Racers will compete against police, fire, EMS and more

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Get ready for some fast action this Saturday night. Kansas International Dragway is hosting a showdown of speed. The public will get the chance to race against police and sheriff’s office cars and a Wichita Fire Department dragster.

General Manager Kenny Ault says the event helps keep street racing where it belongs – at the track.

“Battle of the Badges is a way to kind of excite people a little bit about drag racing, kind of show them that the safest place to do it is on the track, not on the street, and kind of let people maybe live out their ‘Gone in 60 Seconds’ fantasies of running away from the cops, but a legal way to run away from the cops,” he said.

Some of the agencies taking part on Saturday, July 27, include:

• Wichita Police Department
• Wichita Fire Department
• Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office
• Sedgwick County EMS
• Butler County Sheriff’s Office
• Maize Police Department and the
• Kansas Army National Guard

There will be standard cruisers and a few sheriff and police department high-speed vehicles.

The public can race their choice of law enforcement cars down a quarter mile of track. Vehicles must pass the track technical inspection, which costs $35 for the entire evening.

“At the end of the night, we’re going to have a race between all of the departments that have squad vehicles there,” Ault said. “Whatever department ends up winning will then get a donation to their first responder funds. Most departments have a fund where if a first responder is injured in the line of duty, that money goes to take care of their family, and we want to show our support to those guys.”

Even if you don’t want to compete, Ault says it will be a fun evening. Tickets for spectators cost $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 13 to 17. Children 12 and under get in free.

Kansas International Dragway is at 7800 W. 61st Street North. Gates open at 4 p.m., with racing starting at 6 p.m. Ault says concession prices are reasonable, with a meal for four costing $25.

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