Bar’s Leaks Team Tops Topeka

TOPEKA – With the confidence from their recent Lucas Oil National in Brainerd, Minnesota, the Etterman Racing Team entered the Division 5 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Event at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kansas with the intent of being a great contender.

The team solidified their speculation by qualifying No. 2 by running a 5.875-second elapsed time at 243.63 mph behind defending Division 5 Champion Cy Chesterman, who ran a 5.864. This qualifying position dealt Johnson and the Etterman Racing Team a first round match-up with newcomer Mike Newkirk, where Johnson took the win light by running a 5.884 at 241.24 mph. Jonathan would then move on to face fellow former Jr. Dragster Racer Paul Anderson in the semi-final round to squeak by with a 5.802 to Anderson’s 5.817. With this round victory, the Bar’s Leaks Top Alcohol Funny Car would enter their second final of the year against red-hot Canadian Roger Bateman. Johnson left the starting line first and never looked back, taking the win with a convincing 5.755 at 247.57 mph; this would be Jonathan’s first Top Alcohol Funny Car victory.

“This event win was absolutely amazing!” proclaims Jonathan Johnson. “It was so sweet to get that first win and was definitely something that I had been dreaming about since I was a kid. Winning this event was everything I had hoped for and more! However, the down side to winning the race in Topeka was that neither my family nor girlfriend were able to share the experience with me. Despite this, the Etterman Racing team pulled together after the first round, when we hurt an engine, and not only got the job done, but finished the evening off with what we intended to do from the start. I am poised and ready for the remainder of the year,” states Johnson.

“This is what racing is all about!” exclaims George Etterman, team owner. “We are so excited to get our first win of the year. It has definitely been a long time coming, and to be honest, we needed a good morale booster after the mishaps from earlier this year. Speaking for the entire team, we are definitely looking forward to the rest of the season,” concludes Etterman.

“The Etterman Racing Team definitely exudes much excitement from this recent event win in Topeka,” states Katie Ward, marketing and graphics. “After conquering a quick turnaround between the first and second rounds of elimination, the crew worked diligently to prepare the car for the semi-final win and knocked off more than 0.08-seconds from their elapsed time. I could not imagine another group of people that is more deserving of this win. Etterman Racing, Inc. has worked day and night to achieve this goal of theirs and hope to repeat in the upcoming races. We would also like to thank Bar’s Leaks and the rest of our Marketing Partners, who supported our racing program from the beginning,” expresses Ward.

Keep up with Etterman Racing and up-to-the-minute results on www.dragracecentral.com. Additionally, for more information on Etterman Racing themselves, their Marketing Partners or their updated racing schedule, please visit their website at www.etterman-racing.com