Mike Newkirk Great Bend Preview

LODRS 5-1 Mike Newkirk Ready to Make Some Noise at Home Track


Great Bend, Kans -- The sophomore Top Alcohol Funny Car Team of Mike Newkirk is focused and ready to begin their 2007 racing season this weekend at the West Central Division 5 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series opener at their home track in Great Bend, Kansas.

Newkirk, an automotive technician from Great Bend, Kansas, began bracket racing a fuel injected funny car at the age of 16 years old that his parents bought him.

After several years of bracket racing the family car, he was ready for something new and different and decided to step into NHRA competition driving a Super Comp dragster. It didn't take Newkirk long to realize that he missed driving a flopper and cashed the dragster in for his first blown alcohol big block chevrolet powered funny car that sported a 1989 Dodge Daytona body.

In 2005, Newkirk decided it was time to go faster so he, along with his wife and partner, Shelly, invested into another type of team, a competitive Fontana powered 2002 Dodge Avenger NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car.

"We knew that it was going to take some time to get the crew together, the transporter and some other essential tools that we needed" said Newkirk, "but we've taken our time, and although we only made it out in 2006 for two Lucas Oil Division 5 races, we have done some significant testing and match races that has given our team some working data for our tune up".

Currently, test results for the Newkirk Racing Team have a career best elapse time of 5.95 seconds at almost 235 miles an hour and they are looking to improve on that this weekend.

Newkirk racing would like to thank his wife Shelly and his son Trey for their continued support. Two Eighty One Auto Salvage, Pro-Dep Photography, crew chief Thom Boor, Nathan Deberry, RC Williams, Jerry Watkins, www.FunnyCarConnection.com and especially his Mom and Dad who introduced him and continue to encourage him within the sport of Drag Racing.

The first Division 5 Lucas Oil Drag Race series kicks off on Friday, April 27th with the first round of qualifying for TAD/TA-FC at 5:00 pm and continues on Saturday, April 28th at 2:00 and 5:00 pm with final eliminations on Sunday, April 15th, beginning at noon. Log on to www.dragracecentral.com presented by Summitracing.com 1-800-230-3030 for all the latest updates and racing results.

For further information on Mike Newkirk Racing, log on to: www.NewkirkRacing.com



PR Courtesy of Nancy Matter Racing