25th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals
May 17-19
Heartland Park Topeka
7530 S.W. Topeka Blvd.
Topeka, KS 66619
www.hpt.comElevation: 980 feet
Tickets: NHRATix.com; 800-884-NHRA (6472)
Radio Frequency: 88.7 FM
Sprawling multipurpose Heartland Park Topeka has been a Midwest favorite since it opened in 1989, but its dragstrip has gained the majority of headlines. The event, originally in the fall, has featured numerous record performances, the most significant of which was the shattering of the quarter-mile four-second and 300-mph barriers in Funny Car in 1993. The event moved to its current spot on the schedule in 2001.
2012 Recap: David Grubnic broke a six-year drought when he beat Spencer Massey by a .009-second margin in the Top Fuel final. Jack Beckman, who had swapped cars and crews with teammate Ron Capps four races earlier, cut an otherworldly .004 light in the Funny Car final to beat Capps on a holeshot. Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) won for the second time in the season.
How to Get There: The track is on Topeka Boulevard where it intersects Gary Ormsby Drive, four miles south of Interstate 470. From Kansas City, take the Kansas Turnpike (I-70) to the South Topeka exit and travel south on Topeka Boulevard to the track. From Wichita, take the Kansas Turnpike (I-335) to the South Topeka exit and travel south on Topeka Boulevard to the track. From I-470, take the Topeka Boulevard exit and travel south to the track.
Visitor Information: Visit Topeka Inc., 785-234-1030 or 800-235-1030,
www.visittopeka.us
