BRAINERD – The 20th Annual Colonel’s Truck Accessories NHRA Nationals began Thursday and runs through Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway.

Friday, August 17, 2001

BRAINERD – The 20th Annual Colonel’s Truck Accessories NHRA Nationals began Thursday and runs through Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway.

Cash and contingency awards this year total more than $1.9 million. This is the 17th of 24 events in the $50 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Competitors in the four professional classes began qualifying this afternoon and will continue through Saturday. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. Sunday.

All four of last year’s champions are on hand to defend their titles. Tony Schumaker (Top Fuel), John Force (Funny Car), Kurt Johnson (Pro Stock) and Antron Brown (Pro Bike) would all like to repeat as champions.

Schumaker is currently eighth in the Top Fuel point standings, Johnson is sixth in Pro Stock, and Brown is 72 points out of first in Pro Bike. Force has a commanding lead in Funny Car and appears to be on his way to an unprecedented 11th championship.

Several area racers are also expected to compete in the Sportsman classes including Oakland’s Dennis Schewe, Bob Lair of Lake Mills and Clarence Mayo of Manly, Iowa in Super Comp. The Super Gas Class will find veteran John McMasters and his son Scott competing. The senior McMasters was the 1992 Class Champion at BIR.

If the temperatures remain moderate, the &uot;experts&uot; are predicting many track records could fall. Only time will tell.