Harker returns to action with Bowling Green win

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Sometimes a break or vacation is what a competitor needs to stay on top of their game. Coming off a two and a half month break to catch up on personal business in his native land of Australia, NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Steve Harker scored his first win of the season at this past weekend's Division 3 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Ky.

The event also marked the first outing for his newly mounted 2006 Monte Carlo body. Harker qualified No. 3 in the field with a 5.836 second pass at 251.30 mph. In round one, he defeated Brian Grisham with a 5.958 at 248.75 mph, then ousted Russ Mudd with a 5.873 at 249.07 mph in the semifinals.

Harker's final round opponent would be Danny Townsend. Both drivers left together, but it was Harker who prevailed with a 5.814 at 250.60 mph to Townsend's 5.891 at 244.65 mph.

"We haven't raced in a couple of months so we were behind the 'eight-ball," said Harker. "We just tried to keep the car consistent on raceday. It was pretty hot out there. We saw Townsend running in the .70's, but we figured he had it on the ragged edge. We figured all the track would hold for the final was a high .70 or low .80, and we were able to take the win."

The win wasn't without adventure, as Harker took a wild ride during the final qualifying session Saturday.

"The parachutes looped underneath the body, and tore the back two braces out of the body," stated Harker. "When it did that, the tinwork jammed up the steering, so I couldn't steer the car. I nearly went off the end of the track, but I was able to get it stopped. We fixed it up, and didn't have any problems the rest of the weekend."

The win moves Harker to sixth in national standings. The action will stay heavy for the team as they head to the biggest event in all of drag racing, next weekend's Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.