Site search
sponsored by
News
ENLARGE
THOMAS RANSON/LVN Photo The top alcohol drag racers from Division 7 will be competing against each for regional and national points beginning Friday at Top Gun. Super comp racer Tom Bayer competed in last weekend's racing at the raceway.
After seven years of hard work and behind-the-scenes negotiations, the Top Gun Raceway has landed a prestigious National Hot Rod Association Pacific Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing series event which begins Friday.
Bart Hiatt, treasurer of the Motor Sports Safety, Inc., (Top Gun's board of directors) said Sunday the race is the fifth of seven on the division's schedule.
Each division race features drivers in eight categories including the 260 mile-per-hour top alcohol dragsters and top alcohol funny cars seeking points leading to divisional and national championships.
The Korbel Super Eliminator class and the Team Superstores Top Comp category will run in conjunction with the drag racing series.
Most racers will be arriving in Fallon by mid-week, and Hiatt estimates that as many as 400 and possibly 500 racers will compete for more than $140,000 in prize money and contingencies.
While some of last weekend's racers have decided either to stay in Fallon until later in the week or have left their racers at Top Gun and traveled home for a few days, Hiatt expects most racers will begin to arrive on Wednesday.
Bart Hiatt, treasurer of the Motor Sports Safety, Inc., (Top Gun's board of directors) said Sunday the race is the fifth of seven on the division's schedule.
Each division race features drivers in eight categories including the 260 mile-per-hour top alcohol dragsters and top alcohol funny cars seeking points leading to divisional and national championships.
The Korbel Super Eliminator class and the Team Superstores Top Comp category will run in conjunction with the drag racing series.
Most racers will be arriving in Fallon by mid-week, and Hiatt estimates that as many as 400 and possibly 500 racers will compete for more than $140,000 in prize money and contingencies.
While some of last weekend's racers have decided either to stay in Fallon until later in the week or have left their racers at Top Gun and traveled home for a few days, Hiatt expects most racers will begin to arrive on Wednesday.
A test and tune is planned for Thursday.
Hiatt said the weekend series will attract racers from the entire Division 7 which includes the Pacific Northwest, California, Utah, Arizona and Nevada.
"We'll have some racers who just competed in the NHRA national event in Indianapolis coming here," Hiatt said
After Fallon, racers will have two more division races before heading to the nationals in Las Vegas during the first week of November.
Hiatt said Top Gun approached the NHRA in 1998 about hosting a division race. At the time, the NHRA said the Top Gun facility needed to upgrade its facilities.
"We were pitching the fact that
Hiatt said the weekend series will attract racers from the entire Division 7 which includes the Pacific Northwest, California, Utah, Arizona and Nevada.
"We'll have some racers who just competed in the NHRA national event in Indianapolis coming here," Hiatt said
After Fallon, racers will have two more division races before heading to the nationals in Las Vegas during the first week of November.
Hiatt said Top Gun approached the NHRA in 1998 about hosting a division race. At the time, the NHRA said the Top Gun facility needed to upgrade its facilities.
"We were pitching the fact that
northern Nevada and Reno needed a race. The NHRA was reluctant," Hiatt said.
Disappointed but not defeated, the Top Gun board of directors began to formulate a pan to improve northern Nevada's only drag racing facility.
"We increased the pit area. We put down asphalt and installed concrete barrier rails," Hiatt said.
NHRA also wanted access to high speed internet service so that other division racers across the country could monitor the times of their Division 7 competitors.
While workers toiled at the raceway, other Top Gun officials worked with the Fallon Tourist Authority director Rick Gray in compiling promotional information on the area.
Hiatt said most motels are full for the weekend, and he figures the racers will spend at least $200,000 for goods and services during their four-to-five day stay.
Hiatt said the NHRA is expecting more spectators than usual.
Disappointed but not defeated, the Top Gun board of directors began to formulate a pan to improve northern Nevada's only drag racing facility.
"We increased the pit area. We put down asphalt and installed concrete barrier rails," Hiatt said.
NHRA also wanted access to high speed internet service so that other division racers across the country could monitor the times of their Division 7 competitors.
While workers toiled at the raceway, other Top Gun officials worked with the Fallon Tourist Authority director Rick Gray in compiling promotional information on the area.
Hiatt said most motels are full for the weekend, and he figures the racers will spend at least $200,000 for goods and services during their four-to-five day stay.
Hiatt said the NHRA is expecting more spectators than usual.
"Our spectators have ever seen cars like this. These guys will be setting rack records everyday," Hiatt said.
Veteran Super Comp racer Dave Ales of Chico, Calif., has been a regular competitor at Top Gun for several years. He said Top Gun is more than ready to host a big event like this.
"This is good for Fallon," said Alves. "They'll get a lot of racers."
Frank Argo, who accompanies Alves on many of his races said Top Gun is a friendly facility.
"People who run it (Top Gun) are friendly towards the racers. They make you feel you're welcome," he added.
.
Veteran Super Comp racer Dave Ales of Chico, Calif., has been a regular competitor at Top Gun for several years. He said Top Gun is more than ready to host a big event like this.
"This is good for Fallon," said Alves. "They'll get a lot of racers."
Frank Argo, who accompanies Alves on many of his races said Top Gun is a friendly facility.
"People who run it (Top Gun) are friendly towards the racers. They make you feel you're welcome," he added.
.
