Mo-kan Dragway: Troy Shafer lifts the fronts during an event by the Ozark Mountain Super Shifters. Troy would love to present the ‘Shifters’ at Kansas City, IF only they had a raceway. The Des Moines runner is a OMSS Champion and races all over the mid-west. He, too, has no home town track as Des Moines Dragway closed many seasons ago and is now houses. It is on my ‘bucket’ list as was Kansas City. (Photo by Dan Ricks)

Heartland Raceway Park, Topeka,Kansas: Almost smiling after winning another NHRA Eliminator, is Sportsman stalwart Gary Stinnett who is the current ‘king’ of Kansas City racers. The Emporia, Kansas native owns and operates a racing prep shop there and has won several NHRA National titles.

Without question the Metropolitan Kansas City area has been overlooked by those who want drag racing at a National level once again. They know there are Pro Teams in the NFL and MLB who thrive there. And in the early days of drag racing, the races there thrived too, even without bleachers and other amenities.  A Bruton Smith style facility down by those grain elevators would probably go wild with local support.

Until next time, Be On Time!