INDIANAPOLIS - Indianapolis Raceway Park will host the NHRA Summit Racing Series North Central Division Finals September 16-18. The event will feature teams of the series' best racers representing NHRA Member Tracks from across the region. Drivers in seven classes will compete for individual and team honors and a share of the $70, 850 purse. More than 800 drivers are expected to compete in Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman, Super Pro Bike, and High School categories, as well as three age brackets of Jr. Dragsters. Competitors in the High School and Jr. Dragsters will run for trophies.

The individual winners in Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman and Super Pro Bike will advance to a national run-off in November at the NHRA Auto Club of Southern California Finals at Pomona Raceway in California where they will run for a national championship and a winner-take-all $5,000 payday in each class. Each driver who competes in Pomona will also receive an additional $3,500.

Gates at IRP open at 7 a.m. each day. Time trials start at 9 a.m. Friday. Racers in the VP Racing Fuels Race of Champions will have one time trial Friday at 1 p.m. and begin eliminations at 2 p.m. Final time trials for Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman and Super Pro Bike are scheduled Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Competitors in the High School category will get two time trial runs, at 11 a.m. and noon. All classes will then run two rounds of eliminations. Eliminations will continue Saturday morning at 9 a.m. Jr. Dragster racers will have two time trials starting at 8 a.m. and run eliminations with the other classes throughout the day.

Indianapolis Raceway Park is located on Indiana Highway 136, four miles west of I-465, exit 16. For more information call the track, (317) 291-4090.

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

WHERE: Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis. Track is located on Indiana Highway 136, four miles west of Interstate 465 at exit 16.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, September 16-18, 2005.

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

FRIDAY, Sept. 16 -- Gates open at 7 a.m. Time trials begin at 9 a.m. Racers in the NHRA Summit Shootout qualify during time trials. Racers in the VP Racing Fuels Race of Champions, a race within a race, will have one time trial at 1 p.m. and begin eliminations at 2 p.m.

SATURDAY, Sept. 17 -- Gates open at 7 a.m. Final time trials for Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman and Super Pro Bike run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. First round of eliminations for all categories will start at 1 p.m. All classes will run two rounds of eliminations. Competitors in the High School class are slated to have two time trial runs, at 11 a.m. and noon.

SUNDAY, Sept. 18 -- Gates open at 7 a.m. Eliminations continue at 9 a.m. Jr. Dragster competitors are scheduled to have two time trials starting at 8 a.m. and will run eliminations with all other categories throughout the day.

PURSE: The Summit E.T. Racing Series competitors in Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman and Motorcycle will compete for cash awards of $70,850. 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 for competing in the Finals in Pomona and the winner in each class will receive an additional $5,000. Participants in the High School and Junior categories compete for trophies.

2004 EVENT WINNERS: National Trail Raceway, team champion; Mark Griffith, Super Pro; Jimmie Barrett, Pro; Ray Block, Sportsman; Dave Hill, Super Pro Bike; Chris Harrod, High School; Joe Staats, Jr. Dragster 13-17; Lauren Lacy, Jr. Dragster 10-12; and Jacob Blumenstein, Jr. Dragster 8-9.

FEATURES: More than 800 drivers in six racing categories: Super Pro (cars running 7.00 seconds to 11.99 seconds), Pro (10.00-13.99), Sportsman (12.00-19.99), Super Pro Bike (7.50-15.99), High School (12.00 and slower), Jr. Dragsters (8-9 years old, 10-12 years old, 13-17 years old)