Topeka: Keith Stark preview

Spitzer Coach Works Racing
Spitzer Racecars/ Keith Stark Racing

Stark shooting for four win-lights in Topeka.

TOPEKA, Kan. - NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster driver Keith Stark will be shooting for his first win of the year during this weekend's O'Reilly Summer Nationals presented by Castrol at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kan. After winning two national events last year, one of those being the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indy, the most prestigious event in drag racing, Stark is hungry for victory this year.

Stark, from Danville, Ill., has had an up and down season. After running strong at several events early in the year, the team stumbled somewhat at last weekend's Division 3 event in Indy. This weekend, Stark hopes to level out the season 'on the high side' in his A/Fuel Dragster.

"We're trying a few things," said Stark. "Hopefully, we'll get it all sorted out. We think we found what the problem we had last weekend was, so we're hoping to run pretty good here. It's definitely time to put a few win-lights in a row together."

With relatively hot conditions forecasted for this weekend, Stark feels it take 5.4 second elapsed times to get the job done.

"I would be really surprised to see anyone run in the .30's this weekend," stated Stark. "I would say it's going to be a 5.40 deal. I checked the air (corrected altitude) earlier today, and it was 3200 ft., so it's not very good. If we can get a high pressure system in here, it will help to cool it off quite a bit, so we'll just see what happens and how it does."

Qualifying begins on Friday with two sessions, followed by one final session Saturday morning. Eliminations will start Saturday afternoon with round one, and final eliminations will conclude the event on Sunday. Stay tuned to InsideTopAlcohol.com for the latest news in alcohol racing.

-ksr-