WC: Series Topeka final report

THE SQUAD FROM HPT TAKES HOME THE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP FROM THE DIVISION'S SUMMIT SERIES FINALS

TOPEKA, Kan. (Sept. 20, 2009) -- 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:

SUPER PRO
Tom Williams, Leonardville, Kan., Heartland Park Topeka, dragster, took the green light def. Dan Welch, Wichita, Kan., Kansas Int'l Dragway, dragster, broke

SUMMIT PRO
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

SPORTSMAN
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

MOTORCYCLE
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

HIGH SCHOOL
Kyle Tripp, Golden, Colo., Bandimere Speedway, dragster, 11.352, 117.65 def. Jaron Miller, Chase, Kan., SRCA Dragstrip, '70 El Camino, foul

Following are the final team point standings from the NHRA West Central Division Summit Racing Series Finals:

Team Points
1. Heartland Park Topeka 52
2. Tri-State Raceway 50
3. Kansas City Int'l Raceway 46
4. Eddyville Raceway Park 45
5. Bandimere Speedway 45
6. Brainerd Int'l Raceway 41
7. Interstate Dragways 41
8. SRCA Dragstrip 40
9. Cordova Dragway Park 34
10. Kansas Int'l Dragway 34
11. Rock Falls Raceway 33
12. Grove Creek Raceway 32
13. Pueblo Motorsports Park 29
14. Kearney Raceway Park 28
15. Rolling Thunder Dragstrip 26
16. Cedar Falls Raceway 21
17. Oahe Speedway 19
18. Douglas Motorsports Park 15
19. Western Colorado Dragway 11
20. Julesburg Dragway 1

-credit: nhra