Topeka NHRA Summer Nationals

I was fortunate to attend the 2011 NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka, KS the weekend of May 20 - 22, and loved every minute of it, well except for the funnel cloud that threatened us. The weather ended up cooperating with the event and it didn't slow down the progress of racing.

I flew into St Louis, MO on Friday where my great NTG Brother, Greg, picked me up. We then proceeded to his hometown Cracker Barrel and had a great breakfast. Did I say how much I love Cracker Barrel. After Breakfast we attended Greg's son, Shea, play at his elementary school. It was very entertaining to see these first graders remember their lines and put on a fantastic, well choreographed play. Had something to do about Frogs.
We, Greg, Toni, Lynn, Shea and I then took off for our journey to Topeka, KS. It was about a six hour drive, and of course we stopped at the Cracker Barrel for dinner.

Saturday we headed down the HPT where we met up with Laura, @LDCrust on twitter, as it was so wonderful to see her again. Heartland Park is really spread out, so bring your walking shoes if you ever attend. The weather was perfect for qualifying on Saturday. I strolled around the pits and talked with Terry McMillen, Cori, and Jim with Team McMillen, and gave them our NTG Decals as they placed them on Terry's Top Fuel Dragster. That was such a surreal moment seeing our decal on a NHRA Car. I then proceeded to the Kallita Camp where I met up with Todd, Kalitta Pr Guy. He also is such a wonderful person and was such a pleasure to meet. He took 3 or our NTG Decals and placed them on Jeff Arends Funny Car, Doug Kalitta's and David Grubnics Top Fuel Dragsters. I was in Awe when he said he would put them on the cars. I needed a tissue. Todd then told us to come back on Sunday where he would give us the Hospitality treament. I continued over to see Vincent Nobile, to give him our decals too. Steve Emerson, @sremerson, had written to Vincent about the decals and got the ok. I love how our NTG comes together in support of our love for Drag Racing. Steve is an asset to the NTG. I met up with Vincent and right away he didn't hesitate to place both decals on his Pro Stock Car. It was overwhelming seeing our NTG decals on these cars as the came through the staging lanes and headed down the track. I'd like to thanks Team McMillen, Team Kalitta, and Vincent Nobile for being such a historical part of the Nitro Twitter Group.

Saturday evening we headed over to pick up Laura to go to dinner with us at the Texas Roadhouse. But on the drive over, we encountered the sirens of Tornado warning. Golf Ball sized hail began to fall and Greg wisely pulled into a Hospital Parking Garage Structure where we spent almost an hour waiting it out. We could see the funnel cloud forming, and I was a bit worried there for a few, but it did not touch down near us. The storm was massive and worst one that I have ever experienced. After the storm passed we proceeded to dinner and then to Laura's hotel where Greg and Shea when swimming an polished the 3 floor slide that traveled though to the pool. It wasa fun packed day.

Sunday we all arrived at HPT and met up with Todd and Kristin. Our fist meeting with the newest members of the NTG. They are such great people and had a wonderful time meeting up with them. We all continued over to Kalitta Hospitality where Todd gave us the Royal Treatment. Took the tour inside Kalitta's pit area as we watched the cars warm up, and our eyes teared heavily. But love the smell of Nitro. Todd showed is up close where he placed the Decals and we also took a lot of group pictures. The Kalitta's are a class act organization and the NTG thanks them for taking the time out of their busy schedule to show us what they're made of. An experience we'll never forget.

Eliminations were very exciting as the day went on. It was perfect picture weather, but a little on the hot side. Track temperatures reached 124 degrees so there were more cars not hooking up with the track like on Saturday. When it was all said and done, the winners were Spencer Massey - Top Fuel, Robert Hight - Funny Car, and Shane Gray - Pro Stock. It was a fun filled day and I have to say that Topeka has some of the Great NHRA Fans on the Full Throttle Series Circuit. My next event will be English town on June 2.

Click on links to View Photos of Topeka:

Vincent Noblile

Assortments

Terry McMillen

Team Kalitta

Thrill of the NHRA Drag Racing World!

There are many thrills and passions in this world for one to escape the everyday stresses of what the days and weeks bring. The one passion that brings NHRA Fans peace and tranquility from their hum drum work weeks, is attending a NHRA Drag Event weekend.
If you have never attended a NHRA Event, then you won't know what I am talking about. If you have attended, then you know what excitement is beyond the gates.

I remember when I first attended NHRA Events out in the Orange Groves in Orange County, CA. It was out in the middle of nowhere, and was so different then attending today's festivities. There were not any big rig trailers, merchandise trailers, food stands, or midways. You brought your own food, drinks and stood and watched these drivers who scraped enough money to wait outside the gates to get into lay it down the track. If they broke a part, then most of them the day was finished.

Today's NHRA National Full Throttle Series Events are filled with Big Rig Trailers painted to the same scheme on the cars that are sponsoring them. The colors and the art work are so extravagant, it is just amazing to see. The Midway is filled with sponsor tents, games, food vendors, team merchandise trailers and autograph signing outlets. There you can check out the latest arrivals of what the sponsors have to supply and even get free samples or their products. You can strap into a drag racing simulator and experience what it feels like to go 300 mph down the drag strip. Oh! There are so many food vendors that you have an abundance of choices of dishes you're in the mood for. From American, Italian, Chinese, Mexican or specialty food items, sometimes it is hard to chose. There is also the Nitro Mall, where you can get merchandise that the NHRA has to offer, but their are also individual Team Trailers that you can buy merchandise from for your favorite team or driver. The atmosphere in my opinion is like attending a State Fair, but with an added great attraction of Drag Racing.

Beyond the Midway is where you'll find the Pit Areas. That are filled with rows and rows of Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Pro Mod, Competition, and street racing teams. There you will find all the Trailers lined up perfectly with awnings covering the race cars and creating Hospitality Functions. Some are really elaborate and some of the best food is cooked within the ranks. You'll find yourself up front and intimate with your favorite team of driver in the pits. They find the time to sign autographs, take pictures, and mingle with their fans. They are the best at fan relations within the NHRA Sport. While in the pits, you can watch the mechanics work to get their cars ready for the next race in which they usually have the car turned around and ready to warm up in 30 minutes average. Then there is the warm up. If you have never experienced a Nitro Burning Fuel Car warm up in the pit, I warn you to have ear plugs and don't breathe too deep. Your eyes will also start watering, but when it's done, you'll be hooked on the smell of Nitro.

Then there is the Event of Drag Racing down the track. I know, you are having so much fun on the midway and in the pits, you almost forget to go watch the race. When you hear the roar of the first Nitro Top Fuel Dragster or Nitro Funny Car go down the track, and you are in the Midway, your jaw drops, your heart about skips a beat, and you'll rush to the stands to see something that you never experienced before. When you are watching those 8,000 horsepower fuel cars go down the track for the fist time, you feel like you should be hiding behind a shielded wall, thinking of what if that thing explodes. But with the safety that goes into these powerful speed creations, your pretty safe in the stands.
Usually Friday and Saturdays are qualifying days. That is where the drivers race against the Elapse Time (ET) Clock to get position for the 16 car field on Sundays elimination event. There are 4 qualifying rounds unless it is dampened by mother nature of curfews. Then on Sunday there are 4 ladder events. you have 1st round with the 16 car field, then second round with 8 cars, next is Semi Finals to 4 cars, then the Final 2 cars. If you're in the field to race on Sunday, everyone has a chance to win the race. I have seen the 16 qualifier take out the #1 qualifier and win the event. Anything can happen on race day, that is why it is so exciting.

If you have never attended an event, than I strongly recommend getting to at least one in the near future. I can almost guarantee, that you'll be hooked and you can't wait until the next event to come back to your home race track. There you will be within the World of the NHRA, and nothing else will matter. The experience is far the best I have ever witnessed.

Please check the NHRA's web site below to get more information on upcoming events, history, news and teams and drivers.

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