Harker scores second-straight runner up in Noble

NOBLE, Okla. - Aussie NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car racer Steve Harker made his second straight final round appearance, taking runner-up honors during this past weekend's Division 4 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series finale at Thunder Valley Raceway Park outside of Oklahoma City. Harker used consistency to reach the final before falling to Kebin Kinsley.

Harker, originally from Brisbane, Aus., but now resides in Gainesville, Ga., qualified his 2006 Chevy Monte Carlo second in the field with a 5.698 second pass at 253.23 mph during the originally scheduled event two weeks ago. Heavy rains postponed the event to this past weekend. Cooler temperatures and high winds greeted racers on Friday when the event was scheduled to be rerun. The winds were so high the race was postponed several more hours.

Harker received a competition bye when his scheduled opponent Shawn Jones didn't make the trip back to Oklahoma. Harker singled to a 5.854 at 241.67 mph. In the semifinals, he squared off with defending Division 4 Champ Jimmy Jones and took the win with an on and off the throttle 5.952 at 248.13 mph after encountering heavy tireshake.

Due to deteriorating conditions Friday evening, the finals were postponed yet again to Sunday. Harker's opponent would be recent O'Reilly Fall Nationals winner, Kebin Kinsley. Kinsley took the starting line advantage and was able to hold off Harker's 5.862 at 246.84 mph with his own 5.898 at 248.75 mph.

"We tried to put it back like we had it in qualifying the first time we were here," said Harker. "The track just wouldn't hold it. We thought we could put a low .70 down in the final, and I had to pedal it because it was shaking so hard. We're happy to be able to make the final. That's six finals this year for the team, so we're happy with that."

The team will head West to finish the season, starting with this weekend's Division 7 event at 'The Strip' at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, an event that has over 30 entries vying for a spot in the eight car field.

"Anytime you enter a race like that, it really gets you pumped up," stated Harker. "I really get up for a challenge like that."

Find out more about the team at HarkerMotorsport.com