Heartland Park Topeka in Topeka, Kansas, site of this weekend’s NHRA Summer Nationals, is one of the shorter-tenured facilities on the NHRA schedule, but it’s certainly made a name for itself over the last 23 years with an impressive list of record-shattering and history-making moments that will forever live in drag racing infamy.

http://youtu.be/LkGv5Rr0ZTI

In 1990, the late Gary Ormsby became the first driver to break the 4.9-second and 295mph barriers with a qualifying effort of 4.881 at 296.06mph, and a year later, driving the very same car, Pat austin became the first driver in NHRA history to win two classes at the same event when he won both Top Fuel and Top Alcohol Funny Car. In 1996, Joe Amato became the first driver to crack into the 4.60’s and the late Blaine Johnson blasted his way into the 4.50’s that very same weekend, but few occurrences in NHRA history can top the 1993 NHRA Sears Craftsman Nationals, where Chuck Etchells became the first Funny Car driver into the fours and Jim Epler assaulted the 300mph barrier.

http://youtu.be/n1HkDCX3dqE

Heartland Park hosted its first national event in September of 1989 with the ACDelco Heartland Nationals and in 1993, a second event at the facility was added to the schedule, the Western Auto Nationals. An in honor of this weekends upcoming festivities at Topeka, we take a look back at that inaugural event in American’s heartland. So kick back and enjoy this classic Diamond P flick with hosts Steve Evans, Brock Yates, and Bob Frey!

Part 3:
http://youtu.be/GjnkmG-vBAM

Part 4:
http://youtu.be/kB9gWzNYdA0

Part 5:
http://youtu.be/5O4cjFAdLeY

Part 6:
http://youtu.be/DJg9iawGPLk

Part 7:
http://youtu.be/PBWfLEfPfoY

Part 8:
http://youtu.be/XhmIPDmZxvE

Part 9:
http://youtu.be/cms45Vh_IcQ

Part 10:
http://youtu.be/oh_luQleL2I