GALBRAITH WINS, BARKER DOUBLES UP

TOPEKA, KS – Troy Galbraith and Jeffrey Barker both found themselves in the winner’s circle at the NHRA West Central Region Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Heartland Park Topeka Sunday evening.

Midwest runner Galbraith of Indianapolis, Ind., faced off with southeast standout David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., in the Comp Eliminator final round. Galbraith pulled off the upset and sent Rampy back to Alabama without the Wally trophy. Galbraith completed a victory pass of 6.783 seconds, 184.95 mph.

Event champion from the first half of the double header, Jeffrey Barker, Kathleen, Ga., had no plans of slowing down as he made it to the final round of the Top Sportsman presented by Jerry Haas Race Cars final round. Opposing him was Terry Pope, Blair, Neb. Barker scored his second event Wally, tripping a great reaction time of .006 seconds, finishing up at 6.671 seconds, 205.10 mph.

Kansas native, Phil Unruh of McPherson successfully upended 2016 defending World Champion Jeff Strickland, Red Bay, Ala., in the final of Top Dragster presented Fineline Graphics/Madcap Racing. Strickland went red at the line, giving Unruh the easy pass of 10.559 seconds, 88.44 mph. Michael Nash, Texarkana, Texas, mounted a big lead in the Sportsman Motorcycle final round and took the win, Gordon Fangmeyer, Lincoln, Neb., broke out attempting to catch up. Nash finished at 7.929 seconds, 155.79 mph.

Local racers Jeremy Smith, Great Bend and Brett Thornton of Bushton, both brought back event Wally trophies to their cities in the Super Comp and Super Street classes.

The other drivers visiting the Lucas Oil winner’s circle were Chris Chaney in Super Stock; Jeff Lopez in Stock Eliminator; and Robert Coleman in Super Gas.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series continues its tour in the West Central Division at Brainerd International Raceway August 12. The following are Sunday’s results from the NHRA West Central Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Heartland Park Topeka:

COMP ELIMINATOR

Troy Galbraith, Indianapolis, Ind., Spitzer, B/DA, 6.783, 184.95 def. David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., ’32 Bantam, A/EA, 7.266, 170.90.

SUPER STOCK

Chris Chaney, Claremore, Okla., ’90 Camaro, GT/KA, 9.997, 132.06 def. Matthew Lund, Bettendorf, Iowa, ’98 Pontiac, SS/IA, foul.

STOCK ELIMINATOR

Jeff Lopez, Irving, Texas, ’17 Copo, FS/C, 9.324, 143.11 def. Chris Knudsen, Grimes, Iowa, ’69 Camaro, C/S, 10.629, 125.17.

SUPER COMP

Jeremy Smith, Great Bend, Kan., ’08 Undercover, 8.904, 180.04 def. Austin Williams, Burleson, Texas, ’15 Miller, 8.925, 167.43.

SUPER GAS

Robert Coleman, Columbia, Mo., ’27 T Roadster, 9.902, 148.82 def. Heidi Robison, Gardner, Kan., ’09 Undercover, 9.924, 165.27.

SUPER STREET

Brett Thornton, Bushton, Kan., ’68 Chevelle, 10.911, 148.59 def. Randy Davin, Topeka, Kan., ’67 Camaro, 10.922, 154.03.

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE

Michael Nash, Texarkana, Texas, ’12 Koenig, 7.929, 155.79 def. Gordon Fangmeyer, Lincoln, Neb., ’83 Suzuki, 8.498, 160.14.

TOP SPORTSMAN

Jeffrey Barker, Kathleen, Ga., ’06 Cobalt, 6.671, 205.10 def. Terry Pope, Blair, Neb., ’02 Cavalier, 7.165, 194.27.

TOP DRAGSTER

Phil Unruh, McPherson, Kan., ’16 Miller, 10.559, 88.44 def. Jeff Strickland, Red Bay, Ala., ’14 American, foul.