Steve Harker Dallas wrap up

Harker qualifies No. 1 in Dallas

ENNIS, Texas - Aussie NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Steve Harker logged another strong outing during this past weekend's O'Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec at the Texas Motorplex just south of Dallas. Harker started the event from the No. 1 qualifying position before losing to eventual winner Kebin Kinsley in the quarterfinals.

Harker, originally from Brisbane, Aus., but now resides stateside in Gainesville, Ga., recorded a 5.715 second pass at 251.91 mph to take low qualifier honors. In round one, he received a competition single when his opponent John Patton was shut off on the line. Harker stayed consistent with a 5.724 at 241.28 mph. In his second round bout with Kinsley, both drivers left together in a close drag race, but it was Kinsley who took the win with a 5.617 at 254.81 mph to Harker's right-there 5.641 at 255.15 mph.

"It got a lot cooler on Sunday," said Harker. "I just got a bit too aggressive; I thought the track would hold a little more than it did. It shook the tires pretty good, and that was enough for him to beat me. It's easy to go fast when the air is good and the track is killer, but we just need to keep making laps to figure out what the car wants when the track starts getting hot."

The team stayed after the event for Steve's daughter, Kate, to finish her Top Alcohol Dragster license. With two sessions at Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School under her belt, Kate got behind the wheel of Tom Conway's A/Fuel Dragster. After making a half pass to get used to the car, Kate made passes of 5.51 and 5.355 to complete her Top Alcohol Dragster license.

"I'm proud of her, she did good today," said Harker. "That's one down, one to go for me. She has a twin sister that wants to drive as well. They both ran Modified (Super Comp) back home and did well, so it's no surprise how quickly she's taken to the Top Alcohol Dragsters. Kate is working on some sponsor deals to get both of them out on the track next year."

The team will stay on the road as they head to Atlanta Dragway this weekend for the Division 2 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event there. Harker is currently tied for third in Division 4 standings with Jonathan Johnson with two more races remaining for him to claim points.

For more information on the team, visit their website at www.HarkerMotorsport.com

Contact: Will Hanna/ Pro Race Communications
Email: Will.Hanna@InsideTopAlcohol.com