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SWELTERING HEAT DOESN'T SLOW THE ACTION AT HEARTLAND PARK TOPEKA

Winston-Salem, N.C., August 28, 2003 - Above-average temperatures foiled the spectator turnout but exceptional track prep kept the racing fast and furious…and the result was national record times at the AHDRA Mid-West Nationals presented by Topeka Harley-Davidson on August 23rd and 24th.

AHDRA adjusted the daily schedule to allow for racing in the cooler hours, but with temperatures reaching three-digit numbers, a cooling trend was hard to come by.

When the final round of qualifying approached under the lights at Heartland Park Topeka, Doug Vancil of Albuquerque, N.M., had found the golden tune in his Vance and Hines/Drag Specialties machine and blistered the quarter mile with a 6.513 at 206.35 mph for the top qualifying position in Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley competition. On Sunday, Vancil and the Nitro Harley riders making up the eight-bike field were faced with the hottest temperatures of the day in the opening round of eliminations. Many were surprised, including the riders, when six out of eight were able to reach the six-second zone, including Vancil's 6.549 over Chicago Joe of Richmond, California.

With consistent six-second passes under his belt, Vancil went on to the finals to face Bill Furr, who had a consistency plan in full force. A side-by-side final was surely on tap.

Seasoned Nitro Harley veteran Furr drew an unusual red light in the final against Vancil. "Going into the final with a 6.67 against Doug's 6.66, we were ready," Furr explained. "We thought we'd made changes that would run a 6.60 or possibly a high 6.50. For the heat, the track was in great shape. I really concentrated on a good light, but not that good. I was ready and the starter just wasn't fast enough for me. At the top end, Doug didn't know he'd won and said, 'You sure pulled a holeshot on me.' I told him I did; just a little too much. Even though we thought we'd improve that round, we couldn't have beaten Doug's 6.61." Furr finished his day in Kansas with a 6.72 at 208 miles per hour. "Though I knew I'd red lighted, I ran it on through to get the computer data. We had a 1.10 sixty-foot time, which was our best of the weekend. We slowed down on the rest of the numbers, but we're always looking for information to tune our motorcycle better and better."

In JIMS Pro Fuel, Mark Conner was the man to beat after qualifying in the top spot with a 6.795 on the Mike Romine-built, Marianne and Lonnie Isam-owned Flyin' Banana. Conner went on to beat Bill Bertolette of Washingtonville, OH, in the finals with a 7.026 at 190.35 over Bertolette's 7.473 at 146.02 mph.

Tom Bradford of Eagle, WI, took on National Points leader Dirk Higgins (Kirby, OH) on his Thiel's Wheels-Jon Miller sponsored ride in the S & S Pro Stock final. Bradford's Thunder Eagle-Hal's H-D team took the win with a 7.483 at 173.87 mph over Higgins's 7.666, 168.81 mph finish.

Oregon's Steve Dorn captured a six-pack of wins along with a new national record in Kresto Pro Drag competition. Dorn's record E.T. of 7.351 came in Saturday's qualifying, giving him the #1 qualifying position, and was backed up in the opening round of Sunday's eliminations with a 7.411. Dorn and the Black Attack/All American Cycle team went on to seal the six-pack of wins with a 7.436 at 177.70 mph over St. Petersburg, FL's Chuck Jones, who had a 7.816 at 156.37 mph pass.

Lee Hitz of Annville, PA, was the winner in Hayes Jewelers Pro Gas after taking out Robert Markham in the final. Markham's trip to the final was a surprise after top qualifier Frank Dove (Hughesville, MD) was taken out in the opening round of eliminations. Markham, of Loveland, CO, encountered mechanical problems in the final round, thereby sending Hitz to the winner's circle with a 9.431 at 139.04 mph.

The number one and two qualifiers went head-to-head in the Joker Machine Pro Modified final. Darren Maudlin of Mesa, AZ, held the top spot after three rounds of qualifying, but the number two-seated Cliff Dwy of Madras, OR, grabbed the win in the final with an 8.547 at 150.28 mph over Mauldin's 8.568 at 152.59 mph.

Travis Lummus continued his quest for a fourth championship in Rivera-Primo Street Pro competition after beating Donnie Huffman of Lakeland, Fl, in the final. Lummus, of Asheville, NC, was the winner with a 9.384 at 144.44 mph over Huffman's 10.171 at 129.62 mph.

Next up for AHDRA's 2003 National Points Series is the Team Latus Motors Harley-Davidson Northwest Nationals, September 6th and 7th, in Woodburn, OR.

For more information on the 2003 AHDRA National Points Series, please contact 336-924-2095 or visit www.ahdra.com.

Final Results - Topeka

Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley Top Fuel
WinnerDoug Vancil .072 6.614 200.62
R/UBill Furr .113 6.729 207.21(foul)
JIMS Pro Fuel
WinnerMark Conner .114 7.026 190.35
R/UBill Bertolette .100 7.473 146.02
S & S Pro Stock
WinnerTom Bradford .138 7.483 173.87
R/UDirk Higgins .040 7.666 168.81
Hayes Jewelers Pro Gas
WinnerLee Hitz .143 9.431 139.04
R/URobert Markham broke
Kresto Pro Drag
WinnerSteve Dorn .132 7.436 177.70
R/UChuck Jones .052 7.816 156.37
Joker Machine Pro Modified
WinnerCliff Dwy .052 8.547 150.28
R/UDarren Mauldin .075 8.568 152.59
Rivera-Primo Street Pro
WinnerTravis Lummus .211 9.384 144.44
R/UDonnie Huffman .204 10.171 129.62
Screamin' Eagle V-Rod
WinnerTripp Nobles .213 9.737 138.47
R/ULarry Maynhart .218 11.136 121.27
Dragmasters Hot Street
WinnerDavid Atkins .160 10.712 121.84
R/UDonnie Huffman .187 10.695 123.80
Red Line Oil Super Gas (9.70 Index)
WinnerWillie Herschberger .112 9.983 123.42
R/UDale Miller .088 10.037 129.29
Nonpareil Super Sport (10.30 Index)
WinnerKaren Wagner .073 10.397 118.42
R/UDave Ostrowske .019 10.473 125.19
Performance Corner Super Eliminator (10.90 Index)
WinnerMike Harrison .033 11.032 117.42
R/UBob Drapp .127 10.974 115.01
Screamin' Eagle Performance (11.50 Index)
WinnerCharlie Walker .036 11.580 109.15
R/UJohn Hendrzak .055 11.563 113.60
Syn3 ET
WinnerLarry Maynhart .008 11.278 112.65
R/URon Roti .191 11.863 113.49