- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Heartland Motorsports Park has been on the NHRA national drag racing schedule since the facility opened in 1989, hosting at least one national event every season except 2020 when Topeka's largest sporting event was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The facility that bills itself as the "House of Speed'' will be back in action Friday through Sunday when the stars of the Camping World Drag Racing Series return to Topeka for the 2022 Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor.
Gearing up for race week, here’s a look back at 15 of the great moments in Topeka drag racing history from the perspective of someone who's had the privilege of attending every national event since the track opened:
Drag racing legend John Force won the Funny Car title at Heartland Motorsports Park in 2021, his track-record 10th Topeka win. [File Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
1. John Force called his Funny Car win at Heartland in 2008 the biggest of his career. That’s saying a lot for a driver who has won 16 championships and an NHRA-record 155 national events as a driver and 21 world championships as an owner with John Force Racing.
What made the 2008 victory stand out was that it was Force’s first victory after a serious crash at Dallas in '07 that ended his season and put his career in jeopardy.
“Coming back from that wreck, that race was key,” Force told The Topeka Capital-Journal in an interview. “It showed that I could still drive, that I could still cut it.
"I knew even then my legs were still weak. I struggled just getting in and out of the car, but to get that win after a year of rehab was huge -- to be there and hear those fans scream the way they did.”
2. In 1990 the late Gary Ormsby put Topeka on the national racing map, becoming the first driver in NHRA history to break the 4.9-second and 295 mile-per-hour barriers in his Top Fuel dragster, clicking off a pass of 4.881 seconds at 296.06 mph.
Ormsby, who won the 1989 Top Fuel championship, died after a battle with cancer on Aug. 28, 1991. Ormsby ran his final race at HMP, defeating Lori Johns in a match race.
Ormsby will always be linked with Heartland Park, with the main entrance into the facility named Gary Ormsby Drive after his death.
3. The 1993 Sears Craftsman Nationals at HMP delivered a double dose of history in the Funny Car class when Chuck Etchells and Jim Epler both broke the four-second and 300-mph barriers.
Etchells became the first Funny Car racer to run in the fours with a 4.987 pass while Epler recorded the first 300-mph run with a 300.40 pass.
Former Funny Car star Courtney Force posted the 100th win by a woman in NHRA history at Heartland Motorsports Park in 2014. [Photo by NHRA]
4. Courtney Force topped Cruz Pedregon in the 2014 Funny Car final at HMP to post the 100th event win by a woman in NHRA history.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Silver Lake's Logan Pegram and Washburn Rural's Brad Johnston, who are taking over retiring Kansas coaching legends C.J. Hamilton and Kevin Hedberg, are part of a group of 19 new varsity head coaches who have been announced by Shawnee County high schools for the 2022-2023 school year.
Brad Johnston will take over as Washburn Rural's tennis coach in 2022-2023, replacing Kevin Hedberg who retired after 32 years at the school. [File photo/TSN]
Logan Pegram
Alex Hutchins
Pegram, a former Silver Lake standout, takes over as the Eagles' head football coach for Hamilton, the state's winningest football coach, who retired after 47 years at the school, while Johnston is the new Washburn Rural girls and boys tennis coach, replacing Hedberg, who led the Junior Blues to five state team championships in 32 seasons and coached a total of 43 years at Seaman and Rural.
Joining Johnston as a new head coach for Washburn Rural is former Hays boys basketball coach Alex Hutchins, who is taking over as the Junior Blues' boys basketball coach from Kevin Muff.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
If it hadn't been the final day of the Topeka Golf Association Bill McDonald Champions Stroke Play Tournament Gary Lucas might have been tempted to skip playing golf Tuesday on a day when the temperature reached 100 degrees, with a feel-like temp of 110.
Gary Lucas (right), receiving his first-place award from the Topeka Golf Association's Stacy Kramer, won the Bill McDonald Champions Stroke Play title in a playoff. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But Lucas not only played Tuesday at Topeka Country Club, but earned the tournament championship in the city event for players aged 40 and over, shooting a 36-hole score of 145 with rounds of 72 and winning the title in a sudden death playoff with C.C. Metzler.
"Probably today I would't have been playing, but riding in a cart it wasn't too bad,'' Lucas said. "There was enough shade out there and the wind was blowing, so it actually felt cooler today than it did yesterday because there was a little more breeze.''
Lucas, who also recently won the Topkeka Country Club club championship, was pleased with the way he played in the Champions event.
"I thought I played pretty solid, although I threw some simple shots away,'' Lucas said.
Metzler, who had rounds of 73 and 72, was satisfied with his runner-up finish.
"I hit the ball well, I couldn't complain about that at all,'' Metzler said. "But I've been struggling with my putting for two or three years.
"I don't mind losing to this guy (Lucas) any day. We play together a lot and he's a great guy and a great player and he deserves to win.
BILL McDONALD CITY CHAMPIONS STROKE PLAY TOURNAMENT
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Veteran Topeka West tennis coach Kurt Davids was honored Tuesday as the Kansas Coaches Association state boys tennis coach of the year for 2021-2022.
Longtime Topeka West tennis coach Kurt Davids (right) received the Kansas Coaches Association state boys tennis coach of the year award from the KCA's Stan Boggs Tuesday during the KSHSAA Coaching School. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The 2022 Topeka West boys tennis team was on hand Tuesday to see Charger coach Kurt Davids receive his award as the Kansas boys tennis coach of the year. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka West tennis coach Kurt Davids (middle), flanked by wife Katie and son Andrew, was honored Tuesday as the Kansas boys tennis coach of the year. Davids' son, Austin, was unable to attend the ceremony. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Davids, who has coached West's boys for 29 seasons, received his award Tuesday during the 88th annual Kansas State High School Activities Association Coaching School at the Hotel Topeka City Center.
Davids led Topeka West to a second-place finish in the Class 5A state tournament this past season while also winning a regional team championship, sharing the city team title with Washburn Rural and finishing second in the Centennial League meet.
West also won the city boys title in 2021 and Davids' teams (boys and girls combined) have posted five top-four state team finishes. He has coached Class 5A state singles and doubles champs.
Davids' 2022 Topeka West team and family members were on hand to see Davids receive his award from the KCA's Stan Boggs, a longtime high school tennis coach.
KANSAS COACHES ASSOCIATION 2021-2022 COACHES OF THE YEAR
Boys cross country -- Curtis Morgan, Buhler.
Girls cross country -- Kelsey Carbajo, Olathe West.
Football (11-man) -- Clint Rider, Blue Valley Northwest.
Football (8-man) -- Bryan Luetters, Meade.
Girls golf -- Aaron Anderson, Blue Valley West.
Boys soccer -- Erik Jones, Blue Valley Southwest.
Girls tennis -- Cheryl Kucharik, Scott City.
Volleyball -- Kaylie Bergkamp, Andale.
Boys basketball -- Chris Schmidt, Olpe.
Girls basketball -- Jill Rowland, Sterling.
Boys swimming and diving -- Dave Youker, Olathe East.
Girls wrestling -- Tate Thompson, Pratt.
Baseball -- Heath Gerstner, McPherson.
Boys golf -- Clifton Hartzog, Godard Eisenhower.
Girls soccer -- Alex Aiman, Blue Valley West.
Softball -- Bill Finucane, Eudora.
Girls swimming and diving -- Bethany Bastian, Andover.
Boys tennis -- Kurt Davids, Topeka West.
Boys track and field -- Tyler Ryan, Andale.
Girls track and field -- Jay Myers, Smoky Valley.
Boys middle school -- Jody Miller, Rock Creek.
Girls middle school -- Nate Clevenger, Girard.
NATIONAL FEDERATION NATIONAL COACHES OF THE YEAR
Kit Harris, girls wrestling, Baldwin.
Jesse Nelson, girls basketball, Olpe.
- Details
By CAMDEN MARTIN
TopSports.news
Topeka is a town rich in fun and exciting things to do.
One such thing is participating in a sports team. There’s no shortage of sports teams for youths of various ages and although becoming a member of these teams might seem vexing to those who are new, it is easy.
One such way to become involved in these teams is to take part in the Police Athletic League of Topeka, or PAL program.
The Police Athletic League of Topeka is the heart of sports for the youth living in Topeka, offering programs to children in kindergarten through sixth grade.
PAL offers fun opportunities through the Boys and Girls Club of Topeka. Playing games of traditional sports such as basketball, baseball and flag football, there’s never a dull day with PAL. Even for those uninterested in sports, there are programs that allow for other kinds of involvement. Members are also granted the chance to participate in in activities such as boxing and chess.
In addition to physical and social opportunities, the mission of PAL is to teach the youths of Topeka important lessons in teamwork, good sportsmanship and self-discipline.
But one of the most enlightening experiences members can have is the chance to interact with the officers of the Topeka Police Department. Taking time out of their duties protecting the town they call home, these distinguished officers have chosen to dedicate their efforts to enriching the bodies and minds of local youths.
One such officer is Sergeant William Lister, who serves as the president of PAL. Sergeant Lister freely offers his free time to enriching the lives of Topeka’s children with fun and engaging sports. Another officer serving is Lieutenant John Sturgeon, the treasurer of PAL.
With the help of these noble police officers, the Police Athletic League of Topeka has become an organization that Topeka can be proud of.
Much more than a simple sports program for children, it’s way of bringing people together, especially handy during the idle, warm months of summer.
The Police Athletic League of Topeka has something for everyone to enjoy; whether it’s exciting sports or a different interest. One can be aware of this organization by following it on their website, Twitter and Facebook.
If you wish to get involved in this year-long program, visit their website at paltopeka.org.
Children from K-6th grade are accepted, with registration $25 for individuals and $125 for teams.
