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About The Author:
Born and raised in Chicagoland. Moved to St Louis in 1995 after bouncing around the world with the United States Air Force as a DJ and Management Engineer. Retired from the Air Force in 1998. Works full time as a National Radio Host and Operations Manager for the All Star Radio Networks (right here in St Louis). Joined WIL in 2006 after three years at KSD-FM and six years on K-Hits. Married to Gaynale (30 years). Two grown children Shauna and Brad. No grandchildren yet. My passions are Flying, Radio and being with my family. Catch me weekends on WIL.It’s called “The Big Go”
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replying the story in its archived form does not constitute a re-publiccation of the story.
It’s called “The Big "Go”
"The US Nationals" is equivalent to the Daytona 500 in NASCAR, the Indy 500 for the IRL and is the biggest race in the National Hot Rod Association schedule.
Each Labor Day weekend, NHRA racers and fans descend on O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis for the biggest, oldest, richest, and most prestigious drag race in the world. The fabled strip is regarded by many as one of the smoothest on the circuit. They say that no career is truly complete without a win at drag racing’s grandest event.
The event also hosts the Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle, the bonus event for Pro Stock Motorcycle racers, and is the last event in the Countdown to 10.
I had the great honor of doing my Back in the Pits Radio show at the 50th US Nationals in 2004. It was one of the highlights of my career.
If you are a drag race fan like I am, and haven’t made plans for Labor Day, the track is only three hours away in Claremont Indiana on the NW side of Indianapolis. I checked and there are still tickets available. The prime days to view the event are Saturday and Sunday with two rounds of qualifying for all classes and the eliminations beginning at 11AM on Monday. Info can be found by going to www.oreillyracewaypark.com
If you’re stuck in town like me, ESPN-2 will be carrying the event:
9/6/2009 Qualifying 10:30:00 AM-1:00:00 PM (CT) ESPN2
9/6/2009 Qualifying 4:00:00 PM-6:00:00 PM (CT) ESPN2
9/7/2009 Eliminations 12:00:00 PM-5:00:00 PM (CT) ESPN2
Hope you can check it out and see why I love this sport so much.
-Rik Out!
Photos from the 2004 Mac Tool US Nationals
With (then Pro Stock Motorcycle riders) Antron Brown and Angelle Sampey
Me (left) and funny car drivers Gary Scelzi, Tim Wilkerson and Whit Bazemore
Me with Auzzie Dave Grubnick
Interviewing Doug Kalitta and the LATE GREAT Scott Kalitta
(L to R) Larry Dixon, Tommy Johnson Jr and Me
Pro Stock's father and son team of Warren "the Professor" Johnson and Kurt Johnson
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