Buff, of Spring, Texas, and Howard, of Tulsa, Okla., finished second and third, respectively, in 2000 and will both be looking to unseat Meyer. Meyer won this event last year and went on to win four out of the division's six NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series events. He also scored runner-up points at one event. Buff won one race and was runner-up twice. In Federal-Mogul Funny Car competition, the title fight will likely be between Artesia, N.M., resident Tate Branch and Ponder, Texas, resident Todd Simpson.
Branch is the defending division champion.
The Stock and Super Stock fields will again be filled with local favorites including the Emmons Racing team from Pasadena, Texas. The Emmons brothers, Harvey, Terry, Jerry and Gary, all compete in both classes and Harvey is the defending Stock champion. The track is located east of the Houston Metro area, south of Interstate 10 and east of Hwy. Gates open at 9 a.m. Friday and at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Racing action starts one hour after the gates open.