FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Schmeeckle earns his first victory of the year

Brainerd, Minn. - In the final results from Brainerd International Raceway, Top Alcohol Dragster driver Ed Schmeeckle and Top Alcohol Funny Car racer Jay Payne took home wins.

Gothenburg, Neb., resident Schmeeckle earned his first win of the season, despite competing in only his second NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional event this year. At his first race, Schmeeckle qualified ninth, making Sunday's eliminations as an alternate where he defeated Gary Ormsby Jr. of Granite Bay, Calif., in the first round.

This weekend, Schmeeckle faced Ormsby in the final, but took the win again with a 5.701-second, 234.27-mph run.

Payne, of Claremont, Calif., made a 5.839-second, 247.23-mph run in the final to defeat Kirk Williams and repeat as event winner at Brainerd International Raceway. With his fourth win of the season, Payne now moves into first place in the national point standings in Top Alcohol Funny Car.

Winners in other categories are Lucky Snyder of Longmont, Colo., in Comp; Mike Bogina of Olathe, Kan., in Super Stock; Gene Mosbek of Elk River, Minn., in Stock; Steve Swenson of Valley Springs, S.D., in Super Comp; Bill Cawsey of Regina, Sask., in Super Gas; and Mike Anderson of St. Joseph, Minn., in Super Street.

2001 West Central Division champion Brian Johnson of Ramsey, Minn., also took the win in NHRA Kerker Motorcycle Series competition, a racing series that is held in conjunction with the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

West Central Division competition of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will make its next stop in Denver, at Bandimere Speedway on June 21-23.

The following are final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Brainerd International Raceway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER 
Round 1 
1)  Gary Ormsby Jr., Granite Bay, Calif., 5.394 seconds, 209.24 mph vs. bye 

5)  Ed Schmeeckle, Gothenburg, Neb., 5.681, 245.82 def. 
2) Chris Ricketts, N. Kansas City, Mo., 5.852, 200.84 

3)  David Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 5.575, 252.49 def. 
4) Ziggy Zivkovich, Litchfield, Minn., 5.921, 242.20 

Semifinals 
Ormsby, 5.406, 237.96 def. Wells, 5.671, 248.81 
Schmeeckle, 5.659, 245.74 vs. bye 

Finals 
Schmeeckle, 5.701, 234.27 def. Ormsby, 6.068, 186.72 

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR 
Round 1 
1)  Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '01 Firebird, 6.000 seconds, 241.83 mph def. 
8) Kevin Richardson, Winnipeg, Man., '97 Firebird, 6.425, 228.61

2)  Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, '99 Pontiac, 5.888, 230.85 def. 
7) Gage Chaffee, Big Lake, Minn., '96 Cutlass, 6.318, 230.58

3)  Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.800, 245.86 def. 
6) Scott McVey, Winnipeg, Man., '97 Cutlass, 7.360, 139.29

4)  Kirk Williams, Glenwood, Iowa, '98 Pontiac, 5.931, 242.16 def. 
5) Hank Coolidge, Sunburst, Mont., '96 Firebird, 6.017, 240.17

Semifinals 
Williams, 5.932, 240.53 def. Moats, 5.901, 240.85 
Payne, 5.814, 247.21 def. Chesterman, 5.940, 239.38 

Finals 
Payne, 5.839, 247.23 def. Williams, 5.945, 243.04 

COMP ELIMINATOR 
Lucky Snyder, Longmont, Colo., '62 Sunbeam, F/A, 8.461 seconds, 159.42 mph def. 
Tom Schmidt, Lindstrom, Minn., '00 Grand Prix, C/EA, 8.569, 153.49

SUPER STOCK 
Mike Bogina, Olathe, Kan., '70 Barracuda, SS/EA, 10.051, 130.08 def. 
Scott Pearson, Stewartville, Minn., '70 AMX, SS/JA, 11.065, 113.28

STOCK ELIMINATOR 
Gene Mosbek, Elk River, Minn., '64 Plymouth, A/SA, 10.761, 110.26 def. 
Joe Demarais, Forest Lake, Minn., '72 Skylark, G/A, 11.670, 107.11

SUPER COMP 
Steve Swenson, Valley Springs, S.D., '98 HP Motor, 8.903, 167.25 def. 
Sheldon Gecker, Surprise, Ariz., '98 Yancer, 8.914, 160.72

SUPER GAS 
Bill Cawsey, Regina, Sask., '90 Probe, 9.914, 144.75 def. 
Gary Stinnett, Emporia, Kan., '61 Corvette, 9.896, 155.63 

SUPER STREET 
Mike Anderson, St. Joseph, Minn., '65 Nova, 10.892, 131.16 def. 
Chuck Lowery Jr., Wichita, Kan., '73 Camaro, 10.894, 128.84

NHRA KERKER MOTORCYCLE SERIES 
Brian Johnson, Ramsey, Minn., GS 1100, 9.319, 130.83 def. 
Ron Langowski, Winona, Minn., '81 Suzuki, 9.241, 131.57 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ormsby and Moats top qualifiers

Brainerd, Minn. - After the second and final day of qualifying at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series race at Brainerd International Raceway, Gary Ormsby Jr. in Top Alcohol Dragster and Vern Moats in Top Alcohol Funny Car earned top qualifier honors.

Ormsby, the son of late Gary Ormsby Sr., the 1989 Top Fuel Champion, made the quarter-mile run in 5.433 seconds at 235.75 mph to put him in the pole position.

Des Moines, Iowa, resident, Moats made a 5.813-second, 245.86 mph pass on his third and final qualifying run to put him at the top of his category. The last time Moats was the top qualifier going into eliminations on Sunday was June 24, 2000, at Bandimere Speedway in Denver.

Moats lost in the semifinals that year to Kirk Williams of Glenwood, Iowa, who is currently qualified fourth in the field. The two will coincidentally meet again in the semifinals, if both racers advance past the first round of competition.

Top qualifiers in other classes are Clint Sallee of Glendive, Mont., in Comp; Michael Mans of Rogers, Minn., in Super Stock; and Lance Line of Cromwell, Minn., in Stock.

Gates open tomorrow at 8 a.m., with eliminations scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Tickets are $25 for general admission. Children ages 7 to 12 are $12.50, and children 6 and under are admitted free. For more information, call Brainerd International Raceway at (218) 284-7220.

The following are final qualifying results and first round pairings in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Brainerd International Raceway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER 
1)   Gary Ormsby Jr., Granite Bay, Calif., 5.433 seconds, 235.75 mph 
2)   Chris Ricketts, N. Kansas City, Mo., 5.526, 239.56 
3)   David Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 5.662, 251.50 
4)   Ziggy Zivkovich, Litchfield, Minn., 5.679, 248.60 
5)   Ed Schmeeckle, Gothenburg, Neb., 5.736, 244.42 

Pairings 
1) Gary Ormsby Jr., Granite Bay, Calif., 5.433 seconds, 235.75 mph vs. bye 

2) Chris Ricketts, N. Kansas City, Mo., 5.526, 239.56 vs. 
5) Ed Schmeeckle, Gothenburg, Neb., 5.736, 244.42 

3) David Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 5.662, 251.50 vs.
4) Ziggy Zivkovich, Litchfield, Minn., 5.679, 248.60 

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR 
1)   Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '01 Firebird, 5.813 seconds, 245.86 mph 
2)   Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, '99 Pontiac, 5.830, 237.96 
3)   Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.833, 241.87 
4)   Kirk Williams, Glenwood, Iowa, '98 Pontiac, 5.898, 246.02 
5)   Hank Coolidge, Sunburst, Mont., '96 Firebird, 5.995, 245.86 
6)   Scott McVey, Winnipeg, Man., '97 Cutlass, 6.185, 222.86 
7)   Gage Chaffee, Big Lake, Minn., '96 Cutlass, 7.036, 171.20 
8)   Kevin Richardson, Winnipeg, Man., '97 Firebird, 7.216, 145.12 

Pairings 
1)   Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '01 Firebird, 5.813 seconds, 245.86 mph vs. 
8) Kevin Richardson, Winnipeg, Man., '97 Firebird, 7.216, 145.12

2)   Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, '99 Pontiac, 5.830, 237.96 vs. 
7) Gage Chaffee, Big Lake, Minn., '96 Cutlass, 7.036, 171.20

3)   Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.833, 241.87 vs. 
6) Scott McVey, Winnipeg, Man., '97 Cutlass, 6.185, 222.86

4)   Kirk Williams, Glenwood, Iowa, '98 Pontiac, 5.898, 246.02 vs. 
5) Hank Coolidge, Sunburst, Mont., '96 Firebird, 5.995, 245.86

COMP ELIMINATOR 
1)   Clint Sallee, Glendive, Mont., '01 Fritz, B/D, 6.873 seconds, -0.547 under index 
2)   Mike Nahan, Sartell, Minn., '02 Tuttle, E/D, 7.654, -0.546 
3)   Doug Engels, Watertown, S.D., '98 Spitzer, D/ED, 7.475, -0.535 
4)   Lou Ficco Jr., Wheatridge, Colo., '01 S-10, PST, 7.608, -0.512 
5)   Jeff Perrella, Hibbing, Minn., '01 Stevens, A/EA, 7.532, -0.498 
6)   Lucky Snyder, Longmont, Colo., '62 Sunbeam, F/A, 8.374, -0.496 
7)   Chad Brownlow, Rochester, Minn., '99 Fritz, C/ED, 7.514, -0.496 
8)   Tom Schmidt, Lindstrom, Minn., '00 Grand Prix, C/EA, 8.441, -0.489 
9)   Tom Snyder, Longmont, Colo., '23 Chevy, A/A, 6.807, -0.473 
10)  Bill Riemenapp, Lacrosse, Minn., '98 Pontiac, C/EA, 8.477, -0.453 

SUPER STOCK 
1)   Michael Mans, Rogers, Minn., '00 Firebird, GT/IA, 10.485 seconds, -1.015 under index 
2)   Randall Klein, Lincoln, Neb., '56 Nomad, SS/NA, 11.439, -1.011 
3)   Rick Ryan, Aberdeen, S.D., '88 Oldsmobile, SS/NA, 11.443, -1.007 
4)   Dan Larson, St. Paul, Minn., '85 Chevy, SS/KA, 10.584, -0.966 
5)   Ernie Penner, Osborne, Man., '99 Pontiac, GT/JA, 10.723, -0.927 
6)   Dennis Nelson, Hugo, Minn., '81 Chevy, GT/LA, 10.989, -0.861 
7)   Billy Ingels, Maryville, Mo., '74 Pontiac, SS/JA, 10.459, -0.841 
8)   Randy Hopkins, Cable, Wis., '68 Dart, SS/AA, 9.165, -0.835 
9)   Mike Bogina, Olathe, Kan., '70 Barracuda, SS/EA, 9.870, -0.780 
10)  Donald Aukrust, Brooklyn Center, Minn., '92 Camaro, GT/AA, 9.628, -0.772 

STOCK ELIMINATOR 
1)   Lance Line, Cromwell, Minn., '69 Mustang, B/SA, 10.338 seconds, -1.212 under index 
2)   John Reitmeier, Lumsden, Sask., '69 Camaro, G/SA, 11.256, -1.044 
3)   Steve Couch, Sidney, Neb., '00 Dodge, DT/SA, 11.963, -1.037 
4)   Travis Gusso, Sioux Falls, S.D., '89 Mustang, M/S, 12.193, -0.957 
5)   John Sien, Winnipeg, Man., '71 Camaro, G/SA, 11.345, -0.955 
6)   Bill Prince, Maple Grove, Minn., '87 Oldsmobile, K/SA, 12.027, -0.923 
7)   Dan Zrust, Maple Grove, Minn., '01 Camaro, E/SA, 11.092, -0.908 
8)   Bill Feist, Maple Grove, Minn., '69 Mustang, C/S, 10.758, -0.892 
9)   Craig Meseroll, Cloquet, Minn., '74 Dart, F/SA, 11.274, -0.876 
10)  Jack Briner, Waterloo, Iowa, '85 Camaro, I/SA, 11.731, -0.869

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

C&C on top after day one of racing

Brainerd, Minn. - Nearly 400 racers were in competition today at day one of time trials and qualifying at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series race at Brainerd International Raceway.

Chris Ricketts of Kansas City, Mo., is atop of the Top Alcohol Dragster class after a 5.526-second, 239.56-mph run while Sioux City, Iowa, resident Cy Chesterman is leading the field in Top Alcohol Funny Car after his 5.830-second, 237.96-mph pass.

This weekend will feature the clash of 2001 division champions in Top Alcohol Funny Car competition as Chesterman and Jay Payne of Claremont, Calif., battle for the win at Brainerd. Chesterman is the West Central Division champion, while Payne represents the Southeast Division. Payne has one national and seven divisional championships overall.

Top qualifiers in other classes are Clint Sallee of Glendive, Mont., in Comp; Randall Klein of Lincoln, Neb., in Super Stock; and Lawrence Line of Cromwell, Minn., in Stock.

Spectator gates open tomorrow at 8 a.m., with day two of time trials and qualifying starting at 9 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying is scheduled for 1 and 4 p.m. General admission with pit pass is $20. Children ages 7 to 12 is half price, and children six and under are admitted free. For more information, call Brainerd International Raceway at (218) 284-7220.

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series race at Brainerd International Raceway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER 
1)  Chris Ricketts, Kansas City, Mo., 5.526 seconds, 239.56 mph 
2)  David Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 5.666, 250.00 
3)  Ziggy Zivkovich, Litchfield, Minn., 5.932, 230.69 
4)  Gary Ormsby Jr., Auburn, Calif., 8.198, 106.05 

Not Qualified 
5) Ed Schmeeckle, Gothenburg, Neb., DQ 

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR 
1)  Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, '99 Pontiac, 5.830 seconds, 237.96 mph 
2)  Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.833, 241.87 
3)  Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '01 Firebird, 5.993, 245.11 
4)  Hank Coolidge, Sunburst, Mont., '96 Firebird, 5.995, 245.86 
5)  Scott McVey, Winnipeg, Man., '97 Cutlass, 6.348, 223.90 
6)  Gage Chaffee, Big Lake, Minn., '97 Cutlass, 7.036, 171.20 

Not Qualified 
7) Kirk Williams, Glenwood, Iowa, '98 Pontiac, DQ 

COMP ELIMINATOR 
1)  Clint Sallee, Glendive, Mont., '01 Fritz, B/D, 6.873 seconds, -0.547 under index 
2)  Mike Nahan, Sartell, Minn., '02 Tuttle, E/D, 7.654, -0.546 
3)  Doug Engels, Watertown, S.D., '98 Spitzer, D/ED, 7.495, -0.515 
4)  Lou Ficco, Wheatridge, Colo., '01 S-10, PST, 7.608, -0.512 
5)  Jeff Perrella, Hibbing, Minn., '01 Stevens, A/EA, 7.532, -0.498 
6)  Lucky Snyder, Longmont, Colo., '62 Sunbeam, F/A, 8.374, -0.496 
7)  Chad Brownlow, Rochester, Minn., '99 Fritz, C/ED, 7.514, -0.496 
8)  Bill Riemenapp, Lacrosse, Wis., '98 Firebird, C/EA, 8.477, -0.453 
9)  Tom Snyder, Longmont, Colo., '23 Chevy, A/A, 6.844, -0.436 
10) Ricky Ray, Savannah, Mo., '98 Pontiac, E/SMA, 9.021, -0.399 

SUPER STOCK 
1)  Randall Klein, Lincoln, Neb., '56 Nomad, SS/NA, 11.476 seconds, -0.974 under index 
2)  Dan Larson, St. Paul, Minn., '85 Camaro, SS/KA, 10.653, -0.897 
3)  Billy Ingels, Maryville, Mo., '94 Pontiac, SS/JA, 10.459, -0.841 
4)  Randy Hopkins, Cable, Wis., '68 Dart, SS/AA, 9.171, -0.829 
5)  Dennis Nelson, Hugo, Minn., '80 Malibu, GT/LA, 11.027, -0.823 
6)  Donald Aukrust, Brooklyn Center, Minn., '92 Camaro, GT/AA, 9.628, -0.772 
7)  Abe Loewen, Regina, Sask., '98 Grand Am, SS/DM, 9.453, -0.747 
8)  Kandra Weber, Boulder, Colo., '88 Oldsmobile, SS/MA, 11.487, -0.663 
9)  Phil Collins, Independence, Mo., '87 Dodge, SS/EA, 9.998, -0.662 
10) Douglas Jonak, Zimmerman, Minn., '55 Chevy, SS/PA, 12.316, -0.634 

STOCK ELIMINATOR 
1)  Lawrence Line, Cromwell, Minn., '69 Mustang, B/SA, 10.406 seconds, -1.144 under index 
2)  Steve Couch, Sidney, Neb., '00 Dakota, DT/SA, 11.976, -1.024 
3)  Travis Gusso, Sioux Falls, S.D., '89 Mustang, M/S, 12.253, -0.897 
4)  Bill Feist, Maple Grove, Minn., '69 Mustang, C/S, 10.758, -0.892 
5)  Bill Prince, Maple Grove, Minn., '87 Oldsmobile, K/SA, 12.071, -0.879 
6)  Craig Meseroll, Cloquet, Minn., '74 Dart, F/SA, 11.283, -0.867 
7)  Jon Wacholtz, Austin, Minn., '72 Pontiac, F/SA, 11.338, -0.812 
8)  John Reitmeier, Lumsden, Sask., '69 Camaro, G/SA, 11.497, -0.803 
9)  Caney Picht, Oakdale, Minn., '72 Buick, G/SA, 11.500, -0.800 
10) Brian Schultz, Braham, Minn., '71 Duster, E/SA, 11.225, -0.775

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BIR hosts NHRA West Central Division

BRAINERD, Minn. - NHRA's West Central Division continues its 2002 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series June 7-9 at Brainerd Int'l Raceway. The event will feature more than 400 drivers in eight racing categories including 260-mph Top Alcohol Dragsters and Top Alcohol Funny Cars.

TAD driver Gary Ormsby Jr. of Sacramento, Calif., is new to the division this season following brief stints driving in the class in the Pacific and Northwest divisions. He is currently leading the points but has yet to make it to a final round this season, though he was the No. 1 qualifier at an out-of-division race in Dallas in April. Ormsby is the son of the late Gary Ormsby Sr., the 1989 Top Fuel champion. Defending TAD division champion David Wells is just eight points behind Ormsby after a runner-up finish at the division's season-opener in Topeka, Kan. Wells, of Lemars, Iowa, won this event last year and typically runs well here.

There is also no clear force in the TAFC class since a driver from the South Central Division won the first race. Cy Chesterman, the 2001 champion from Sioux City, Iowa, was runner-up in Topeka. Tom Frickenschmidt, a 19-year-old driver from Lockwood, Mo., is leading the TAFC points and veteran racer Vern Moats, who has a record 15 division titles to his credit, is in second place.

Gates at BIR open at 8 a.m. each day and qualifying and time trials begin at 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday. TAD and TAFC qualifying sessions are scheduled at 4 p.m. Friday, and at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday. Eliminations begin Sunday at 9 a.m. First round of eliminations for TAD and TAFC is scheduled at noon.

Adult tickets, including pit pass, are $15 Friday, $20 Saturday, and $25 Sunday. Children 7-12 are half price and children 6 and under are admitted free with a paid adult.

The event is part of a 45-race, $6.5 million series contested across the country. Drivers in all classes, including Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street, are competing for a part of a $561,000 champions' purse. They will earn points leading to national and divisional titles as well as a berth on the team that will represent the West Central division at the Jeg's Allstar event in September.

BIR is located at 4343 Highway 371 North in Brainerd. For more information call the track, (218) 284-7220, or visit the web site at www.BrainerdRaceway.com.

NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES: Fact Sheet

WHAT: NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, where drivers earn points leading to divisional and national championships. Categories include Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The event is the second of six in West Central Division competition.

WHERE: Colonel's Brainerd Int'l Raceway, Brainerd, Minn. Track is located at 4343 Highway 371 North in Brainerd.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, Month 7-9, 2002

SCHEDULE: Time trials and qualifying schedule for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series:
FRIDAY, June 7 -- Gates open at 8 a.m. Qualifying and time trials begin at 9 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying sessions are scheduled at 4 p.m.
SATURDAY, June 8 -- Gates open at 8 a.m. Final qualifying and time trials are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying sessions are scheduled at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
SUNDAY, June 9 -- Gates open at 8 a.m. Eliminations begin at 9 a.m. Eliminations for Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car begin at noon.

TICKETS: GENERAL ADMISSION/PIT PASS -- $15 Friday, $20 Saturday, $25 Sunday. Children 7-12 are half-price and children 6 and under are free. For more information please call Colonel's Brainerd Int'l Raceway, (218) 284-7220.

PURSE: The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors will vie for cash and contingency awards of $153,260, part of the 45-race, $6.5 million series.

2001 EVENT WINNERS: David Wells, Top Alcohol Dragster; Jay Payne, Top Alcohol Funny Car; Doug Engels, Comp Eliminator; Michael Mans, Super Stock; Dan Zrust, Stock Eliminator; Tim Mazur, Super Comp; Tom Schmidt, Super Gas; John Helmin, Super Street

BONUS PROGRAMS:
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES POINTS FUND -- a $561,000 point fund from Lucas Oil, which will be shared by 2002 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional champions and national champions. Divisional awards include $8,500 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions; $3,000 to the champions in both Competition and Super Stock; $2,000 each to the champions in Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The seven national champions will share a bonus of $135,000.

SEALED POWER LOW QUALIFIER BONUS -- a $220,500 overall bonus fund from Federal-Mogul's Sealed Power brand to the low qualifiers at each of the 45 Lucas Oil events and the 23 NHRA national events: $1,250 each in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car; $400 each in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock; and $200 in Stock. (TAD and TAFC compete at 16 of 23 national events.)

JEG'S ALLSTARS: The best of the best from each of NHRA's seven divisions will compete for a share of the $100,000 point fund from Jeg's High Performance. The 2002 Jeg's Allstars event will culminate a year-long points battle between drivers in each of NHRA's Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series' eight classes. The top points earner in each category will qualify to represent his/her division at the 2002 Jeg's Allstars, held in conjunction with the NHRA Nationals in Chicago, Sept. 26-29, 2002. Points are based on in-division races only.

The winning division's team will share $20,000 and individual awards include $7,000 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions, $6,000 to champions in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock, and $4,500 to the Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street champions. Runners-up in all categories will earn $2,000 apiece. Each Allstars competitor will also receive a share of a $20,000 towing fund to get to the event.

NHRA KERKER MOTORCYCLE SERIES: Run in conjunction with the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the NHRA Kerker Motorcycle Series is an opportunity for competitors in NHRA's Sportsman Motorcycle class to earn points toward divisional championships. The $7,400 champions' purse posted by Kerker will be paid to first, second and third place points finishers in NHRA divisions that host Sportsman Motorcycles.

The top four riders from each division in the NHRA Kerker Motorcycle Series will be invited to compete in the NHRA Kerker King of the Coast competition. In 2002, the All-Star invitational will be run during the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in November. The rider who is crowned the Kerker King of the Coast will earn $1,000. The runner-up in the 16-bike field will receive $500.

Currently, Sportsman Motorcycles are run in NHRA's South Central, West Central, Northwest and Pacific divisions.

FEATURES: More than 400 drivers in the eight racing categories. Eight-car fields in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car, featuring five-second, 260 mph side-by-side racing.