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Midwest Drag Racing event pulls out of GB
This follows Lucas Oil drags canceling in March
dragstrip starting line
Pictured is the starting line at Great Bend’s Sunflower Rod and Custom Association dragstrip. In the past month, two racing events have been canceled at the facility.

The Midwest Drag Racing Series Midwest Nationals event planned for June 16-18 at Great Bend’s Sunflower Rod and Custom Association dragstrip has been canceled, according to an announcement Friday by the Tulsa, Okla.-based Midwest Drag Racing Series organization.

This marks the second racing event to be canceled at the Great Bend track in just over a month due to the condition of the track. In mid-March, the National Hot Rod Association and SRCA made the decision to postpone the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Regional Event scheduled for the facility. 

The SRCA referred questions to the association’s attorney, Connor Thompson of Overland Park with the Wichita-based firm Foulston Siefkin. 

“The SRCA is currently working with the city (of Great Bend) to address the cancellations and solutions,” Thompson said Monday morning. However, those discussions are ongoing and no decisions have been made. 

The SRCA is a volunteer organization that manages, maintains and runs the strip at the Great Bend Expo Complex west of town. It is owned by the City of Great Bend and underwent a $1.6 million renovation completed in the summer of 2021. That project was fraught with flaws and led to some hard feelings between the city and SRCA.

The Great Bend Tribune reached out to Great Bend city officials for comment. There had been no response as of Monday afternoon. 

As for the Midwest Series, a post of Facebook reads: “Due to circumstances out of our control, we will not be racing at SRCA Dragstrip in Great Bend in June. We are working hard on plans to replace the track and still race that weekend. As soon as we have that under contract, we will let you know.” The poster added, “I just didn’t want anyone to make travel plans to GB. 

“We do want to thank the staff at SRCA for being so open to us and providing a great event over the last two years. Their kindness during an incredibly difficult race last year was unmatched and we wish them the very best.”

With the Lucas Oil races, according to a statement at the time, the move was made to allow time for the SRCA club to complete changes to give the NHRA the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors the best experience possible.  

The races were scheduled for May 4-6 in Great Bend.

NHRA will move the divisional race to Bandimere Speedway in Denver, making that event on June 15-17 a double event. 

The Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car portion of the SRCA event will not take place in 2023. Those two classes will still compete at Bandimere Speedway as part of the originally scheduled event in Denver.