By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Sunday, August 13, is likely to be a very sad day for area drag racing fans.
NHRA officials and Heartland Motorsports Park jointly announced on Friday that the final event at the Topeka facility will take place on Aug. 11-13 with the Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor.
NHRA legend John Force, a 10-time Topeka winner, will make his final appearance at Heartland Motorsports Park Aug. 11-13 in the wake of Friday's announcement that the upcoming race will be the final NHRA national event at HMP. [File photo/TSN]
Heartland Motorsports Park, formerly Heartland Park Topeka, has hosted NHRA national events since the facility opened in 1989, but the track is likely to be closing its doors due to a long and ongoing tax and land dispute with Shawnee County.
NHRA officials announced Friday that the new Flying H Dragstrip in the Kansas City area will be part of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series national event schedule in 2024.
“We have a rich history at Heartland Motorsports Park and we want to thank Chris Payne and his team for many years supporting NHRA drag racing,” NHRA President Glen Cromwell said in a release. “But as one door closes, another opens and we are looking forward to the great opportunity of racing in the Kansas City area at a brand new facility. Scott Higgs and his team are building a fantastic new track at Flying H Dragstrip and we are excited to have our first event there in 2024 and create a wealth of new memories in the area.”
“We are extremely thankful for our longtime partnership with the NHRA and its racers, as well as all the fans who have visited Heartland Motorsports Park over the years,” Heartland Motorsports Park owner Chris Payne said in Friday's release. “Because of the actions by Shawnee County, unfortunately this will be the last national event at Heartland Motorsports Park. We look forward to completing the 2023 season as well.”
Flying H Dragstrip, located in Odessa, Mo., broke ground on its new facility in May, with the construction process expected to be completed in October.
Flying H joined the NHRA Member Track Network at that time and upon completion this year, the quarter-mile Flying H Dragstrip, which is located at I-70 Motorsports Park, is expected to offer top-tier amenities and be a premier dragstrip in the Kansas City area.
Higgs purchased the property in March of 2023 with plans to add the dragstrip to I-70 Motorsports Park. Following the recent groundbreaking on the quarter-mile Flying H Dragstrip, Higgs and his team, which includes vice-president Blake Housley, have worked to have the track ready to open this year and ready for a NHRA National Event during the 2024 season.
“We are truly excited to bring NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series action to our track in 2024,” Higgs said in Friday's release. “Everyone at Flying H Dragstrip was thrilled to join the NHRA Member Track Network earlier this year and to have a national event during our first full year of operation is going to be incredible.
"We’ve been dedicated to building a great facility with great people and a strong family environment. It’s been a lot of work, but our team is committed to building a top-notch facility at Flying H Dragstrip and making it a memorable weekend for the race teams, fans and partners.”
HMP, billed as the “House of Speed” has enjoyed a rich history since its first national event in '89, with several record runs taking place over the years.
NHRA legend John Force has a track-record 10 victories at the track and will be one of many NHRA stars looking to win the final race in Topeka.
“This year’s Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor will be a memorable celebration of more than 30 years of NHRA drag racing at the facility,” Cromwell said. “There have been many great moments at Topeka over the years and we know this upcoming final race weekend will be one fans won’t want to miss.”
To purchase tickets to the 34th and final Menards NHRA Nationals, fans can visit www.nhra.com/tickets. For more information on the NHRA, visit www.nhra.com.
