Hutchinson Grand Nationals Weekend!

PARK CITY, Kan (July
21, 2008) -
The weather is the hottest it has been all
year long, it is late July and that only
means one thing for the O'Reilly/NCRA
presented by ICM/Ethanol series teams and
fans - "It's National's Time!" For the 52nd
consecutive year, the 38th year sanctioned
by NCRA, the Hutchinson Nationals takes
place this coming Friday and Saturday night,
July 25-26, as the series modifieds and
sprint car divisions will be in competition
for one last time on the big fairgrounds
half-mile oval, located on the Kansas State
Fairgrounds.

It has been recently announced that the
famed Hutchinson Fairgrounds half mile will
be shortened to a 3/8 mile before next year.

Beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night, the
NCRA modifieds will compete in qualifying
heat races while Saturday nights action will
consist of a top "10" dash, followed by
consolation features and the Hutchinson
Grand Nationals feature finale. Second
generation driver Troy Gemmill is the
reigning modified Nationals winner and will
look to be the first repeat winner since
2001. Despite not a single victory on the
tour in 2008, Marc Hurd comes into the
weekend as points leader with a 25 point
advantage over Dan Daniels. So far, twelve
drivers have competed in all five races held
while four drivers have only missed one
event. Five-time and defending NCRA modified champion Brian Franz is the only repeat feature winner with two while Daniels, John Allen and Jeremy Massey have also visited victory lane.

Also on Saturday night, the "Thunder and
Lightning" of the NCRA sprint car series
will take to the track with a full program
of heat races, consolation features and
Grand Nationals feature finale. Last year,
Jon Freeman of Salina, Kansas picked up his
first ever Hutch Nationals victory. Veteran
Mike Peters of Wichita, a 1981 and 1987
Hutch Nationals champion, will go into the
night as points leader. Last Saturday night,
series rookie of the year contender Koby
Barksdale of Norman, Oklahoma picked up his
first career series victory and became the
seventh different feature winner in seven
races held this season.

The Kansas State Fairgrounds is located West
of SR 61 on 17th Ave., then north on Poplar.
For more Hutch Nationals information, call
(316) 755-1781.