Topeka: Pre-race notes, schedule

WHAT: 17th annual O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals presented by Castrol GTX, the ninth of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Professional competitors in three categories earn points leading to 2005 NHRA POWERade championships.

Sportsman competitors in seven categories earn points leading to 2005 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series championships.

WHERE: Heartland Park Topeka, Topeka, Kan. From Kansas City, take the Kansas Turnpike (I-70) to the Topeka Boulevard exit and travel south to the track. From Wichita, take the Kansas Turnpike (I-335) to the Topeka Boulevard exit and travel south to the track.

WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, May 26-29.

PURSE: Cash and contingency awards of more than $1.9 million.

SCHEDULE:

THURSDAY, May 26
Sportsman qualifying and time trials, 10 a.m.

FRIDAY, May 27
Sportsman qualifying and eliminations begin at 9 a.m.
Sport Compact Qualifying Sessions at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, May 28
Sportsman qualifying and eliminations begin at 8 a.m.
Sport Compact Qualifying at 9:30 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at noon and 3 p.m.

SUNDAY, May 29
Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.

TICKETS: Tickets are available for the O'Reilly Summer Nationals. Call Heartland Park Topeka at 800-43-RACES (800-437-2237) for ticket information, or check online at hpt.com or tickets.com.

ON TV: ESPN2 will televise one hour of qualifying of the O'Reilly Summer Nationals at 8 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, May 28. ESPN2 will televise NHRA Today, a 30-minute weekly news magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, May 29. ESPN2 will televise three hours of final eliminations beginning at 8 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, May 29.

-nhra-