The Squad from HPT Takes Home the Team Championship                      

TOPEKA, Kan. -- The legend of the home field advantage helped Team Heartland Park Topeka today as the group from the home track won a tight battle for the team title at the NHRA West Central Division Summit Racing Series Finals. This weekend, the best bracket racers from tracks around the division came to HPT to square off, fighting for team and individual honors.

It was a close fight between HPT and the squad from Tri-State Raceway in Earlville, Iowa. HPT scored a total of 52 points to Tri-State's 50.

Tom Williams of Leonardville, Kan., helped lead Team HTP to the championship with his win in Super Pro. In the final Williams ended up being unopposed as Dan Welch, Wichita, Kan., racing for Kansas Int'l Dragway, could not make the call. Welch had blown his motor in the shutdown area after the semis and could not get back for the final. Williams did not get a time in the last round because staged the car and took the green light without making a run.

Bagley, Minn., resident Todd Larson, racing for Interstate Dragways, scored the win in Pro. Larson wheeled his '78 Corvette to the win over Bob Ingman of Andover, Minn., who represented Brainerd Int'l Raceway. Ingman drove his '70 Cougar to the final.

SRCA Dragstrip racer Darrel Goheen of Hays, Kan., ousted Denver's Rick Schillereff in the Sportsman final. Goheen piloted his '67 Chevelle and Schillereff was behind the wheel of his '01 Camaro.

In the Motorcycle class, Michael Nichols, Knoxville, Iowa, racing for Eddyville Raceway Park, rode to the win, beating Tom Gilligan of Fremont, Neb. Gilligan was running for Kearney Raceway.

The division's High School champion is Kyle Tripp of Golden, Colo. The Bandimere Speedway racer defeated Jaron Miller of Chase, Kan., who was representing SRCA Dragstrip.

William, Larson, Goheen and Nichols will have the opportunity to race for a national championship at the NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif., in November. The winners in each of the top four classes face off against the winners from NHRA's other six divisions. The winner in each category comes away with the title and the winner-take-all $5,000 payday.

Following are the NHRA West Central Division Summit Racing Series Finals champions:

Tom Williams, Leonardville, Kan., Heartland Park Topeka, dragster, took the green light def.

Dan Welch, Wichita, Kan., Kansas Int'l Dragway, dragster, broke

Todd Larson, Bagley, Minn., Interstate Dragways, '78 Corvette, 11.150, 119.06 def.

Bob Ingman, Andover, Minn., Brainerd Int'l Raceway, '70 Cougar, 10.665, 124.57

Darrel Goheen, Hays, Kan., SRCA Dragstrip, '67 Chevelle, 12.350, 107.25 def.

Rick Schillereff, Denver, Colo., Bandimere Speedway, '01 Camaro, 12.608, 105.25

Michael Nichols, Knoxville, Iowa, Eddyville Raceway Park, dragster, 9.614, 130.32 def.

Tom Gilligan, Fremont, Neb., Kearney Raceway, '77 Kawasaki, 9.002, 142.96

                Photo courtesy of Barry Bergeron, Eagle Eye Photography

Kyle Tripp, Golden, Colo., Bandimere Speedway, dragster, 11.352, 117.65 def.

Jaron Miller, Chase, Kan., SRCA Dragstrip, '70 El Camino, foul

Anthony Layne, Cordova Dragway Park, Cool Valley, Ill., 00 dragster, 7.480 179.52 def

Jerry Deitz, Cedar Rapid, Iowa, Tri-State Raceway, 27 ford, 8.43. 160.19 (foul)

Shane Boney, Belview, Minn., Grove Creek Raceway, 94 S10, 9.400, 133.51 def.

Troy Ross, Emporia,Kans., Heartland Park Topeka, 69 Nova, 9.950, 124.57

Justin Rosenbohm, LeClaire, Iowa, Cordova Dragway Park, 87 Corvette, 14.610, 75.98 def.

Tim Larson, Littleton, Colo., Bandimere Speedway, 57 Chevrolet, 12.150, 104.19

Steve Klemme, Taylor Ridge, Ill., Eddyville Raceway Park, 73 Kaw, 9.310, 137.19def.

Tom Klemme, Davenport, Iowa, Cordova Dragway Park, 77 Kaw, 8.659, 149.56

Best Appearing          

Super Pro – Scott Wright, Albertville, Minn., Grove Creek Raceway