas, in his semi-final match-up. McClain qualified No. 3 with a run of 5.955, 243.19 mph.

Todd Paterson took home the Comp. Eliminator crown with a win over Craig Bourgeois. Paterson's run of 8.118 seconds on an 8.63 index held off Bourgeois' 7.191 on his 7.65 index.

In Super Stock, Larry Stewart of Clinton, Miss., beat fellow Mississippi, racer Elisha Boyd in his '67 Nova while Jimmy Hidalgo Jr. held off Tommy Phillips of Forney, Texas, in the Stock Final. The 16-year old Hidalgo, from Donaldsonville, La., used a holeshot to capture his first NHRA win.

Damon Dabbs won over Billy Torrence in Super Comp, Super Gas racer Robert Greener knocked off Shannon Brinkley in one of the closest finals of the event, and Ernest Salter III beat Mike Craine Sr. in Super Street.

In the Kerker Motorcycle class, Alan Jordan put his '86 Suzuki in the winner's circle taking out Houston rider Delbert Ready with a 10.471 second lap.

The Sunset Racing Engines Top Sportsman win went to Phillip Muse of Tomball, Texas over T.J. Tracey of Bartlett, Tenn. Muse crossed the finishline in 7.497 seconds to Tracey's 8.057.

The South Central Division racers head back to State Capitol Raceway for the next NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event, Aug. 13-14. The original event scheduled for May 21-23 was postponed because of rain.

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
ROUND ONE
6) Karl Brounkowski, Magnolia, Texas, 5.848, 244.38 def. 
9) Larry Traugott, Woodward, Okla., foul

4) James Copeland II, Red Oak, Texas, 5.736, 250.18 def. 
3) Eric Morris, Madera, Calif., 5.882, 245.94

1) Randy Meyer, Spring Hill, Kan., 5.558, 250.32 def. 
7) Tim Rudy, Mason, Ohio, 9.768, 91.77

2) Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.504, 256.60 def. 
5) Lee Callaway, Channelview, Texas, 5.736, 250.00

SEMIFINALS
Meyer, 5.417, 251.81 def. Brounkowski, 5.688, 243.63
Howard, 5.457, 260.01 def. Copeland II, 5.695, 249.86

FINALS
Meyer, 5.457, 252.28 def. Howard, 9.453, 73.62

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR

ROUND ONE
1) Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., '03 Camaro, 5.846, 249.86 was unopposed

2) Jackie Stidham, Chickasha, Okla., '00 Camaro, 5.930, 239.23 def. 
7) Steve Burck, Corpus Christi, Texas, '98 Avenger, 6.473, 222.58

5) Jimmy Jones, Cleburne, Texas, '99 Camaro, 6.020, 243.63 def. 
4) Eddie McDow, Waco, Texas, '00 Camaro, 6.103, 237.13

3) Richard McClain, Lake Dallas, Texas, '02 Trans Am, 6.085, 226.01 def. 
6) Ron Morrison, Oklahoma City, '97 Camaro, foul

SEMIFINALS
Branch, 5.849, 249.81 def. Jones, foul
Stidham, 5.866, 244.25 def. McClain, 6.497, 179.83

FINALS
Stidham, 5.915, 245.94 def. Branch, 5.946, 220.48

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
Todd Patterson, Augusta, Kan., '33 Dodge, A/SR, 8.118, 162.96 def. 
Craig Bourgeois, Metarie, La., dragster, A/ND, 7.191, 186.33

SUPER STOCK
Larry Stewart Jr., Clinton, Miss., '67 Nova, SS/HA, 10.108, 127.13 def. 
Elisha Boyd, Sumrall, Miss., '69 Camaro, SS/HA, 10.149, 127.76

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Jimmy Hidalgo Jr, Donaldsonville, La., '98 Camaro, C/FIA, 11.389, 116.16  def. 
Tommy Phillips, Forney, Texas, '00 Camaro, B/FIA, 10.777, 119.24

SUPER COMP
Damon Dabbs, Garland, Texas, dragster, 8.889, 170.28 def. 
Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, dragster, 8.884, 180.40

SUPER GAS
Robert Greener, Jenks, Okla., '02 Cavalier, 9.903, 152.23 def. 
Shannon Brinkley, Highlands, Texas, '02 Corvette, 9.907, 148.49

SUPER STREET
Ernest Salter III, Baytown, Texas, '67 Camaro, 10.908, 147.86 def. 
Mike Craine Sr, Owasso, Okla., '68 Camaro, 10.915, 140.56

TOP SPORTSMAN
Phillip Muse, Tomball, Texas, '97 Trans Am, 7.497, 184.17 def. 
T. J. Tracey, Bartlett, Tenn., '63 Corvette, foul

KERKER MOTORCYCLE
Alan Jordan, Ridgeland, Miss., '86 Suzuki, 10.471, 125.79  def. 
Delbert Ready, Houston, Texas, '82 Kawasaki, 9.659, 135.91

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Meyer and Branch on top at Motorplex

ENNIS, Texas - Randy Meyer and Tate Branch lead their fields after the first rounds of qualifying for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series O'Reilly Divisional at Texas Motorplex. Meyer, of Spring Hill, Kan., clocked in at 5.357 seconds, 255.86 mph to lead the Top Alcohol Dragster class.

Meyer, looking for his fourth win on the season, is followed by Tulsa, Okla., racer Shelly Howard who is currently second in points in the South Central Division. Howard, who won last month in Denver, laid down a lap of 5.440 seconds at 253.09 mph.

Branch is in a battle with Jackie Stidham for the division championship in Top Alcohol Funny Car with Branch trailing Stidham by just 20 points. Branch who has a win and two runner-up finishes this year, took the early pole with a run of 5.852 seconds at 249.30 mph. Stidham, who grabbed wins at the last two Lucas Oil events, sits in second with a 5.857 second, 248.75 mph run.

A handful of Texans are leading the Comp. Eliminator field with Mt. Belvieu, Texas, racer Raymond Martin on top with a run of 7.910 seconds, 0.580 under the index. Martin is followed by Rodger Brogdon of Tomball, Texas with an 8.153 second run, 0.507 under and a pair of Hempstead, Texas, racers rounding out the top five with Colt Mikel in the No.4 spot and Richard Self in fifth.

Buz Post jumped to the top of Super Stock in his Grand Am with a 7.209 second pass, 0.441 seconds under the index. Post is followed by Brent Johnson in the No. 2 spot with a 10.654 second pass.

Stock racer Amy Faulk of Collierville, Tenn., ran a 10.996 second pass followed by 3-time Lucas Oil National Champion Kevin Helms of Mineola, Texas. Greg Lair of Canyon, Texas leads the Sunset Racing Engines Top Sportsman at 7.128 seconds, 195.62 mph and Jerry Pomilla is on top in Kerker Motorcycle with a perfect reaction time on his '86 Suzuki.

Racing continues Saturday at 8 a.m. Gates open at 7 a.m. Tickets are $20. For more information, call Texas Motorplex, (972) 878-2641

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series O'Reilly Auto Parts Divisional event at Texas Motorplex:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1) Randy Meyer, Spring Hill, Kan., 5.357 seconds, 255.68 mph
2) Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.440, 253.09
3) Eric Morris, Madera, Calif., 5.636, 254.95
4) James Copeland II, Red Oak, Texas, 5.688, 251.81
5) Lee Callaway, Channelview, Texas, 5.691, 250.92
6) Karl Brounkowski, Magnolia, Texas, 5.714, 242.02
7) Tim Rudy, Mason, Ohio, 5.771, 262.28
8) Gene Snow, Fort Worth, Texas, 5.833, 217.00 

Not Qualified
9) Larry Traugott, Woodward, Okla., 5.949, 189.34
10) Glen Woosley, Freeport, Texas, 6.068, 224.10
11) Carl Magee, Victoria, Texas, 6.167, 211.89
12) Troy Kaiser, Littleton, Colo., 6.410, 228.65
13) Brandon Pierce, Glendora, Calif., 6.814, 196.02
14) Vitali Kazakevich, Houston, 7.867, 138.02

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1) Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., '03 Camaro, 5.852 seconds, 249.30 mph
2) Jackie Stidham, Chickasha, Okla., '00 Camaro, 5.857, 248.75
3) Richard McClain, Lake Dallas, Texas, '02 Trans Am, 5.955, 243.19
4) Eddie McDow, Waco, Texas, '00 Camaro, 6.049, 236.34
5) Jimmy Jones, Cleburne, Texas, '99 Camaro, 6.125, 219.94
6) Ron Morrison, Oklahoma City, '97 Camaro, 6.337, 226.28
7) Steve Burck, Corpus Christi, Texas, '98 Avenger, 6.350, 234.82
8) Burl Brown, Gainesville, Texas, '98 Avenger, 6.787, 154.30 

Not Qualified
9) Mike Bell, Ocean View, Hawaii, '00 Firebird, (no time)

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
1) Raymond Martin, Mt Belvieu, Texas, '32 Bantam, K/AA, 7.910 seconds, -0.580 (under index)
2) Rodger Brogdon, Tomball, Texas, '04 Cavalier, A/SMA, 8.153, -0.507
3) Ian Landies Jr, Chardon, Ohio, '02 Cavalier, F/A, 8.280, -0.500
4) Colt Mikel, Hempstead, Texas, '02 S-10, B/TA, 8.544, -0.476
5) Brian Self, Hempstead, Texas, '02 S-10, PST, 7.628, -0.462
6) Richard Freeman, Pauls Valley, Okla., '02 Cavalier, E/AA, 8.008, -0.442
7) Craig Bourgeois, Metarie, La., dragster, A/ND, 7.209, -0.441
8) Bill Gibbs, Lufkin, Texas, '95 Daytona, L/A, 9.309, -0.441
9) Greg Porter Jr., Edmund, Okla., '00 S-10, PST, 7.649, -0.441
10) Sean Dodd, Double Oak, Texas, '02 S-10, PSTA, 7.831, -0.439

SUPER STOCK
1) Buz Post, Arlington, Texas, '04 Grand Am, SS/AM, 8.430 seconds, -1.120 (under index)
2) Brent Johnson, Lecompte, La., '91 Calais, GT/JA, 10.654, -0.946
3) Jeff Hefler, Mansfield, Texas, '98 Grand Am, SS/BM, 8.757, -0.943
4) Tony Cowell, Weatherford, Texas, '81 Camaro, GT/JA, 10.754, -0.846
5) Pete Peery, Bowie, Texas, '91 Calais, GT/CA, 9.891, -0.809
6) Gary Stinnett, Emporia, Kan., '92 Camaro, GT/AA, 9.592, -0.808
7) John Clegg, Victoria, Texas, '73 Firebird, SS/AM, 8.773, -0.777
8) Korey Mawhee, Frisco, Texas, '95 Achieva, GT/DA, 10.027, -0.773
9) Gilbert Johnson Jr, Lecompte, La., '91 Calais, GT/JA, 10.834, -0.766
10) Terry Emmons, League City, Texas, '96 Firebird, SS/JA, 10.548, -0.752

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1) Amy Faulk, Collierville, Tenn., '01 Firebird, C/FIA, 10.996 seconds, -1.004 (under index)
2) Kevin Helms, Mineola, Texas, '69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.603, -0.947
3) Tommy Phillips, Forney, Texas, '00 Camaro, B/FIA, 10.776, -0.924
4) R.J. Sledge, Boerne, Texas, '67 Fairlane, E/SA, 11.078, -0.922
5) Jimmy Hidalgo, Donaldsonville, La., '98 Camaro, C/FIA, 11.102, -0.898
6) Mike Cotten, Broken Arrow, Okla., '73 Duster, H/SA, 11.552, -0.898
7) Justin Cardwell, Ruston, La., '90 Camaro, E/FIA, 11.709, -0.891
8) Bob Sharp, Haslet, Texas, '69 Camaro, A/S, 10.380, -0.870
9) Jim Hale, Van Buren, Ark., '70 Challenger, B/SA, 10.689, -0.861
10) Paula Cotten, Broken Arrow, Okla., '73 Duster, H/SA, 11.611, -0.839

TOP SPORTSMAN
1) Greg Lair, Canyon, Texas, '03 Grand Am, 7.128 seconds, 195.62 mph
2) Keith Raftery, Lake Charles, La., '03 Firebird, 7.296, 190.35
3) Allen Firestone, Velma, Okla., '00 S-10, 7.323, 184.45
4) Phillip Muse, Tomball, Texas, '97 Trans Am, 7.366, 187.83
5) Kyle Cannon, West Helena, Ark., '03 Cavalier, 7.396, 186.87
6) Bert Prejean, St. Amant, La., '00 Firebird, 7.428, 186.20
7) T. J. Tracey, Bartlett, Tenn., '63 Corvette, 7.476, 186.77
8) Keith Sasich, Highland Village, Texas, '00 Firebird, 7.494, 180.81
9) Scott Randall, Carrollton, Texas, '00 Firebird, 7.528, 183.64
10) Joseph Mohana, Bourg, La., '93 Firebird, 7.612, 178.71

KERKER MOTORCYCLE
1) Jerry Pomilla, Conroe, Texas, '86 Suzuki, KMC, 0.000 seconds reaction time
2) Eddie Glaze, Houston, Texas, '90 Suzuki, KMC, 0.000
3) J. J. Hughes, Colony, Texas, '00 Suzuki, KMC, 0.001
4) David Reeves, Atascosa, Texas, '81 Kawasaki, KMC, 0.002
5) Alan Jordan, Ridgeland, Miss., '86 Suzuki, KMC, 0.005
6) Chris LeBouf, Lafayette, La., '85 Suzuki, KMC, 0.006
7) Henry Keele, San Antonio, Texas, '82 Kawasaki, KMC, 0.007
8) Rich Gentili, Humble, Texas, '83 Suzuki, KMC, 0.007
9) Robert Cooper, Plattsmouth, Neb., '89 Suzuki, KMC, 0.011
10) Shane Eperjesi, Lake Dallas, Texas, '88 Suzuki, KMC, 0.011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

After early season rainout racers return to Motorplex

ENNIS, Texas - Texas Motorplex will host the fourth of seven NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events in NHRA's South Central Division July 30-31. The O'Reilly divisional was originally scheduled for April but was washed out by torrential rains. Competitors in eight classes including Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car will vie for a share of the $155,520 purse as well as points leading to national and divisional championships.

The division's Kerker Motorcycle Series and Sunset Racing Engines Top Sportsman Series will be run in conjunction with the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event.

Even in this enlightened age, one doesn't often lead stories about big-time drag racers with a list of points leaders headed by names like Ashley and Shelly. But that's the situation in NHRA's South Central Division, which makes its way back into the Dallas area Friday and Saturday, July 30-31, at the Texas Motorplex. Ashley Force, daughter of Funny Car superstar John Force, and defending South Central Division Champion Shelly Howard lead the list in the 260-mph Top Alcohol Dragster class.

Originally scheduled as the season opener, the O'Reilly NHRA Divisional will now be the fourth stop on the 2004 NHRA South Central Lucas Oil Series campaign, after being postponed by rain in April. Racers in Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD), Top Alcohol Funny Car (TAFC), Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street will start the battle for divisional championships. The Kerker Motorcycle Series and Sunset Racecraft Top Sportsman Series will also compete in conjunction with the event.

Force, from Yorba Linda, Calif., took the South Central Division points lead when she bested James Copeland II at Cherokee County Motorsports Park last month in Rusk, Texas, earning her first ever Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series win. The previous two 2004 victories in the South Central Lucas action went to Bill Reichert, the North Central Division standout from Michigan, and Randy Meyer who races in the West Central Division from his home base in Kansas.

The race car driven by Force is owned by Jerry Darien and Ken Meadows and is generally considered to be the unofficial training ground for pro drivers. Former Darien & Meadows team drivers include Gary Scelzi, Frank Pedregon, Melanie Troxel and Brandon Bernstein.

Force competed in Super Comp for the two years prior to her taking over the Darien car. Darien is a former auto-shop teacher and Alcohol Dragster driver himself. It would figure that if young Force listens to Darien's lessons and does her homework she should perform as well as his other protégés.

The division's 2003 TAD Champion, Howard, a registered nurse from Tulsa, Okla., made three final-round appearances last year, scoring two wins. She won last year's season-opener at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas, and again at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, La. For Howard, it marked her second division title in three years. But thus far in 2004, with the majority of the winner's points heading out of division with the victorious invaders Reichert and Meyer, she has managed a No. 2 ranking in the division points even though she has not made it to a final round.

In Top Alcohol Funny Car action, Chickasha, Okla., racer Jackie Stidham has notched two wins already this year and is hoping to cinch up the title belt for the division with another at Ennis. No. 2 on the TAFC points list is Tate Branch, who earned his third South Central Division Championship in 2003. The Artesia, N.M., racer won two races and was runner-up at two more, beating Stidham out of the crown by four points. So far in 2004 it has been Stidham and Branch in all three of the division's finals. Stidham has won two of them. For 2004, Branch and his crew have teamed up with car owners George and Jane Etterman. The Ettermans traditionally run their car out of NHRA's North Central Division but headed south this season so the team could run on Branch's home turf.

Gates at Texas Motorplex open at 8 a.m. Friday and 7 a.m. Saturday. Qualifying and time trials begin Friday at 10 a.m. with Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying scheduled at 5 and 8 p.m. Qualifying continues Saturday at 10 a.m. Top Sportsman, Comp Eliminator, Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car racers will get one final qualifying attempt at 10 a.m.. Saturday's eliminations begin at 10 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car began eliminations at 5 p.m.

Tickets, including pit pass, are $15 Friday, $20 Saturday. Children 6 to 15 are $10 both days. Kids 5 and under are admitted free.

Texas Motorplex is located on Highway 287, two miles west of Ennis, Texas, between Interstates 35 and 45. For more information call the track, (972) 878-2641, or visit the web site at www.TexasMotorplex.com.

The fifth race on the South Central Division's 2004 schedule is at State Capitol Dragway, outside of Baton Rouge, La., Aug., 13-15. Like the O'Reilly NHRA Division in Ennis, the Baton Rouge event was postponed by rain from its original dates in May.

WHERE: Texas Motorplex, Ennis, Texas. Track is located on Hwy. 287, two miles west of Ennis, between Interstates 35 and 45. From Dallas, take I-45 to Hwy. 287 West to the track, or take I-35E to Hwy. 287 East to the track. From Fort Worth, take Hwy. 287 east to Waxahachie toward the track.

WHEN: Friday and Saturday, July 30-31, 2004

SCHEDULE: Time trials, qualifying and racing schedule for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series:

FRIDAY, July 30 -- Gates open at 8 a.m. Qualifying and time trials begin at 10 a.m. Top Sportsman, Comp Eliminator, Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying sessions are scheduled at 5 and 8 p.m.

SATURDAY, July 31 -- Gates open at 7 a.m. Time Trials at 8 a.m. Final qualifying for Top Sportsman, Comp Eliminator, Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car is scheduled for 10 a.m. Final Eliminations will follow Time Trials. First round of Eliminations for Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car are scheduled for 5 p.m.

TICKETS: GENERAL ADMISSION/PIT PASS -- $15 Friday, $20 Saturday. Children, 6 to 15, are $10 each day. Kids 5 and under are admitted free. For more information please call Texas Motorplex, (972) 878-2641.

PURSE: The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors will vie for cash and contingency awards of $155,895, part of the 46-race, $6.5 million series.

2004 EVENT WINNERS: Alan Bradshaw, Top Alcohol Dragster; Jay Payne, Top Alcohol Funny Car; Scott Benham, Comp Eliminator; Gary Stinnett, Super Stock; Mike Cotton, Stock Eliminator; Bryan Anderson, Super Comp; Paul Harris, Super Gas; Bobby Shaddox, Super Street

BONUS PROGRAMS:
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES POINTS FUND -- a $561,000 point fund from Lucas Oil, which will be shared by 2004 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional champions and national champions. Divisional awards include $8,500 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions; $3,000 to the champions in both Competition and Super Stock; $2,000 each to the champions in Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The seven national champions will share a bonus of $135,000.

SEALED POWER LOW QUALIFIER BONUS -- a $109,000 overall bonus fund from Federal-Mogul's Sealed Power brand to the low qualifiers at each of the 46 Lucas Oil events: $1,000 each in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car; $200 each in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock; and $100 in Stock. (TAD and TAFC compete at 43 of 46 divisional events.)

JEG'S ALLSTARS: The best of the best from each of NHRA's seven divisions will compete for a share of the $100,000 point fund from Jeg's High Performance. The 2004 Jeg's Allstars event will culminate a year-long points battle between drivers in each of NHRA's Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series' eight classes. The top points earner in each category will qualify to represent his/her division at the 2004 Jeg's Allstars. Points are based on in-division races only.

The winning division's team will share $20,000 and individual awards include $7,000 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions, $6,000 to champions in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock, and $4,500 to the Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street champions. Runners-up in all categories will earn $2,000 apiece. Each Allstars competitor will also receive a share of a $20,000 towing fund to get to the event.

This year, event sponsor, Jeg's High Performance, has offered a "double up" bonus to Allstars competitors. Winners in each individual class who go on to win the national event will have their Allstars prize money doubled.

NHRA KERKER MOTORCYCLE SERIES: Run in conjunction with the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the NHRA Kerker Motorcycle Series is an opportunity for competitors in NHRA's Sportsman Motorcycle class to earn points toward divisional championships. The $8,800 champions' purse posted by Kerker will be paid to first, second and third place points finishers in NHRA divisions that host Sportsman Motorcycles.

The top four riders from each division in the NHRA Kerker Motorcycle Series will be invited to compete in the NHRA Kerker King of the Coast competition. In 2004, the All-Star invitational will be run in November during the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas. The rider who is crowned the Kerker King of the Coast will earn $2,000. The runner-up in the 16-bike field will receive $1,000.

Currently, Sportsman Motorcycles are run in NHRA's South Central, West Central, Northwest and Pacific divisions.

SUNSET RACING ENGINES TOP SPORTSMAN SERIES: Run in conjunction with the Lucas Oil Series, competitors in the Top Sportsman class are vying for division championships. The top points finisher will earn a year-end bonus of $1,000 and the runner-up will get $500. Top Sportsman racers may run the seven South Central Division Lucas Oil events as well as three Lucas Oil Series races in either the Southeast or North Central Divisions.

FEATURES: More than 450 drivers in the eight racing categories. Eight-car fields in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car, featuring five-second, 260 mph side-by-side racing.