2016 NHRA KANSAS NATIONALS - TOPEKA RESULTS
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SUNDAY - KALITTA, HAGAN AND LINE RACE TO VICTORIES AT NHRA KANSAS NATIONALS
Doug Kalitta raced to his third consecutive Top Fuel victory of the season Sunday and had to navigate Heartland Park Topeka’s dragstrip in an ill-handling racecar to turn on the win light in the final round at the NHRA Kansas Nationals.
Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Jason Line (Pro Stock) joined Kalitta in the winner’s circle at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event.
Kalitta’s Mac Tools dragster lost traction at the hit of the throttle and got sideways two times as he worked the steering wheel to cross the finish line in front of fellow finalist and rival Antron Brown.
“It’s one of those deals you take what you can get as quick as you can do it,” said Kalitta, who extended his series points lead to 95 over second-place Brown with the victory. “I don’t think my car ever hooked up. It was exciting. These wins don’t come easy, that’s for sure. I am just real happy to do it here at Topeka.”
It was Kalitta’s second win at Topeka and 41st victory of his career. Kalitta finished with a performance of 5.452 seconds at 238.85 mph, while Brown’s Matco Tools dragster also lost traction and posted a 5.687 at 298.60.
Kalitta said he’s had a few of those kinds of races in his career, which drivers refer to as “pedalfests,” and as a former USAC sprint car champion, he’s always up for the challenge.
“It’s a seat of your pants kind of deal and you try to stay off the centerline and not hit the wall,” Kalitta said. “I think I had it more sideways than I’ve ever had a Top Fuel car before. It finally straightened out and we were fortunate to get the win.”
Kalitta defeated Rob Passey, Clay Millican and Steve Torrence in earlier rounds to advance to the final. It was the ninth Top Fuel victory for the Kalitta Motorsports team at Topeka, including six for the late Scott Kalitta and one for Hillary Will. It is the first time in his career that Kalitta has earned three consecutive victories.
“I am definitely pretty proud of my guys and the opportunity I have got here with Connie (Kalitta, team owner),” Kalitta said. “We’ve got momentum. We want to just keep doing what we’re doing and hope it lasts as long as it can go. This is a really good car, and a really good team.”
Hagan’s Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger also lost traction early in the Funny Car final round, but he managed to get on and off the throttle just enough to finish in front of Jack Beckman in a rematch of the Atlanta final last weekend.
Hagan stopped the clocks in 5.724 at 179.04, while Beckman’s Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger also smoked the tires on the run and trailed with a 6.560 at 146.75. It was Hagan’s second consecutive victory of the season, 20th career win and his first ever at Topeka.
“It was wild,” Hagan said of the final round. “It’s important to put everything in perspective. We set world records for E.T and speed and then to come back out here to win this race is a tribute to my guys and their hard work. My butt was puckered pretty good on that last run.”
Hagan swerved very close to the center line two times during the final, and although it took only a little more than five seconds, the run must’ve seemed like an eternity in the car that on Friday covered the same distance in a national record time of 3.862 seconds.
“It was one of those deals where it was ‘oh no, oh no, oh no.’ I don’t know how many times I hit the fuel pedal but it was a lot,” Hagan said. “Sometimes you’re just thinking ‘don’t blow up’. To see the win lights come on all day, I’m just tickled about the job (crew chief) Dickie Venables and all our Mopar/Rocky guys are doing.”
Hagan beat Brian Stewart, Robert Hight and Courtney Force en route to the final round, his first-ever at Heartland Park. He used a consistently quick car that posted low 3.9-second runs to win those rounds. In the final, he had to employ a different strategy.
“When you have a fast racecar like we did it’s hard to pull it back when the sun comes out like it did,” Hagan said. “We had been laying down some numbers all day and I didn’t expect to have to pedal the racecar like I had to.”
He said to earn a victory the way he and his Don Schumacher Racing team did this weekend is a great motivator for his entire Dickie Venables-led crew as the season nears closer to the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Hagan moved from ninth to fourth in the standings with the win. Courtney Force maintained the series lead in her Traxxas Chevy Camaro.
“The race wins are your common goal with 10 guys around you,” Hagan said. “The race wins will turn into championships if you win enough of them and that’s what’s really important for us. Back-to-back wins, I’ve only done it one other time, so that’s pretty special in itself. It just shows how good you’re doing, how well everyone is working together. We have to carry this momentum into these next races.”
In Pro Stock, Line captured his fifth win of the season in his eighth consecutive final round appearance, outrunning teammate Greg Anderson in the final round. Line finished in 6.664 at 207.85 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro, while Anderson’s Summit Racing Camaro trailed with a 6.687 at 207.02. It was Line’s first Topeka victory and the 42nd win of his career.
“It was the perfect weekend,” said Line, who outran Mark Hogan, defending world champ Erica Enders and Shane Gray to advance to the final from the No. 1 qualifying spot. “It was an exciting weekend for me and we didn’t mess it up. It’s a big deal to me. It’s nice to win at someplace you’ve never done well. I really can’t stop smiling right now. There were times I had good cars here but didn’t drive well. This weekend everything came together.”
The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues June 3-5 with the NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway in Epping, N.H.
SATURDAY - FORCE, HAGAN AND LINE EARN NO. 1 QUALIFYING POSITIONS AT NHRA KANSAS NATIONALS
Brittany Force claimed her first No. 1 qualifying position of the season Saturday at the NHRA Kansas Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka, continuing the theme of "the year of the women" in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Jason Line (Pro Stock) also will lead their classes into Sunday’s 11 a.m. eliminations as No. 1 qualifiers in their categories at the spacious multipurpose motorsports park in Kansas’ capital city.
No one improved on Force’s national record time of 3.676 seconds from Friday and she is in position to earn her third victory of the season and add a sixth victory by a female driver in the first third of the season. It was her fifth career top qualifying effort and second at Topeka.
“We are very anxious for tomorrow,” Force said. “This track is always a good one for us. We seem to do pretty decent. To put a number on the board like we did yesterday, get the No. 1 qualifier and set the national E.T. record is pretty exciting. We’re pumped up, ready for tomorrow and I am proud of the Monster Energy team.”
Force’s final qualifying attempt was delayed by a timing malfunction at the starting line. She ran immediately following the Funny Car session, which also experienced several delays while NHRA officials repaired the timing equipment.
“It’s tough when something like that happens,” Force said. “You are ready to go, hit the gas and get the car down the track and they come over and tell you to shut it off. We pulled out there and waited for the Funny Cars to run. Since the conditions improved a little bit, we were trying to push and run a little better, but it shook and didn’t make it down there. We still have three awesome runs [this weekend] and we’ll go from there.”
Points leader Doug Kalitta qualified second in his Mac Tools dragster and will face Rob Passey in the opening round, while Steve Torrence qualified third in his Capco Contractors dragster and will take on Smax Smith. Defending world champ Antron Brown qualified eighth in the Matco Tools machine and will face off with rival J.R. Todd, who drives the SealMaster dragster, in round one.
Hagan earned his first No. 1 of the season and 22nd of his career with his national record performance of 3.862 at 335.57 from Friday in his Mopar/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger. He will face Brian Stewart in the opening round as he goes for his second consecutive win.
“It’s anybody’s ballgame tomorrow,” Hagan said. “These cars are so strong and they are running so good and consistent. You just have to go up there and have your gameplan together and hope that things go your way. Even tonight I didn’t know if that record was going to hold. It got later and later, and the timing issues and different things like that, you never know.
"But it’s cool to be number one. We are very humble about that. We have to be focused on round by round tomorrow."
Jack Beckman qualified second in his Infinite Hero Foundation Charger and will race Dale Creasy Jr., while two-time season winner Tim Wilkerson qualified third in his Levi Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang and will race John Hale in round one. Points leader Courtney Force qualified fourth in her Traxxas Chevy Camaro and will battle Bob Tasca III.
Nine-time Topeka winner John Force, who had to go to a back-up car after damaging his primary Peak Camaro in Friday’s night session, rallied to qualify 11th with a 3.962 at 318.84 and he will face defending world champ Del Worsham in the opener.
In Pro Stock, Line took his third No. 1 of the season and 44th of his career with his Friday effort of 6.578 at 210.37 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro. Line, who has advanced to the final at every race this season, will try to keep that streak going and extend his series points lead when he meets Mark Hogan in round one.
“That’s the first good thing I’ve ever done at Topeka so I feel great about that,” Line said. “We have a great car right now and our Chevy Camaro is bad to the bone. The chances of winning tomorrow is pretty good. It would be a big deal. It’s always nice to do well at a place that’s been a problem for you in the past. If I do a good job tomorrow we are going to have a heck of a good shot at winning. I’ve always liked the track, it just doesn’t like me. I just haven’t done well here, and I couldn’t tell you why.”
Bo Butner qualified second and will race David River in the first round, while Greg Anderson will start third in his Summit Camaro and pair against veteran V. Gaines. Defending world champ Erica Enders, also the defending winner at this event, will meet teammate Drew Skillman.
Sunday's first-round pairings for eliminations for the 28th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka, the eighth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.
Top Fuel -- 1. Brittany Force, 3.676 seconds, 325.45 mph vs. Bye; 2. Doug Kalitta, 3.701, 331.85 vs. 15. Rob Passey, broke; 3. Steve Torrence, 3.709, 329.91 vs. 14. Smax Smith, broke; 4. Richie Crampton, 3.710, 324.44 vs. 13. Terry Haddock, 4.494, 186.64; 5. Tony Schumacher, 3.724, 324.05 vs. 12. Luigi Novelli, 4.029, 262.44; 6. Shawn Langdon, 3.726, 330.15 vs. 11. Scott Palmer, 3.872, 312.86; 7. Clay Millican, 3.736, 325.77 vs. 10. Terry McMillen, 3.762, 324.59; 8. Antron Brown, 3.743, 323.12 vs. 9. J.R. Todd, 3.758, 326.40.
Funny Car -- 1. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.862, 335.57 vs. 16. Brian Stewart, Ford Mustang, 4.151, 295.79; 2. Jack Beckman, Charger, 3.866, 332.59 vs. 15. Dale Creasy Jr., Chevy Impala, 4.086, 305.49; 3. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.869, 333.74 vs. 14. John Hale, Charger, 4.061, 318.09; 4. Courtney Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.871, 331.45 vs. 13. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.000, 312.71; 5. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Camry, 3.875, 332.18 vs. 12. Chad Head, Camry, 3.972, 322.42; 6. Del Worsham, Camry, 3.880, 332.67 vs. 11. John Force, Camaro, 3.962, 326.00; 7. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 3.889, 327.51 vs. 10. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 3.923, 311.41; 8. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.895, 328.38 vs. 9. Robert Hight, Camaro, 3.907, 332.84. Did Not Qualify: 17. Jack Wyatt, 4.243, 291.63.
Pro Stock -- 1. Jason Line, Chevy Camaro, 6.578, 210.37 vs. 16. Mark Hogan, Pontiac GXP, 7.002, 200.05; 2. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.591, 209.59 vs. 15. Dave River, Chevy Cobalt, 6.777, 203.86; 3. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.600, 209.52 vs. 14. V. Gaines, Dodge Dart, 6.767, 206.76; 4. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.607, 209.36 vs. 13. Jeg Coughlin, Dart, 6.670, 206.61; 5. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.617, 208.36 vs. 12. Deric Kramer, Dart, 6.667, 207.88; 6. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.634, 208.84 vs. 11. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.665, 208.46; 7. Allen Johnson, Dart, 6.636, 208.75 vs. 10. Aaron Strong, Camaro, 6.658, 207.24; 8. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.642, 208.39 vs. 9. Erica Enders, Dart, 6.643, 207.30.
FRIDAY - HAGAN AND FORCE SET NATIONAL RECORDS IN AMAZING QUALIFYING SESSION AT TOPEKA
Matt Hagan and Brittany Force took advantage of cool weather conditions and a fast race track to produce national record performances Friday at the NHRA Kansas Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka.
Hagan set Funny Car national records for time and speed with his leading performance of 3.862 seconds at 335.57 mph in his Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger. Force closed out the record-setting qualifying session where many teams in both Top Fuel and Funny Car posted career-best performances, with a national record time of 3.676 seconds in her Monster Energy dragster.
“The fans got their money’s worth tonight,” said two-time world champ Hagan, who enters this event in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series riding a wave of momentum after winning last weekend in Atlanta.
“That was just a phenomenal session,” Hagan continued. “Run after run, each car that ran kept lowering the bar. Our car is starting to really run strong. To come here and qualify No. 1 with the national record after winning last week in Atlanta, there’s a lot to be positive about.”
Hagan’s incredible performance led a cluster of career-best efforts by the rest of the pack. Jack Beckman qualified second with a 3.866 at 332.10 in the Infinite Hero Dodge and Tim Wilkerson was third overall with a 3.869 at 333.74 in his Levi Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang. Points leader Courtney Force was fourth in her Traxxas Chevy Camaro with a 3.871 at 331.12.
“We’ve got us a hot rod this weekend,” Hagan said. “I was just trying to hang onto it. It was digging and I was just trying to keep it in the groove. Dickie Venables (crew chief) has a good handle on this tune-up. When you get conditions like this on a track that’s this fast, these cars will really fly.”
Nine-time Topeka winner John Force sits 14th in the order after his Peak Chevy Camaro lost traction, got out of the groove and scrubbed the wall near mid-track. The team will replace his brand new Camaro body which was unveiled during a press conference earlier in the week before Saturday’s final two qualifying runs (1:30 and 4 p.m.).
Brittany Force, who is having a breakout season in Top Fuel with two wins in three finals this season, was the only driver in her category to break into the 3.6-seconed zone during qualifying. She held off points leader Doug Kalitta, who has won the last two events, for the top spot in the qualifying order. Kalitta posted a 3.701 at a track record speed of 330.88 mph in his Mac Tools dragster.
“That was an incredible run for the entire Monster Energy team,” Brittany Force said. “I knew with the way the Funny Cars were running (tuning consultant) Alan Johnson and (crew chief) Brian Husen we were going to throw down. To be able to put a 3.67 on the board is just incredible. I was blown away when I found out what it ran at the top end. It really pumps us up going into tomorrow. This track is always fast. I love coming here and I’ve always had good luck here. To end up in the winner’s circle on Sunday would be awesome.”
Steve Torrence qualified third in his Capco Contractors dragster with a 3.709 at 329.91 and defending event winner Richie Crampton was fourth in his Lucas Oil dragster with a 3.710 at 318.99.
In Pro Stock, series points leader Jason Line, who has advanced to all seven final rounds this season in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro, led qualifying in the factory hot rods with a 6.578 at 210.37.
“We laughed on the way up here because I’ve never been to the media center at Topeka because I’ve never done anything good here, ever,” Line said. “It was two really great runs today by our Chevy Camaro. I’m going to sleep really good tonight.”
Bo Butner was second in his Jim Butner Auto Camaro with a 6.591 at 209.59 and Greg Anderson was third in his Summit Racing Camaro with a 6.600 at 209.30. Defending event winner and two-time champ Erica Enders is ninth with a 6.643 at 207.30 in her Elite Motorsports Dodge Charger.
Friday's results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 28th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka, eighth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Brittany Force, 3.676 seconds, 325.45 mph; 2. Doug Kalitta, 3.701, 330.88; 3. Steve Torrence, 3.709, 329.91; 4. Richie Crampton, 3.710, 323.50; 5. Tony Schumacher, 3.724, 324.05; 6. Shawn Langdon, 3.726, 330.15; 7. Clay Millican, 3.736, 325.77; 8. Antron Brown, 3.743, 323.12; 9. J.R. Todd, 3.759, 326.40; 10. Terry McMillen, 3.762, 324.59; 11. Scott Palmer, 3.872, 312.86; 12. Luigi Novelli, 4.957, 145.02. Not Qualified: 13. Smax Smith, 5.836, 117.91; 14. Rob Passey, 12.086, 47.03.
Funny Car -- 1. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.862, 335.57; 2. Jack Beckman, Charger, 3.866, 332.59; 3. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.869, 333.74; 4. Courtney Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.871, 331.45; 5. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Camry, 3.875, 332.18; 6. Del Worsham, Camry, 3.880, 332.67; 7. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 3.889, 321.42; 8. Robert Hight, Camaro, 3.907, 332.84; 9. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.908, 328.38; 10. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 3.923, 311.41; 11. Chad Head, Camry, 3.974, 320.74; 12. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.015, 312.71. Not Qualified: 13. Brian Stewart, 4.075, 295.79; 14. John Force, 4.107, 326.00; 15. John Hale, 4.138, 280.54; 16. Dale Creasy Jr., 4.363, 227.38; 17. Jack Wyatt, 4.456, 214.76.
Pro Stock -- 1. Jason Line, Chevy Camaro, 6.578, 210.37; 2. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.591, 209.59; 3. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.600, 209.30; 4. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.623, 208.46; 5. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.632, 207.50; 6. Allen Johnson, Dodge Dart, 6.636, 208.20; 7. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.638, 208.84; 8. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.642, 208.39; 9. Erica Enders, Dart, 6.643, 207.30; 10. Aaron Strong, Camaro, 6.658, 207.24; 11. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.667, 208.10; 12. Jeg Coughlin, Dart, 6.670, 206.61. Not Qualified: 13. Deric Kramer, 6.675, 206.54; 14. V. Gaines, 6.679, 206.76; 15. Mark Hogan, 6.925, 200.05; 16. Dave River, 19.806, 66.09.
FRIDAY QUALIFYING - SPORTSMAN RESULTS
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER (SESSION ONE)
1 2 B/AD Chris Demke, Tujunga CA, Uyehara-BAE 5.282 273.72 273.72
2 5961 A/FD Megan Meyer, Spring Hill KS, Copeland-B 5.287 268.81 268.81
3 415 B/AD Lee Callaway, Baytown TX, Haase-BAE 5.298 270.10 270.10
4 1 B/AD Joey Severance, Woodburn OR, Hadman-BAE 5.357 267.53 267.53
5 489 A/FD Chase Copeland, Gainesville TX, Copelan 5.449 266.58 266.58
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TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR (SESSION ONE)
1 729 Nick Januik, Las Vegas NV, '16 Camaro 5.495 267.11 267.11
2 4 Doug Gordon, Paso Robles CA, '15 Camaro 5.583 264.91 264.91
3 6345 Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls OR, '16 Camaro 5.584 255.92 255.92
4 77 Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina CA, '16 Camaro 5.595 259.16 259.16
5 10 Jay Payne, Claremont CA, '16 Camaro 5.604 262.85 262.85
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SUPER STOCK (SESSION ONE)
1 5150 GT/AA Jason DeForrest, Andover MN, '05 Cavalier 9.175 10.10 -0.925
2 4747 GT/CA Tommy Phillips, Forney TX, '05 Cavalier 9.492 10.40 -0.908
3 5600 SS/AS Michael Mans, Rogers MN, '00 Firebird 8.702 9.60 -0.898
4 4102 FSS/B Jack Hodge, Muskogee OK, '12 Mustang 8.306 9.20 -0.894
5 4147 GT/EA Rob Cruzen, Cleveland OK, '02 Cavalier 9.790 10.65 -0.860
6 5250 FSS/C Todd Patterson, Augusta KS, '14 Camaro 8.798 9.65 -0.852
7 5203 SS/BS Tom Cain, Louisburg KS, '09 Cobalt 8.800 9.65 -0.850
8 9 SS/CM Phil Unruh, McPherson KS, '10 Cobalt 8.651 9.50 -0.849
9 5545 GT/JA Gary Stinnett, Emporia KS, '89 Camaro 10.451 11.30 -0.849
10 332 GT/FA Marion Stephenson, Williamsport IN, '90 S 9.974 10.80 -0.826
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STOCK (FINAL FIELD)
1 5942 FS/C Ryan Montford, Wichita KS, '13 Camaro 9.240 10.30 -1.060
2 4311 FS/C Jeff Lopez, Irving TX, '14 Camaro 9.297 10.30 -1.003
3 520 FS/D Tyler Cassil, Belton MO, '14 Camaro 9.608 10.60 -0.992
4 5335 I/SA Dic Geary, Broomfield CO, '85 Camaro 11.320 12.30 -0.980
5 541 FS/D Larry DeForrest, Ramsey MN, '10 Mustang 9.622 10.60 -0.978
6 3662 FS/C Scott Libersher, Wilmington IL, '15 Camaro 9.322 10.30 -0.978
7 329 V/SA Dan Tool, Jacksonville IL, '80 Mustang 14.534 15.50 -0.966
8 5033 K/SA Rachelle Thibert, Louisburg KS, '81 Malibu11.699 12.65 -0.951
9 7010 J/SA Duane Dickens, San Clemente CA, '66 Chevy 11.569 12.45 -0.881
10 5654 C/SA Carson Pedigo, Andover KS, '70 Chevelle 10.521 11.40 -0.879
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