Next week, Great Bend is going to make racing history again as one of the stops along the first ever Rocky Mountain Race Week 2.0. Racers are expected to arrive Wednesday morning, Sept. 16, after a grueling ride from Thunder Valley Raceway Park in Lexington, Okla. The Sunflower Rod and Custom Association will be the fourth of five stops in the five day event.
When Race Week organizer Matt Frost learned earlier this summer that Drag Week, sponsored by Hot Rod Magazine, had been cancelled, he saw it as a fantastic opportunity to try something new. Many of the racers who had taken time off for the event and poured countless hours of work into their cars in preparation for driving long distances eagerly opted in.
“You have to drive a ton of miles and make sure your stuff doesn’t break,” said Chad Ehrlich, local car club organizer and RMRW 2.0 insider. “They make sure it's tuff, not easy.”
At last count, 280 drivers had registered for the event. The race starts Sunday, Sept. 13 at Tulsa Raceway Park inTulsa, Okla., then continues to Heartland Motorsports Park in Topeka , Thunder Valley Raceway Park in Lexington, Okla., S.R.C.A. in Great Bend, and ends at Tulsa on Thursday, Sept. 17.
Ehrlich told the Tribune Saturday morning some popular racers are planning to take part. Mike Fennigan of Roadkill Classics is bringing his 1955 Chevy Bel Air Gasser, “Blasphemi.” In 2019, Finnegan brought Blasphemi to the 2019 Hot Rod Drag Week competition and won in his class. His story was prominently featured at the Motor Trend website and on YouTube where Finnegan has gained a loyal following among the racing community.
Another popular YouTube personality, Cletus McFarland, is also on the list of racers taking part in RMRW 2.0. Fun fact: Garrett Mitchell, the person behind the McFarland personality, bought Florida’s DeSoto Speedway Racetrack earlier this year.
Returning RMRW 2020 winner Tom McGilton is planning to come also, and will bring “WhyNot”, his ZL-1 camaro, built by Larry Larson’s Larson Race Cars.
Frost schedules Race Week in June every year with families in mind. By having the event then, people can take their kids along with them. He hopes to keep that family atmosphere going with RMRW 2.0.
“Race Week people are outstanding people,” Ehrlich said. “They keep their egos in check,and they have each others’ backs both on and off the track. If anyone tries to mess with someone on Race Week, they’re messing with everyone. Most of the people like to at least make it to one of the races just to see their friends.”
Racers will adhere to a tight schedule. The track goes hot here at 3 p.m. Wednesday, and the racers will head out Thursday morning, Ehrlich said. The route they will take will not be released until the race opens here. While some may make a run or two and then hit the road, most will plan to stay overnight in Great Bend.
Cooler night time temperatures make a better run possible, so many will make more than one run.
“Temperature can be a big factor,” Ehrlich said. “ There are more molecules of oxygen in cooler and denser air, which allows for more horsepower. So, coming out after work is the perfect time to come if you want to see the faster cars.”
Adult spectators pay admission at the gate, but children 12 and under are free. The event is also being live streamed on BangShift.com.
