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NCRA Sprints at Hutch Nationals
PARK CITY, Kan. (July 16, 2007) – There have been open-wheel racecars at the Grand National Auto Races every year since its inception in 1957. For the last 19 years, 360 sprinters have been a part of this prestigious event.
Held at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kan., this year’s 51st annual running will again include the O’Reilly NCRA Sprint Car Series, presented by ICM/Ethanol.
Officials expect at least five former Nationals winners to be on hand. The list includes J.D. Johnson of Goddard, Kan., who took the lead with five laps to go last year and won his first Grand National. Marc Robe, the 1997 Grand National modified champion, finished second.
A pair of three-time winners from Western Kansas will highlight this year’s field. Cimarron’s Garry Lee Maier won from 1990-92. C.J. Johnson of Quinter took the crowns in 2000 and 2002-03. Nobody has more Grand National 360 sprint wins than these two.
Clay Bontrager and Mike Peters are the only other drivers with more than one Nationals victory in 360 sprints. Bontrager’s wins came in 1995 and 1999, while Peters grabbed the checkers in 1994 and 1997. He also has two wins in other open-wheel divisions.
In last year’s 360 feature, Peters was fifth and C.J. Johnson sixth. Maier encountered fuel pick-up problems and finished 14th.
Along with J.D. Johnson, Maier, C.J. Johnson, and Peters, look for 2005 Nationals champion Derek Drown to be there. All five drivers are in the top 10 of this year’s NCRA standings.
Two-time defending series champion Maier leads in points. Peters is third, Drown fifth, J.D. Johnson seventh, and C.J. Johnson eighth.
Maier has the most series championships (three), winning his first in 1991. C.J. Johnson won the series title in 2000. They are the only NCRA champions expected in this year’s field.
NCRA series rookie Don Droud Jr. won July 14 at RPM Speedway in Hays, Kan., to remain second to Maier in the standings. Peters moved up to third, swapping places with Stu Snyder, as Drown took over fifth from Mike Chadd.
Qualifying for the sprint car series is Friday with features on Saturday.
For more information about the NCRA, either visit their Web site at www.ncraracing.org or call the NCRA office at (316) 755-1781.
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