Some drivers have a storied history at certain tracks. For multi-time NHRA Funny Car champion, the most significant aspects of his relationship with John Force began at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kan. 

The memories are as vivid as his 11,000-horsepower Chevrolet Camaro when, in June 1995, when he first rolled through the gates at the multipurpose facility. 

The rookie mechanic flew into Kansas City with his new bosses, drag racing tuning legends Austin Coil and Bernie Fedderly. The experience proved to be a whirlwind orientation.

During the second qualifying session at the Menards NHRA Nationals Presented By PetArmor in Topeka, Kan., Tim Wilkerson’s Funny Car crossed the center line and contacted Cruz Pedregon’s car. The two made contact with the wall before both coming to a stop. Both drivers exited their vehicles under their own power.

Wilkerson was remorseful about the incident.

Top Fuel driver Brittany Force has been on a tear when it comes to qualifying at NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series events.

Force qualified No. 1 for the fourth event in a row when she clocked a 3.716-second run at 329.02 mph in Q3 Saturday at the Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor in Topeka, Kan.

J.R. Todd seems to be finding his momentum at the right time.

Todd, who drives a DHL Toyota for Kalitta Motorsports, scored a runner-up finish at the Winternationals, and kept this rolling Friday night in Q1 at the Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor.

Billy Torrence only races a limited schedule in NHRA’s Camping World Drag Racing Series.

However, when the Top Fuel driver shows up, he’s a threat to win in his Capco dragster.

Troy Coughlin Jr. has had an up and down season in the Pro Stock ranks in the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.

Coughlin took a small step in getting his season rolling as he clocked a 6.600-second time at 205.51 mph in Q3 to capture the No. 1 qualifying spot at the Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor in Topeka, Kan., Saturday.

J.R. Todd made his quickest pass of the season on Friday, as the former Funny Car world champ powered to the provisional No. 1 spot in qualifying at the Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor at Heartland Motorsports Park.

Billy Torrence (Top Fuel) and Kyle Koretsky (Pro Stock) are also provisional No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the 11th race of the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.

Two-time Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous world champion Tommy Franklin earned his first No. 1 qualifying award in over a year when he took his “Jungle Rat” ’69 Camaro to the top spot at the PDRA P2 Contracting Northern Nationals presented by P2 Racing Friday night at Maple Grove Raceway. 

With almost 200 different classes culminating under the headings of Stock and Super Stock, those two categories harken back to the days when performance was king and “my car is faster than yours.” Today, that has somewhat changed with the basics still being run under very strict rules.

“I think it may have all started back in the days when performance cars were being built by the factories,” says long-time veteran of the sport Dave Ley.