Topeka: Lee Callaway preview

Callaway shooting for first win in Topeka

TOPEKA, Kan. - NHRA Federal Mogul Dragster pilot Lee Callaway hasn't exactly had the year he has hoped for this year. After updating his engine combination to the latest technology over the off season, he has stepped up with career best elapsed times in the 5.50's, but tireshake problems have caused a string of early round exits during eliminations. This weekend, at the Advance Auto Parts Nationals at Heartland Park, in Topeka, Kan., Callaway hopes to turn his fortunes around, and possibly pick up his first career win.

Callaway, who resides in Channelview, Texas, hopes to break his string of first round losses this weekend in Topeka. With veteran tuner David Scheelk, who tuned Tate Branch to last year's Division 4 Federal Mogul Funny Car Championship, in his corner, Callaway is confident of his chances.

"We really want to qualify good and go a couple of rounds," said Callaway. "We haven't made it past the first round this year, so hopefully we can get past that in Topeka. If we don't hurt anything and go a few rounds, it should be a good weekend."

Callaway also feels that if he can get a handle on his clutch set up, he might be able to get rid of his tireshake problems. He also feels that Topeka's well known racing surface should allow some good numbers this weekend.

"If we can run some mid to high 5.40's, we'll be real happy with that," Callaway stated. "The air is supposed to be pretty good this weekend, and if we can get it down the track without the tireshake, I think the car has it in it."

The Federal Mogul Dragsters have two qualifying sessions on Friday, with the third qualifying session and first round of eliminations following on Saturday. Final eliminations will conclude the event on Sunday. Stay tuned to SummitRacing.com's Drag Race Central for round by round updates of the racing action from Heartland Park.

Please visit Callaway's associate sponsor, AllStateRV.com</A>, the nation's leader in RV rentals.

-CR-