By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
If you build it, they will come. It’s a famous movie line that often applies to civic organizations. Rebuilding also counts. Last week, the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) announced the Summit Racing Equipment E.T. Series will be coming to Great Bend in September. City Administrator Logan Burns addressed other good news during Monday’s city council meeting.
“We will have a street closure on Lakin between Main and Williams for Rocky Mountain Race Week on June 5,” he said. “We will have those racers lining their cars up on each side of Lakin, and we’ll hold an event at Dry Lake. We’ll have the community come out and check out those cars.”
Three concrete pours are planned at the SRCA Dragstrip west of Great Bend this week, and three more are planned next week. Burns said everything is on schedule, and the busy pour schedule should wrap up next week. Exterior walls on the new tower have been framed, and the roof should be installed by Wednesday. Everything is setting the stage for a big return of drag racing to the city.
“NHRA has announced that Great Bend and the SRCA Dragstrip will hosting the E.T. finals on Sept. 24-26,” Burns said. “That’s great news to be able to share as we’ll be having an exciting lineup of races this season.”
The E.T. Finals will give racers one more chance to advance to the NHRA Summit Racing Series, presented by Hoosier World Championships, which are set from Oct. 29 through Nov. 1 in Las Vegas. A $30,000 Hoosier prize will also be shared among finals winners and national champions who use Hoosier tires. Twelve sites will host races, culminating with division finals on Sept. 24-26. The East Division will race in Iowa, and the West Finals will be held at the SRCA Dragstrip.