Erica Enders

[67 Nova Boy]

September's NHRA event expected to go on as scheduled

The listing real estate agent in Berks County, Pennsylvania, near Reading, Pa., says his “phone has been ringing off the hook with inquiries,” now that Maple Grove Raceway has been put up for sale.

The dragstrip that has been the site of NHRA national records, Countdown drama and highly desirable mineshaft conditions when the Mello Yello Series has visited each fall went on the market Monday for $8 million. The asking price includes campground facilities, expansive income-producing parking, two liquor licenses, several residential rentals, office/event buildings, numerous outbuildings and racing equipment, among other assets. Maple Grove is composed of 111 acres of racetrack grounds and 14 other parcels totalling 450 acres.

A prepared statement from the facility said family members of Maple Grove founder Alfred Stauffer “have decided to pursue other interests,” but their vision “is to see Maple Grove’s legacy continue to grow through new, energetic owners who wish to promote NHRA drag racing.” And Jim Bedorf, of the Camp Hill-headquartered Bedorf-Prince Team of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, said the majority of inquiring parties is interested in preserving the racing business.

As for the reason the family would like to sell the property, the staff wrote, “Well this is where one answer is just not enough, because there is not one single reason. Above all, the original families of the founder, Alfred Stauffer, have decided to pursue other personal interests. Running a world-famous facility and maintain approximately 450 acres is not an easy venture. The families are seeking new owners for Maple Grove Raceway now because they want to see the track continue and advance to the next level.”

Moving forward throughout at least this year, the staff’s message is that “we wait and keep business as usual” and that the staff is finalizing the 2020 season schedule and considering “scheduling for years to come.” It pledged “a smooth transition with staff, racers, fans, sponsors, event partners, and the community for the new owners.”

A backdrop for such colorful drag-racing legends as Funny Car phenom Jungle Jim Liberman and backup girl Jungle Pam and Pro Stock’s Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins, it was also the hometown track for five-time Top Fuel champion Joe Amato. Maple Grove Raceway began as Brecknock Speedway, an oval dirt track for sprint cars and motorcycles. Then it became Maple Grove Park Drag-O-Way in 1962, reinvented as an asphalt one-fifth-mile dragstrip.

Jessica Hatcher, NHRA director of media relations and communications, said this September’s Mopar Express Lane Nationals -- the 35th edition of the track’s premier event there -- will proceed as scheduled. She said, "NHRA has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the Maple Grove Raceway community and expects to continue that relationship for years to come. We look forward to seeing fans out there in September ... when we kick off the Countdown To The Championship."

In the wake of Old Bridge Township Raceway Park at Englishtown, New Jersey, halting NHRA action last year, news of a change at Maple Grove sent the Northeast drag-racing community into a bit of a bout of apprehension. But the Maple Grove management staff allayed fears by speaking to its racers, fans and marketing partners in an open letter.

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TOPEKA, Kan. -- Final finish order (1-16) at the 31st annual Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties at Heartland Motorsports Park. The race is the 10th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL:
1. Steve Torrence; 2. Billy Torrence; 3. Austin Prock; 4. Antron Brown; 5. Doug Kalitta; 6. Brittany Force; 7. Richie Crampton; 8. Clay Millican; 9. Leah Pritchett; 10. Scott Palmer; 11. Cameron Ferre; 12. Terry Totten; 13. Lex Joon; 14. Terry McMillen.

FUNNY CAR:
1. Robert Hight; 2. Jack Beckman; 3. John Force; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr.; 5. Bob Tasca III; 6. Ron Capps; 7. Tim Wilkerson; 8. J.R. Todd; 9. Matt Hagan; 10. Dale Creasy Jr.; 11. Jim Campbell; 12. Terry Haddock; 13. Cruz Pedregon; 14. Jack Wyatt; 15. Shawn Langdon.


TOPEKA, Kan. -- Sunday's final results from the 31st annual Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties at Heartland Motorsports Park. The race is the 10th of 24 in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Steve Torrence, 3.750 seconds, 326.16 mph def. Billy Torrence, 3.768 seconds, 326.00 mph.

Funny Car -- Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.895, 330.88 def. Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 3.969, 323.97.

Pro Modified -- Steve Jackson, Chevy Camaro, 5.747, 251.72 def. Clint Satterfield, Camaro, 5.933, 251.58.

Top Alcohol Dragster -- Shawn Cowie, 5.213, 279.15 def. Troy Coughlin Jr., 7.406, 118.32.

Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Sean Bellemeur, Chevy Camaro, 5.446, 269.29 def. Jay Payne, Camaro, 5.592, 262.79.

Competition Eliminator -- Bruno Massel, Dragster, 6.764, 177.95 def. Shaun Vincent, Chevy S-10, 8.404, 158.32.

Super Stock -- Gene Mosbek, Plymouth Savoy, 10.234, 126.34 def. Vic Penrod, Chevy Camaro, 9.898, 130.67.

Stock Eliminator -- Chris Chaney, Chevy Camaro, 10.215, 129.59 def. Scott Libersher, Camaro, Foul- Red Light.

Super Comp -- Kyle Fickler, Dragster, 8.913, 161.63 def. Veron Rowland, Dragster, 8.899, 166.15.

Super Gas -- Shawn Carter, Chevy Cavalier, 9.896, 166.31 def. Collin Becker, Chevy Camaro, 9.888, 164.45.

Super Street -- Trevor Larson, Chevy Corvette, 10.853, 139.54 def. Mike Campbell, Chevy Malibu, Foul - Red Light.

Top Fuel Harley -- Tii Tharpe, JTR, 6.313, 227.38 def. Bob Malloy, Buell, 7.391, 132.69.

Factory Stock Showdown -- Stephen Bell, Chevy Camaro, 7.908, 174.12 def. Arthur Kohn, Camaro, 7.951, 174.19.


TOPEKA, Kan. -- Final round-by-round results from the 31st annual Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties at Heartland Motorsports Park, the 10th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Richie Crampton, 3.793, 320.36 def. Terry McMillen, 7.586, 83.77; Brittany Force, 3.690, 332.67 def. Clay Millican, 3.755, 316.97; Antron Brown, 3.740, 329.58 def. Scott Palmer, 3.825, 324.20; Austin Prock, 3.760, 318.32 def. Cameron Ferre, 3.886, 297.29; Billy Torrence, 3.763, 327.35 def. Lex Joon, 4.064, 233.88; Steve Torrence, 3.745, 325.61 def. Terry Totten, 3.972, 270.10; Doug Kalitta, 3.737, 331.69 def. Leah Pritchett, 3.779, 327.98; QUARTERFINALS -- B. Torrence, 3.769, 328.14 def. Crampton, 4.845, 151.29; S. Torrence, 3.721, 329.83 was unopposed; Prock, 4.035, 236.46 def. Force, 4.348, 193.29; Brown, 3.743, 327.98 def. Kalitta, 3.773, 326.16;
SEMIFINALS -- B. Torrence, 3.796, 321.81 def. Prock, 5.333, 138.20; S. Torrence, 3.750, 328.94 def. Brown, 5.603, 128.22;
FINAL -- S. Torrence, 3.750, 326.16 def. B. Torrence, 3.768, 326.00.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- J.R. Todd, Toyota Camry, 3.906, 323.12 was unopposed; Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.983, 297.35 def. Jack Wyatt, Dodge Charger, 4.368, 235.80; John Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.904, 321.42 def. Dale Creasy Jr., Charger, 4.064, 303.03; Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 3.918, 317.05 def. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.174, 286.68; Ron Capps, Charger, 3.974, 317.57 def. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.165, 274.94; Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.902, 324.20 def. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.362, 208.94; Jack Beckman, Charger, 3.912, 326.24 def. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.925, 326.40; Robert Hight, Camaro, 3.897, 330.88 def. Shawn Langdon, Camry, 4.800, 165.56; QUARTERFINALS -- Beckman, 3.940, 325.45 def. Wilkerson, 3.956, 320.58; Hight, 3.921, 328.70 def. Todd, 9.547, 85.07; Force, 3.951, 323.66 def. Tasca III, 3.940, 317.05; Johnson Jr., 3.941, 320.66 def. Capps, 3.941, 320.13; SEMIFINALS -- Beckman, 3.970, 326.56 def. Force, 4.001, 323.74; Hight, 3.900, 330.63 def. Johnson Jr., Foul - Red Light; FINAL -- Hight, 3.895, 330.88 def. Beckman, 3.969, 323.97.

TOPEKA, Kan. -- Point standings (top 10) following the 31st annual Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties at Heartland Motorsports Park, the 10th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series -

Top Fuel

1. Steve Torrence, 949; 2. Doug Kalitta, 628; 3. Brittany Force, 625; 4. Antron Brown, 619; 5. Mike Salinas, 573; 6. Clay Millican, 557; 7. Leah Pritchett, 529; 8. Richie Crampton, 467; 9. Austin Prock, 452; 10. Billy Torrence, 440.

Funny Car

1. Robert Hight, 933; 2. Tommy Johnson Jr., 725; 3. John Force, 681; 4. Ron Capps, 666; 5. J.R. Todd, 656; 6. Jack Beckman, 645; 7. Matt Hagan, 592; 8. Tim Wilkerson, 556; 9. Shawn Langdon, 468; 10. Bob Tasca III, 455.

[67 Nova Boy]

Round 1:

Clark Smiley, Denver City TX, '09 GXP, BB/A, Right lane, (0.036) 7.93 7.746 -0.184, was unopposed

Travis Gusso, Sioux Falls SD, '10 Cobalt, G/A, Left lane, (0.000) 8.98 10.251 1.271, def. Dennis
Smiley, Denver City TX, Frameworks-Chevy, A/ED, NT-No Show

Ralph Van Paepeghem, Garden Valley ID, '32 Bantam, A/EA, Left lane, (0.035) 7.81 7.456 -0.354, def.
Don Thomas, Amarillo TX, Dragster-Chevy, B/ED, (0.016) 7.45 7.277 -0.173

Joseph Arrowsmith, Ham Lake MN, '06 Pontiac, G/AA, Right lane, (0.036) 8.85 8.329 -0.521, def. Todd
Patterson, Augusta KS, '27 Ford, B/AA, (0.066) 7.62 7.291 -0.329

Pat Nahan, Sartell MN, Neil & Parks, J/A, Right lane, (0.155) 8.34 7.952 -0.388, def. Sean Dodd,
Lewisville TX, '05 Cobalt, C/EA, (0.040) 8.70 11.713 3.013

Brian Browell, Lafayette IN, MR2-Chevy, D/D, Right lane, (0.023) 7.84 7.405 -0.435, def. Matt
Harris, Bellevue NE, '10 Cobalt, D/A, (0.121) 8.30 8.317 0.017

Duane Robison, Gardner KS, '15 Camaro, C/A, Right lane, (0.051) 7.95 7.454 -0.496, def. Chase
Williams, Carthage TX, Spitzer, B/DA, (0.058) 7.36 6.871 -0.489

Troy Galbraith, Indianapolis IN, Spitzer, B/DA, Right lane, (0.038) 7.30 7.009 -0.291, def. Will
Hatcher, Satanta KS, Chassis Craft, A/DA, (0.003) NT-Broke After Staging

Shaun Vincent, Omaha NE, '02 S-10, C/TA, Right lane, (0.045) 8.98 8.717 -0.263, def. Greg Kamplain,
Brownsburg IN, Spitzer, C/DA, (-0.010 foul) 7.56 8.055 0.495

Jim Greenheck, Schofield WI, '12 Camaro, C/AA, Left lane, (0.098) 7.84 7.928 0.088, def. Bob
Sherwood, Sioux Falls SD, '10 Colbalt, A/SM, (0.168) 8.45 12.616 4.166

Keith Mawhee, Carrollton TX, '02 Cavalier, D/A, Right lane, (0.102) 8.27 7.840 -0.430, def. Terry
Ticel, Lawrence KS, '10 GXP, G/AA, (0.152) 8.86 8.454 -0.406

Doug Engels, Watertown SD, Plant-Chevy, D/ED, Right lane, (0.000) 7.91 7.646 -0.264, def. Justin
Hutto, Houston TX, Dragster, B/DA, (0.040) 7.40 8.114 0.714

Bruno Massel, Elmhurst IL, Spitzer-Chevy, I/D, Right lane, (0.072) 7.28 6.747 -0.533, def. Kevin
Self, Caddo OK, '32 Bantam, F/EA, (0.024) 8.32 7.859 -0.461

David Rampy, Piedmont AL, '32 Bantam, A/EA, Left lane, (0.045) 7.82 7.324 -0.496, def. Mitch
Withers, Pratt KS, '07 GTO, A/A, (0.066) 7.17 6.659 -0.511

Chad Voges, Saint Peters MO, Neil & Parks, K/AA, Right lane, (0.019) 8.18 7.975 -0.205, def.
Christine Harris, Littleton CO, '05 Grand Am, F/A, NT-No Show


Round 2:

D Robison, Right lane, (0.097) 7.95 7.860 -0.090, was unopposed

S Vincent, Left lane, (0.034) 8.98 9.271 0.291, def. R Van Paepeghem, (-0.002 foul) 7.81 7.395
-0.415

C Smiley, Left lane, (0.037) 7.93 7.544 -0.386, def. J Arrowsmith, (3.437) 8.83 18.619 9.789

D Rampy, Left lane, (0.048) 7.82 7.368 -0.452, def. P Nahan, (0.053) 8.34 7.913 -0.427

B Massel, Left lane, (0.028) 7.25 9.410 2.160, def. T Galbraith, (-0.005 foul) 7.30 11.934 4.634

B Browell, Right lane, (0.059) 7.84 8.428 0.588, def. K Mawhee, (-0.019 foul) 8.27 9.720 1.450

J Greenheck, Left lane, (0.029) 7.84 7.920 0.080, def. C Voges, (-0.005 foul) 8.18 8.165 -0.015

D Engels, Right lane, (0.052) 7.91 7.369 -0.541, def. T Gusso, (0.027) 8.98 8.479 -0.501


Round 3:

B Massel, Left lane, (0.028) 7.25 9.644 2.394, def. C Smiley, (-0.035 foul) 7.93 7.884 -0.046

S Vincent, Left lane, (0.071) 8.98 8.501 -0.479, def. D Robison, (0.209) 7.95 7.403 -0.547

B Browell, Left lane, (0.118) 7.84 10.802 2.962, def. D Engels, (-0.020 foul) 7.87 8.824 0.954

D Rampy, Left lane, (0.020) 7.82 7.271 -0.549, def. J Greenheck, (0.011) 7.84 7.319 -0.521


Round 4:

S Vincent, Right lane, (0.032) 8.98 8.440 -0.540, def. D Rampy, (0.065) 7.78 7.221 -0.559

B Massel, Left lane, (0.049) 7.25 11.104 3.854, def. B Browell, (-0.011 foul) 7.84 9.655 1.815


Round 5:

B Massel, Right lane, (0.005) 7.25 6.764 -0.486, def. S Vincent, (0.088) 8.94 8.404 -0.536