Separate IHRA Summit Sportsman Series Events on Saturday and Sunday

MARTIN, Mich. – The quickest-and-fastest American-made coupes and sedans including the 2002 Pontiac Firebird of defending champion Ryan Hill of Valparaiso, Ind., confront their international counterparts this week when US 131 Motorsports Park presents the fourth annual Imports vs. Domestics Showdown along with not one, but two separate races in the IHRA Summit Sportsman National Championship Series.

Expanded this year to include a true Quick 8 race in addition to the traditional Quick 32, Imports vs. Domestics has become a destination event for some of the region’s most celebrated outlaw doorslammers including former Jr. Dragster driver Brian Robbins of St. Joseph who last year drove the “Skinny Kid Racing” 1972 Hurst Oldsmobile to a best-of-the-event time of 3.76 seconds at 201.43 miles per hour.

Also expected back are Jose Alejandro of Cegues, Puerto Rico, and his 2004 Toyota Celica and David Atkins of Hamilton, Mich., and his 2002 Chevy Camaro LSX.

Sharing the Saturday-Sunday stage will be the Summit Sportsman National Championship Series featuring competition in Top Dragster, Top Sportsman, Quick Rod, Super Rod, Hot Rod, Super Stock, Stock and Jr. Dragster classes with separate champions crowned each day.

The weekend gets underway with a test-and-tune opportunity from 5-10 p.m. Friday for racers competing in the weekends festivities.  Saturday’s program begins with two sessions of Summit Sportsman qualifying starting at 9 a.m. with eliminations to follow immediately thereafter.  Imports vs. Domestics qualifying is slated for 2 p.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to determine who will compete for Sunday’s big money.

Sunday racing will begin with one round of Summit Sportsman qualifying at 9 a.m. followed by first round of eliminations.  Elimination racing in the Imports vs. Domestics Showdown begins at 12 noon with subsequent rounds at 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.  The Quick 32 will feature racing between the 16 quickest imports and the 16 quickest domestics.  The Quick 8 is what it says it is – the quickest eight cars on the property in a shootout for $10,000 in prize money.

Adult general admission is $20 for either Saturday or Sunday.  Children under 12 are free when accompanied by a ticketed adult.