FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chesterman remains perfect at Heartland Park Topeka

TOPEKA, Kan. - Cy Chesterman remained perfect in NHRA Lucas Oil Series West Central Division Top Alcohol Funny Car action for 2004 by taking his fifth win in five tries. The latest came at Heartland Park Topeka Saturday night. But the win may have even farther reaching impact.

Chesterman, of Sioux City, Iowa, came into Topeka trailing Californian Jay Payne in the national Lucas Oil Series by a slim margin in the points. Payne came to Heartland Park to protect his lead. Payne's plan didn't pan out when Chesterman defeated him in the second round by about .05 seconds with both drivers exceeding 250 mph.

In Top Alcohol Dragster, Randy Meyer, of Spring Hill, Kan., increased his West Central Division points lead by defeating closest rival David Wells, of Lemars, Iowa, in the final. Both Drivers had defended their division's honor in round two when they held off the attack of two women from the South Central Division. Wells stopped rookie sensation Ashley Force when she fouled and Meyer out-dueled Shelly Howard, 5.343 seconds to 5.358. Force and Howard are locked in their own battle for the season championship in the South Central Division, so their efforts at Heartland Park Topeka resulted in a push.

Kansans Ryan Montford and Mark Grame took titles in Super Stock and Super Comp.

The West Central Division will wind up the 2004 campaign on Sept. 10-12 at Tri-State Raceway, Sept. 10-12. The following are Saturday's final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, West Central Division event at Heartland Park Topeka presented by Goodyear:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Round One
4) David Wells, Lemars, Iowa, 5.466, 261.42 def. 
5) Edwin Schmeeckle, Gothenburg, Neb., 6.207, 187.00;

3) Randy Meyer, Spring Hill, Kan., 5.407, 252.85 def. 
6) Larry Traugott, Woodward, Okla., 5.567, 255.68;

1) Ashley Force, Azusa, Calif., 5.333, 262.18 def. 
8) Troy Kaiser, Littleton, Colo., 5.812, 246.57;

2) Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.313, 274.33 def. 
7) Brian Badgett, Foristell, Mo., 5.704, 263.46;

Semifinals
Wells, 5.412, 264.03 def. Force, foul;
Meyer, 5.343, 247.97 def. Howard, 5.358, 266.90;

Finals
Meyer, 5.416, 249.95 def. Wells, 5.447, 251.44.

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
Round One
3) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '04 Camaro, 5.696, 254.18 def. 
6) Robert Kanenwisher, Conifer, Colo., '00 Avenger, 10.901, 71.87;

4) Kirk Williams, Glenwood, Iowa, '98 Firebird, 6.417, 240.34 def. 
5) Joseph Percoco, Conifer, Colo., '00 Camaro, 6.637, 227.65;

2) Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, '02 Firebird, 5.719, 253.85 def. 
7) Thomas Frickenschmidt, Lockwood, Mo., '03 Camaro, 6.274, 207.46;

1) Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '03 Camaro, 5.762, 247.88 def. 
8) Kris Hool, Casper, Wyo., '98 Firebird, foul;

Semifinals
Chesterman, 5.751, 250.69 def. Payne, 5.810, 253.52; Williams, 5.881,
249.67 def. Moats, 9.796, 81.92;

Finals
Chesterman, 5.723, 250.64 def. Williams, 6.052, 246.71.

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
Michael Johnson, Springdale, Ark., '03 Cavalier, G/SMA, 9.018, 148.17 def. 
Mike Nahan, Sartell, Minn., dragster, E/D, 7.638, 174.21.

SUPER STOCK
Ryan Montford, Wichita, Kan., '98 S-10, SS/TB, 9.775, 132.84  def. 
Mike Mans, Rogers, Minn., '00 Firebird, GT/HA, 10.463, 127.85.

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Dan Zrust, Maple Grove, Minn., '02 Camaro, B/FIA, 10.886, 122.23  def.
Tibor Kadar, Peoria, Ariz., '76 Omega, N/SA, 12.365, 103.79.

SUPER COMP
Mark Grame, Overland Park, Kan., dragster, 8.908, 174.37  def. 
Mitch Mustard, Arvada, Colo., dragster, 8.896, 172.14.

SUPER GAS
Michael Miller, Santa Fe, N.M., '27 roadster, 9.894, 147.13  def. 
Gary Risk, Waxahachie, Texas, '87 Regal, 9.880, 149.45.

SUPER STREET
Henry Sliwinski, Littleton, Colo., '65 Chevelle, 10.890, 126.99  def.
Frank Nichols Jr., Grand Island, Neb., '91 Daytona, 10.887, 136.91.

KERKER MOTORCYCLE
Craig Vogt, Mead, Neb., '73 Kawasaki, 9.965, 130.44  def. 
Brian Johnson, Anoka, Minn., '04 Suzuki, foul.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Howard atop qualifying at Heartland Park

TOPEKA, Kan. - After two round of qualifying for the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Heartland Park Topeka, Shelly Howard, a registered nurse from Tulsa, Okla., leads the Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying list with a run of 5.415 seconds and 266.69 mph. The event will conclude Saturday.

NHRA racers may run a certain number of events outside their home division and still declare the points toward that division's championship. Howard is in need of points to chase down the South Central Division title. She made a similar move earlier in the year and it paid off with a victory at the North Central Division event in Denver. A victory at Heartland Park could also bolster her chances for a Top Ten finish in the national Lucas Oil Series points. She is currently 14th.

Meanwhile, the battle for the North Central Division Championship is between Randy Meyer of Spring Hill, Kan., and David Wells of Lemars, Iowa. Wells is currently second on the list at Heartland Park and points leader Meyer is sixth.

In Top Alcohol Funny Car, veteran Vern Moats, of Des Moines, Iowa, is currently ahead of Sioux City, Iowa's Cy Chesterman, who has won every North Central Division event that's been served up this year.

More qualifying and final eliminations will both be held Saturday. Gates will open at 8 a.m. and time trials and qualifying for many of the nearly 500 race teams in attendance will begin almost immediately. One more round of Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying will take place at noon. Eliminations for most classes will begin at 1 p.m. with rounds of eliminations for the Alcohol cars slated to begin at 6 p.m.

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, West Central Division event at Heartland Park Topeka presented by Goodyear:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1) Shelly Howard, Tulsa, Okla., 5.415 seconds, 266.69 mph
2) David Wells, Lemars, Iowa, 5.476, 259.46
3) Ashley Force, Azusa, Calif., 5.585, 255.68
4) Larry Traugott, Woodward, Okla., 5.589, 250.69
5) Edwin Schmeeckle, Gothenburg, Neb., 5.641, 252.85
6) Randy Meyer, Spring Hill, Kan., 5.773, 243.37
7) Bruce Bowler, Denver, Colo., 5.801, 238.30
8) Darryl Hitchman, Hanford, Calif., 6.250, 219.29 Not Qualified
9) Brent DuCray, Grand Junction, Colo., 6.306, 226.24
10) Troy Kaiser, Littleton, Colo., 6.646, 229.24
11) Brian Badgett, Foristell, Mo., 6.741, 212.69
12) Gene Snow, Fort Worth, Texas, 11.053, 73.56

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1) Vern Moats, Des Moines, Iowa, '03 Camaro, 5.843 seconds, 245.32 mph
2) Cy Chesterman, Sioux City, Iowa, '02 Firebird, 5.899, 247.61
3) Kirk Williams, Glenwood, Iowa, '98 Firebird, 5.957, 246.30
4) Bruce Carlson, Prior Lake, Minn., '97 Firebird, 6.155, 218.23
5) Joseph Percoco, Conifer, Colo., '00 Camaro, 6.232, 212.39
6) Kris Hool, Casper, Wyo., '98 Firebird, 6.281, 233.76
7) Shawn Jones, Albuquerque, N.M., '04 Trans Am, 6.287, 234.66
8) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '04 Camaro, 6.754, 148.20 Not Qualified
9) Bernie Harrington, Apple Valley, Calif., '00 Avenger, 6.873, 150.35
10) Robert Kanenwisher, Conifer, Colo., '00 Avenger, 8.303, 104.32

Competition Eliminator
1) Dean Carter, Glendale, Ariz., dragster, A/ND, 7.099 seconds, -0.551 (under index)
2) Clint Sallee, Glendive, Mont., dragster, B/D, 6.886, -0.504
3) Bill Riemenapp, La Crosse, Wis., '99 Firebird, B/EA, 8.049, -0.481
4) Steve Kalkowski, Ogallala, Neb., '01 Firebird, B/A, 7.328, -0.452
5) Todd Patterson, Augusta, Kan., '33 Dodge, A/SR, 8.161, -0.439
6) Tom Schmidt, Lindstrom, Minn., '33 Roadster, C/SR, 8.823, -0.437
7) Tom Huggins, Santa Paula, Calif., '04 Grand Am, B/A, 7.345, -0.435
8) Brian Self, Hempstead, Texas, '02 S-10, PST, 7.669, -0.411
9) Scott Benham, La Grange, Texas, '02 S-10, B/TA, 8.623, -0.397
10) Lou Ficco Jr, Wheatridge, Colo., '63 Corvette, B/AA, 7.410, -0.390

Super Stock
1) Larry Schmidt, Grand Island, Neb., '55 BelAir, SS/PA, 11.962 seconds, -0.988 (under index)
2) Tyler Cassil, Belton, Mo., '66 Nova, SS/K, 10.358, -0.942
3) Gary Stinnett, Emporia, Kan., '02 Chevy Truck, GT/TC, 10.501, -0.899
4) Ted Romero, Denver, Colo., '98 Grand Am, GT/HA, 10.455, -0.895
5) Ron Taylor, Lincoln, Neb., '57 Chevy, SS/MA, 11.273, -0.877
6) Carroll Warling, Arvada, Colo., '74 Grand Am, SS/MA, 11.283, -0.867
7) Tony Cowell, Weatherford, Texas, '81 Camaro, GT/JA, 10.759, -0.841
8) Gene Bichlmeier, Norkfolk, Neb., '66 Chevy II, SS/K, 10.486, -0.814
9) Chad Guilford, Highlands Ranch, Colo., '84 Cougar, GT/EA, 10.138, -0.812
10) Ernie Penner, Osborne, Manit., '99 Firebird, GT/IA, 10.696, -0.804

Stock Eliminator
1) Bob Mulry, Hollister, Calif., '74 Firebird, K/SA, 11.844 seconds, -1.106 (under index)
2) Bob Shaw, Sedalia, Mo., '80 Capri, V/SA, 14.769, -1.031
3) Keith Lynch, West Jordon, Utah, '70 Nova, B/SA, 10.589, -0.961
4) Gary Harper, Canon City, Colo., '86 D-150, O/SA, 12.497, -0.953
5) Jamie Kilgore, Pleasantville, Iowa, '68 Camaro, B/S, 10.572, -0.928
6) Steve Brack, Lawrence, Kan., '85 Camaro, E/FI, 11.575, -0.925
7) Aaron Koppien, Sioux Falls, S.D., '69 Nova, B/SA, 10.635, -0.915
8) Scott Burton, Golden, Colo., '71 Firebird, D/SA, 10.976, -0.874
9) Stuart Goertzen, Buhler, Kan., '67 Cougar, E/S, 11.094, -0.856
10) Mike Cotten, Broken Arrow, Okla., '73 Duster, H/SA, 11.636, -0.814

Kerker Motorcycle
1) Brian Johnson, Anoka, Minn., '04 Suzuki, KMC, 0.001 seconds reaction time
2) Joe Herron, Fremont, Neb., '81 Suzuki, KMC, 0.002
3) Tony Webster, Topeka, Kan., '87 Kawasaki, KMC, 0.006
4) Tom Gilligan, Fremont, Neb., '79 Kawasaki, KMC, 0.007
5) Chris Oravecz, Chanel Winchester, Ohio, '81 Suzuki, KMC, 0.008
6) Robert Cooper, Plattsmouth, Neb., '89 Suzuki, KMC, 0.013
7) J.P. Smith, Topeka, Kan., '86 Yamaha, KMC, 0.015
8) Curtis Spracklin, Omaha, Neb., '78 Kawasaki, KMC, 0.020
9) Mike Voss, Maplewood, Minn., '03 Kawasaki, KMC, 0.025
10) Dale Detlie, Owatonna, Minn., '83 Suzuki, KMC, 0.027

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Division 5 continues Lucas Series at Heartland Park Topeka

TOPEKA, Kan. - NHRA's West Central Division will continue its 2004 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series season at Heartland Park Topeka with a two-day event Aug. 27-28; the NHRA Division 5 Heartland Championships presented by Goodyear. The race is the fifth of six in West Central Division competition and will feature more than 450 drivers in eight categories competing for points leading to divisional and national titles as well as a share of the $561,000 champion's purse.

Classes that will run include 260-mph Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD) and Top Alcohol Funny Car (TAFC) as well as Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street. The Kerker Motorcycle Series, featuring the Sportsman Motorcycle class, will also run in conjunction with the event.

Defending NHRA Lucas Oil Series West Central Division Top Alcohol Funny Car (TAFC) Champion Cy Chesterman is well on his way to reclaiming his title. He began the 2004 season by winning at Great Bend, Kan., Brainerd, Minn., and Denver. He has also scored victories at national events in Gainesville, Fla., and Las Vegas. In 2003, Chesterman, of Sioux City, Iowa, made it to the final round at all seven of the NHRA Lucas Oil divisional events he attended. He scored wins at Brainerd Int'l Raceway, Nebraska Motorplex, in Scribner, Neb., Tri-State Raceway in Earlville, Iowa, and at an out-of-division event in Las Vegas. He was runner-up at Bandimere Speedway, here at Heartland Park Topeka, and at S.R.C.A. Drag Strip in Great Bend, Kan.

Chesterman's most likely challenger will be Kirk Williams of Glenwood, Iowa, the current No. 2 West Central Division points earner. Williams finished second in the points last year after winning the division TAFC crown in 2002. Last year he beat Chesterman in Denver and was runner-up to him in Brainerd and in Earlville.

Defending Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD) champion David Wells is trying to earn his fifth division title. Wells won two out-of-division races last year, in Joliet, Ill., and Noble, Okla., and was runner-up at Brainerd, Minn., and Nebraska Motorplex. He won the West Central title last year without benefit of a win in the division. Wins in the division were spread among six different drivers and many of which were from out of division. Wells won the Brainerd division event this year, but Randy Meyer and Shelly Howard have the other two wins.

Meyer, of Spring Hill, Kan., has been the division's strongest runner in TAD so far. Meyer was not behind the wheel last year, but as crew chief on the car, led the team to the national championship with Alan Bradshaw as their driver. Making good on his NHRA West Central Division return as a driver, Meyer won the first event of the year in Great Bend, Kan. He got a head start on the 2004 season by competing at out-of-division races in Houston and Memphis, Tenn., where he made two final-round appearances. He was runner-up in Houston and won the Memphis event. He was also runner-up to Wells at the second West Central Division event of the year in Brainerd.

Gates at Heartland Park Topeka open at 7 a.m. Friday and at 8 a.m. Saturday. Friday's qualifying and time trials begin at 9 a.m. with TAD and TAFC running at 6 and 8 p.m. The action continues Saturday at 8 a.m. with eliminations set for 1 p.m. TAD and TAFC have final qualifying runs scheduled at noon and the first round of eliminations at 6 p.m.

General admission tickets, including pit pass, are $10 Friday and $15 Saturday. Children 6 to 15 are $5 each day and kids 5 and under are admitted free.

Heartland Park Topeka is located off U.S. Highway 75, four miles south of Topeka. From Interstate 470, take Forbes Field exit and proceed on U.S. Highway 75 to Gary Ormsby Drive. For more information call the track, (800) 43-RACES, or visit the web site, www.HPT.com.

The final race on the NHRA West Central division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series schedule is at Tri-State Raceway in Earlville, Iowa, Sept. 10-12.

NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES: Fact Sheet
WHAT: NHRA Division 5 Heartland Championships presented by Goodyear. It's part of the 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 fifth of six in West Central Division competition. The division's Kerker Motorcycle Series, featuring the Sportsman Motorcycle class, will also run in conjunction with the event.

WHERE: Heartland Park Topeka, Topeka, Kan. Track is located off U.S. Highway 75, four miles south of Topeka. From Interstate 470, take Forbes Field exit and proceed on U.S. Highway 75 to Gary Ormsby Drive.

WHEN: Friday and Saturday, August 27-28, 2004

SCHEDULE: Time trials and qualifying schedule for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series:

FRIDAY, Aug. 27 -- Gates open at 7 a.m. Qualifying and time trials begin at 9 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying sessions are scheduled at 6 and 8 p.m.

SATURDAY, Aug. 28 -- Gates open at 8 a.m. Final qualifying and time trials are scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying session is scheduled for noon. Eliminations begin at 1 p.m. with first round of Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car at 6 p.m.

TICKETS: GENERAL ADMISSION/PIT PASS -- $10 Friday and $15 Saturday. Children 6-15 are $5 each day. Children 5 and under are free. For more information please call Heartland Park Topeka, (800) 43-RACES.

PURSE: The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors will vie for cash and contingency awards of $154,010, part of the 45-race, $6.5 million series.

2003 EVENT WINNERS: Alan Bradshaw, Top Alcohol Dragster; Tate Branch, Top Alcohol Funny Car; Clint Sallee, Comp Eliminator; Ted Romero, Super Stock; Mike Manning, Stock Eliminator; Terry Ekart, Super Comp; Louie Le Rette, Super Gas; Steve Dominges, 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 2004 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 $109,000 overall bonus fund from Federal-Mogul's Sealed Power brand to the low qualifiers at each of the 46 Lucas Oil events: $1000 each in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car; $200 each in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock; and $100 in Stock. (TAD and TAFC compete at 43 of 46 divisional 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 2004 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 2004 Jeg's Allstars. 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.

This year, event sponsor, Jeg's High Performance, has offered a "double up" bonus to Allstars competitors. Winners in each individual class who go on to win the national event will have their Allstars prize money doubled.