NKyTribune staff
Officers from eight regional law enforcement agencies will compete and test their stock car racing skills in NASCAR Racing Experience racecars during the fifth Magpul Top Cop Challenge at Kentucky Speedway June 9 from 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Officers representing the City of Cincinnati, Butler County, Ohio, Hamilton County, Ohio, Jeffersontown, Kentucky, Gallatin County, Kentucky, Oldham County, Kentucky, Kenton County, Kentucky, and the Kentucky State Police will participate. The two-officer team competition will ultimately determine three officers who will have the chance to become Top Cop.
Kentucky Speedway General Manager Mark Simendinger and representatives from several departments were at the Cincinnati Police Memorial Wednesday to promote the event.
Simndinger said the competition started when former Cincinnati Police Chief James Craig took a tour of the Speedway and touted his driving skills. Simendinger said it would be great to give Craig a chance to prove it.
“We put our heads together and came up with this competition,” Simendinger said. “After that, it’s just really turned into a chance to say thanks to the officers for all that they do to make Cincinnati, Kentucky and the whole region safe places to live. We are bringing a lot of attention to this region in July, and if it’s a great place to live and to visit, it’s due to the work that these people do.”
Each team member will race an eight-lap driving session around the speedway’s 1.5-mile tri-oval. The fastest team score will be the Magpul Top Cop Challenge Team Champion. The winning team will be awarded tickets to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Advanced Auto Parts Saturday, July 8.
Tickets will be distributed to needy families in the team’s community.
Magpul was founded in 1999 with the intent of developing a simple device to aid in the manipulation of rifle magazines while reloading under stress. The company’s name comes from this original product called the Magpul.
The three highest-ranking Top Cops will advance to a final round in which they will drive an eight-lap driving session. The officer with the best time (fastest single lap) will be crowned Magpul Top Cop Challenge Champion. The Top Cop will be recognized during Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 pre-race ceremonies Saturday, July 8.
Several officers will be returning for this year’s competition, including the 2016 Top Cop team of Cincinnati Police officers Alicia Bruewer and Charles Knapp, who are members of the Department’s Bicycle Patrol.
Officer Knapp said he is looking forward to returning to the track.
“It is very exciting,” he said. “Rarely do people get to go that fast. You come out of the car and you are shaking a little bit, but it’s really a good time.”
The Camping World Truck Series starts the weekend with the Buckle Up in Your Truck 225 on Thursday, July 6 and the XFINITY Series Alsco 300 is Friday, July 7.
The General Tire Super Weekend returns in September when the XFINITY Series VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 is run on Saturday, Sept. 23 along with the ARCA Racing Series Crosley 150 on Friday, Sept. 22.
Tickets, Kroger Fan Zone passes and campsites are on sale at http://www.kentuckyspeedway.com, by calling (859) 578-2300 or visiting our speedway ticket offices at 1 Speedway Dr., Sparta, KY., 41086, just off Interstate 71 Exit 57 and Ky. Hwy. 35 N.