The ADRL hasn’t made a formal announcement, but Heartland Park Topeka
Chairman Steve Johnson, confirmed in an interview with
CompetitionPlus.com that a deal has been reached in principle for the
multi-purpose facility to host the Independence Drag, July 4 – 5, 2009.
“In fact, the executives of the ADRL are supposed to be here this
weekend,” Johnson said. “We are planning, as are they, to be running a
great event here on July 4th.”
The formal announcement of relocating the event is expected to come in
the next week and is expected to create a firestorm of litigation from
the displaced host of the event, Motor Mile Dragway in Radford, Va.,
who contends the ADRL is contractually bound to host their event. Track
owner David Hagan has stated publicly that if the race goes through
that he plans to sue the ADRL, its president Kenny Nowling and possibly
Heartland Park Topeka.
Hagan told CompetitionPlus.com that he had contacted HPT to inform them
if they went forward with an event that they could become involved in
the litigation.