Lee Callaway Topeka final notes

Callaway & Conway score first win together

TOPEKA, Kan. - Although both racers have been champions with their own teams, the newly formed duo of driver Lee Callaway and owner/tuner Tom Conway scored their first victory together during this past weekend's NHRA Division 5 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kan. The win moves Callaway and the Skull Shine backed team into second place in Division 4 standings.

Callaway, from Baytown, Texas, qualified the Conway tuned A/Fueler second in the field with a 5.484 second elapsed time at 265.22 mph. In round one, he defeated Ed Schmeckle with a 5.518 at 259.66 mph, then took out Skull Shine teammate "Dyno" Dave Heitzman with a 5.459 at 263.26 mph.

Callaway's final round opponent would be defending Division 5 Champion Randy Meyer, who was racing at his home track. The race was over quickly, as Meyer redlighted, handing the win to Callaway, who streaked to victory with a 5.436 at 259.66 mph.

"We haven't quite ran the way we'd like to in the heat, but we started to turn that around a bit this weekend," said Callaway. "Tom made some changes on Saturday, and the car really responded well. After two runner-ups, it feels good to get our first win."

The win was also an emotional one for Callaway. Just two weeks prior, while racing in Brainerd, Minn., Callaway learned of one of his former crewmembers and closest childhood friends, Kenny Ruthart, had been killed in a work related accident.

"I had my mind set to go out and win one for 'Mini Me," stated Callaway. "Kenny was like a brother to me growing up, so it felt really good to go win one for him."

The win moved Callaway to second in Division 4 standings behind Spencer Massey. With three races left to claim on his points, Callaway can tie Massey with another event win.

There will be little time to enjoy the victory, as the event was the first of a nine race swing that will give the team only one weekend off. Next week, the team heads to the biggest race of them all, the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis. Conway won the event last year as a car owner and has one U.S. Nationals victory as a driver.

-credit: cm