Bracket, Junior Heartland Park pre-race notes

HPT BRACKET, JUNIOR SERIES, NHRA NATIONAL OPEN SET FOR THIS WEEKEND

TOPEKA, Kan. (July 21, 2005) - In addition to the fourth and fifth rounds of the Heartland Park Topeka elapsed time (E.T.) bracket drag race series, the fastest quarter-mile in the Midwest will also host the NHRA West Central Division Wyoming Ethanol National Open Series this Saturday and Sunday, July 23 and 24.

The National Open Series features racers in five NHRA sportsman categories, including Super Gas, Super Comp, Stock/Super Stock, Super Street, and Top Comp. Participants in the Heartland Park E.T. Bracket Series can also race in the National Open, and NHRA national event entry grade points can be earned by taking part in the National Open.

The Heartland Park Junior Drag Race Series Presented by Sunoco Race Fuels will also compete this weekend, with round four scheduled for Friday night, July 22, and round five to take place Saturday morning, July 23.

The weekend's schedule begins at 6 p.m. Friday with qualifying for the junior series. Following two time-trials, competitors in three categories (ages 8-9, 10-12, and 13-17) will begin the first round of eliminations. Spectator pricing is $10 for adults or $1 for children ages 12 and under. Gates open at 5 p.m. for Friday's racing.

Round five of the junior series is Saturday morning at 9 a.m. Gates open for the public at 8 a.m.

Heartland Park Topeka has five racing classes scheduled during the eight E.T. bracket races this year. Local and regional drivers will compete in the NAPA Super Pro Class, The Diamond House Pro E.T. Class, The Muffler Shop Sportsman Class, the CPA1040 Small Business Solutions Trophy Class, and The Mortgage Specialist Motorcycle Class. Drivers will be vying for nearly $7,000 in class payouts on Saturday, and another $7,000 on Sunday in the bracket series.

Spectator admission for Saturday and Sunday is $10 per day for adults or $1 per day for children ages 12 and under.

Participants in the E.T. series will earn points toward the Heartland Park season championship, and will also accumulate points toward earning a spot on the Heartland Park E.T. Finals team. The NHRA Division V E.T. Finals will be held at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minn. in September.

Additional bracket drag race series events in 2005 include August 13 and 14, and the season finale on October 15.

Heartland Park Topeka, a multi-purpose racing facility located in Topeka, Kan. annually hosts NHRA POWERade drag racing, Championship OFF-Road Racing (CORR), and the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) in addition to many other events throughout the race season.

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