By David Smith Jr.
Park City, Kansas – August 28, 2012 – In honor of the Labor Day holiday weekend the National Championship Racing Association of Park City, Kansas presented by Precise Racing Products 360 sprint car division will have a busy slate of racing action with three events slated this coming Friday –Sunday night at three different tracks in the state of Kansas.
It all kicks off on Friday night with their first appearance of the season at RPM Speedway in Hays, Kansas. The tour was scheduled to make an appearance to open up the Memorial Day weekend of racing but that event was nixed by rain.
Then on Saturday night it is down the highway and to the home of the series, 81 Speedway in Park City in their fifth appearance of the 2012 race season.
The series “Thunder and Lightning” division will put the holiday weekend to a close with a great amount of speed as they make their annual appearance at the Belleville High Banks in Belleville, Kansas on Sunday night.
These three events are sure to make or break those drivers competing in the divisions point standings as only two events will remain on the schedule after this weekend.
Former two –time and defending tour champion C.J. Johnson of Quinter, Kansas currently sits atop the point standings and holds a 65 point advantage over former series champion Jeremy Campbell. Johnson is a two-time feature winner thus far this season while Campbell’s lone victory came at the 56th annual Hutchinson Grand Nationals in Hutchinson, Kansas. His victory came aboard the Gary Swenson owned #24a, a car he has driven just twice this season. Campbell normally drivers his own #10c.
Dividing time between his own #20 and the #e85 Danny King owned sprinter, Luke Cranston is having his best season ever on the tour and sits third in the point standings, 225 points out of the lead.
Current Brodix rookie of the year point leader Zach Blurton has been strong in his first season with the tour and currently sits in the fourth position. Blurton drives the family owned #2j, the same car number his father drove to the 1990 point championship.
Jon Freeman sits fifth in the point standings followed by veteran Mike Peters, Jeff Stasa, Jake Martens, Taylor Velasquez, Marc Robe and rookie contender Jordan Weaver.
Other drivers who have expressed interest in competing in one or more of these events include Patrick Stasa, Danny Jennings, Jeff Swindell, Wyatt Burks, Brian Herbet, Ryan Roberts and most recent tour winner Adam Gullian – who picked up his first career victory with the tour at the last competed event at Mid-Nebraska Speedway in Doniphan, Nebraska.
A note to all you sprint car drivers on tire rules for this weekend. The RPM Speedway event on Friday night will be an open left rear tire rule while the 81 Speedway and Belleville High Bank events must run the medium left rear tire only. Raceceivers are required at all three races.
All events will pay $2000 to win and $300 to start.
Pit gates at RPM Speedway on Friday night will open at 4:30 pm with grandstand admission gates opening at 5:30 pm. Racing action is slated for a 7:30 pm start time.
RPM Speedway is located off of I-70 at exit 157 (U.S. Alt 183) at the Ellis County Fairgrounds. For race information call (785) 639-7223.
81 Speedway grandstand tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Gates will open at 5:00 pm with racing slated for a 7:00 pm start time. The track is located north of Wichita on I-135 to exit 16, then .7 mile west on 77th St. in Park City. For more race and ticket information contact the 81 Speedway office (316) 755-1781.
Sunday night’s weekend finale at the Belleville High Banks will see gates open at 5:00 pm with racing set for a 7:00 pm start time. Reserved seats are $25 while general admission seating is just $20. The cruiser division will also be competing.
The Belleville High Banks is located 2.0 miles north of US 36 on US 81, then 0.4 mile southeast on M St. to 7th St., then 0.1 mile east (near the water tower, at the North Central Kansas Fairgrounds).
For more information on the 42nd anniversary season for the National Championship Racing Association of Park City, Kansas presented by Precise Racing Products, find them at their new online address www.racencra.com or call the series office (316) 755-1781.
The series would like to take this time to thank their sprint car division partners and sponsors for the 2012 race season:
Park City, Kansas, Hoosier Racing Tires, Sunoco Race Fuels, Vertex Magnetos, Rod End Supply, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, The Joie of Seating, Ultra Shield, Hooker Harness, Precise Racing Products, Taylor Cable Products, XXX Racing Chassis, Super Shox, Competition Suspension, JE Racing
Current 2012 NCRA 360 point standings:
1) C.J. Johnson 2400, 2) Jeremy Campbell 2335, 3) Luke Cranston 2175, 4) Zach Blurton 1980, 5) Jon Freeman 1915, 6) Mike Peters 1820, 7) Jeff Stasa 1645, 8) Jake Martens 1610, 9) Taylor Velasquez 1445, 10) Marc Robe 1430