The drag strip just outside of Wichita, Kansas has undergone many changes since the end of the 2007 racing season. It is now under new ownership, and the new owners also own the land the track is located on. With them owning the land, they are able to put more money back into the facilities. The name has also been changed to Kansas International Raceway (KID). They have a three year plan to upgrade all of the facilities at the race track. For this year they have installed new guardrails, timing system, scoreboards and bleachers. They also leveled the land, redesigned the return road and repaved it. They have set a schedule for a heads up series, that they hope to grow into something with a points fund in the future. Shane Gilstrap , founder of former MSRA series, has been brought in to run the series. Due to the track upgrades and the weather they got a very late start on promoting the heads up series. The car counts were low but not considering they really just started getting the word out just over a week ago. All classes, this race, were run 1/8th mile due to the high winds. There is discussion about some classes running ¼ or 1/8 mile. Watch the
KID website for details.
Drag Radial class only ended up with two cars. Chris Nichols in his GTO was number one qualifier over Rod Dowell in a Mustang. Chris has one of the fastest GTO’s in the country. Rod has a Procharged Mustang that was having issues getting down the track. Chris leaned his car out a little for the finals and his IRS rear end could not take the power. It broke a stub-shaft and Rod ran a 7.5 at 90 mph for the win.
True 10.5 class had six quality cars in the field. Mike G. was number one with a 5.35 at 119 followed by:
Marty Chance Mustang, 5.42 at 131
Bobby Stahl Camaro, 5.62 at 128
Keith Lopez Mustang 5.75 at 122
Chris Rose Mustang 5.80 at 131.
Mike G ran a 5.76 on his bye. Marty took out Chris with a 5.57. Keith took out Bobby with his street car by running another 5.75. Stahl turned on the red bulb and had trouble getting it down the track. In the second round Chance ran a 5.42 on his bye run. Mike G broke an intercooler and was pushing water out so Lopez took the win with a 5.90. It was Chance taking the win in the finals with 5.43 to Keith’s 5.79.
The race was a lot closer at the line since Keith had a .054 light to Marty’s .265. Keith Lopez drove his car to the track and after the finals he removed his parachute and hooked his golf cart trailer up and headed on home.
The Outlaw 10.5 class ended up with four cars. Cliff Akins was number one qualifier in his Camaro. Cliff laid down a 5.04 @ 141. He was followed by Kurt Riffle 5.24 @ 136, Mike G in a different Procharged Mustang then his own 5.29 @ 134, and A. Beleu with a 6.81 at 71 in an S-10. Cliff got a bye in the first round due to Beleu braking. Riffle runs a 5.15 to take out Mike G’s 5.25 in a side by side race. In the finals Kurt got a little loose and had to lift and Akins wins with a 5.12.
The Pro Mod cars decided not to race because of the wind. You can look forward to adding the Pro Mod class along with a True Street class at the next event. Don’t miss it!