DELMAR, Del. -- More 600 racers, representing 14 tracks in five different eastern U.S. states, took to the track today for the first day of time trials at the NHRA Summit Racing Series Northeast Division Finals. The event, which began today, will run until Saturday, October 2.

Friday morning, racers will once suit up for a round of time trials. Friday afternoon, the top racers from each track in the categories of Super ET, Heavy, Bike/Sled and Street will compete in the RBS Trailer Sales Race of Champions. With a combined purse of over $4500 the competition is sure to be tough.

Friday will also feature time trials for the competitors in the High School Eliminator Challenge presented by Luzerne County Community College. The High School Eliminator Challenge is open to competitors currently enrolled in High School, or 2004 graduates. The winner of the eliminator will receive a $1000 U.S. Savings Bond to be presented at the NHRA Northeast Division Championship banquet in January. Final eliminations in the High School Eliminator are scheduled to take place on Saturday.

Saturday's action will also feature the highly regarded individual championships in Super, Heavy ET, Bike/Sled and Street, which will qualify four drivers for the Summit Racing NHRA National Finals, to be held at the Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, at Pomona Raceway in November. There the drivers will complete for a "winner-takes-all" $5000 purse. Drivers at this weekend's event will also contend for the coveted team championship, won last year by Atco, N.J., team Atco Raceway.

Gates will open Friday and Saturday at 7 a.m. Time trials begin tomorrow at 8:30 a.m., with eliminations for the Race of Champions set to begin at 4 p.m. Saturday, eliminations in all categories begin at 8:30 a.m.

For more information on the event please call U.S. 13 Dragway at (302) 846-3968 or visit them on the web at www.DelawareRacing.com. More information may also be obtained by visiting www.nhra.com.

The following is the list of the NHRA member tracks expected to compete this weekend at the NHRA Northeast Division Summit Racing Series Finals being held at U.S. 13 Dragway:

SUMMIT RACING SERIES NORTHEAST DIVISION FINALS: Fact Sheet
WHAT: Summit Racing Series, where top drivers from NHRA member tracks across the Northeast Division compete in five classes for individual and team honors. Individual champions will advance to a national run-off at the Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at Pomona Raceway in California.

WHERE: U.S. 13 Dragway, Delmar, Del. Track is located on U.S. Highway 13, just a half- mile north of the Delaware-Maryland state line.

WHEN: Thursday through Saturday, Thursday Sept. 30 - Oct. 2, 2004.

SCHEDULE: Time trials schedule for the Summit Racing Series Northeast Division Finals:

THURSDAY, Sept. 30 -- Gates open at 7 a.m. Time trials begin at 9 a.m.

FRIDAY, Oct. 1 -- Gates open at 7 a.m. Final time trials begin at 8:30 a.m.

SATURDAY, Oct. 2 -- Gates open at 7 a.m. Eliminations begin at 8:30 a.m.

PURSE: The Summit E.T. Racing Series competitors in Super E.T., Heavy E.T., Bikes/Snowmobiles and Street will compete for cash awards of $46,720. The winners in each category will advance to compete against winners from NHRA's other six divisions at the NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif., in November. They will each receive $3,500 in addition to the posted purse for advancing to the Finals and the winner at Pomona in each class will receive an additional $5,000.

Participants in the High School category compete for a $1000 U.S. Savings Bond and trophy.

2003 EVENT WINNERS: Atco Raceway, team champion; Chad Weinrick (Maple Grove Raceway), Super Pro; Mark Butler (Cecil County Dragway), Heavy; Vinnie Cicerale (Island Dragway), Street; Ken George (Island Dragway), Motorcycle; John Juray (Island Dragway), High School

FEATURES: More than 600 drivers in five racing categories: Super E.T. (cars running 7.00 seconds to 12.99 seconds), Heavy E.T. (10.00-19.99), Street (12.00-19.99), Motorcycle (7.50-16.99), High School (11.00 and slower)