Kate Harker Belle Rose summary

Kate Harker takes small steps in Belle Rose

BELLE ROSE, La. - Aussie NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster driver Kate Harker made her second career appearance at this past weekends Division 4 Lucas Oils Drag Racing Series event held at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, La. across March 2-4. Harker showed steady improvement in the teams new Conway Automotive A/Fuel Dragster.

Harker and Conway qualified the dragster in 5th position with a best 5.439 seconds run at 261.19 mph behind new female competitor for Darien & Meadows, Lindsey Wood. Nine teams lined up to grab spots in the tight eight car field with Brandon Pierce taking the pole position with a pass of 5.271 seconds at 269.19 mph, proceeding defending division champion Spencer Massey's 5.267 second run at 263.72 mph and Morgan Lucas with a 5.319 second pass at 268.01 mph at the end of qualifying.

Harker fronted against Wood in first round of eliminations and gained a slight starting line advantage an 0.070 to 0.074 in reaction times but smoked the tires on the hit and was not able to recover handing Wood her first round win in Top Alcohol Dragster. Wood went on to defeat Darryl Hitchman in the next round of competition and Spencer Massey in the finals to take the event win in Top Alcohol Dragster.

"Its tough loosing first round two race events in a row, but I am happy with our performance" comments Kate " We are still learning this car, it has an all new engine combination, the chassis has a new back half and the race car had not been down the race track in two years but Tom and I are confident that with a little more time we will have a firm handle on the tune-up."

"I would also like to thank the team for their hard work this weekend and for a great job getting the car turned around between runs." says Kate.

Harker has qualified at both rounds of the Division 4 series in a car originally built for the late Shelly Howard and is making performance and driving progress under the watchful eyes of team owner and crew chief Tom Conway. The pair aim to contend all rounds of the Division 4 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and ten National event in the 2007 season.

Kate's father, Steve scored a runner-up finish in Top Alcohol Funny Car loosing a close final round match up against Jay Payne's slightly quicker 5.602 seconds pass at 255.82 mph defeating Steve's 5.636 seconds at 257.04 mph run. Harker clicked off runs of 5.619 seconds in qualifying to take the top honors, and a 5.600 seconds and 5.557 seconds elapse times during eliminations.

The next race event for the father-daughter team will be in three weeks at the Division 4 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event in Memphis, Tennessee across March 23-25.

-credit: hm