This area's biggest motorsport event is the Molson Indy Vancouver, but do you know the No. 2 event?

A lack of media and public attention hasn't stopped Mission Raceway Park or the National Hot Rod Association from again staging a Winston Drag Racing Series points meet this weekend in the Fraser Valley.

Although the prize money of $115,675 is well below the million-dollar IndyCar purse, there really shouldn't be any monetary comparison between the downtown street circuit road race and the quarter-mile drag racers. Putting the situation in perspective, Mission's points race is like Triple A baseball in comparison to the major leagues -- the Vancouver Canadians compared to the California Angels. And just like Triple A, it's a place where competitors prove themselves before moving on to the big leagues.

"Absolutely," confirmed Denny Darnell, director of communications for the California-based NHRA. "We can say that people up in that part of the country certainly saw Pat Austin race," said Darnell of a driver who has since gone on to star in the professional ranks in the top fuel division.

There are 19 NHRA national events featuring the top professionals in the sport and attracting an average weekend attendance of 93,800. All 19 events are televised on either TNN, ESPN or ABC.

Just a step below the nationals are the six or seven divisional points races in each of the seven divisions or areas of the NHRA.

"It's the breeding ground for people that are looking to move on up to the top of the field in top fuel, funny car or pro stock," said Darnell of the division races like the one at Mission. "At the same time, it's also the backbone, the total foundation of drag racing. This is what it all started with -- people that just love the sport, a contest of acceleration, making an engine perform.

"That's basically what you find at these points meets. (Drivers) that compete on a regular basis in a region during the course of the year get an opportunity to compete in a points meet -- which is a big league game, so to speak. Instead of playing on a sand lot, they go to the major league park and play. It's just a scaled-down version of a national event for the most part, except the pro cars aren't there."

There are approximately 26,000 licensed competitors in the NHRA and roughly 22,000 to 23,000 compete regularly. Their vehicles range from cars they drive to work to rigs like Kenny Bernstein's million-dollar-plus top fuel car.

National champions compete in a combination of national and division events while divisional champions race primarily in their area.

Mission is a particularly attractive divisional stop. Last year a division-record 372 cars turned up to jam the pits along with 15,000 spectators for the whole weekend. There's more pit space this year, although grandstand seating has remained the same with room for about 8,000 fans. Because the Mission track is relatively new, the pavement is still smooth and an elevation of just 24 feet above sea level means the air is particularly conducive to setting records.

Five class records were set last year at a facility that has garnered numerous awards. Since re-opening in 1992, Mission was named the division's most improved track in 1993, Mission Chamber of Commerce business of the year in 1993 and NHRA Division Six Track of the year in 1994.