​When he took the early lead in Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying Friday at the Menards Nationals at Topeka, Joey Gladstone said he and his Precision Service Equipment Suzuki team “seem to have a recipe that’s working.” 

They do, and it simmered all day Saturday in the triple-digit heat. Ultimately, it served him the first No. 1 qualifying position of his career – in the first race since he earned his career-first victory at Sonoma, Calif. 

Jim Epler was taken aback. 

As the Top Fuel dragster driven by Justin Ashley rolled out of the Phillips Connect hauler, the former Funny Car standout could only put his hands on his face, both in shock and emotion. Splashed across the front wing of the dragster was a mural commemorating Epler’s grand achievement in drag racing -- the first 300-mile-per-hour Funny Car driver, recorded on October 3, 1993, in Topeka, Kan. 

Ironically, Ashley wasn’t even born. 

​​​Moments after Mike Salinas stole the Top Fuel show Friday at the Menards NHRA Nationals, sloughing off the hot, muggy Topeka conditions as though he and his Pep Boys Dragster tune-up never noticed, crew chief Rob Flynn said he had wondered before the run, “Did we do enough here?”

Whatever he did, it was more than enough.

Last year’s Dallas Glenn, meet this year’s, Dallas Glenn. He’s a more street-smart, seat-of-the-pants-savvy driver than the rookie who won last year’s event with a “trip-zip” reaction time in the final round. 

“We’re in a different car now,” Glenn said. “It’s a whole different feel for the year. I feel a lot more confident in the car. I can just get in and do my thing. I feel a lot better about that. This car is, I won’t say it’s frustrating me a little bit, but it’s definitely been a little bit tougher to kind of find my sweet spot and a little bit tougher to stay there, which I don’t know if that’s me or the car. 

“Being that it’s the second year and I’m coming into all this stuff with a little bit more experience. It almost feels like I’m a little bit more relaxed all the time I’m up there. So I kind of have to hype myself up a little bit more when it’s time to really get on it. So that’s something I’m kind of just getting used to, but I’m still having an absolute blast out here.” 

Things got a bit sporty for NHRA Pro Modified racer Lyle Barnett during Friday’s qualifying session at the Menard’s NHRA Nationals in Topeka, Kansas. Barnett admitted it’s the second wreck he’s had this week. 

“I had gotten rear-ended on Tuesday back home leaving work to come here,” Barnett said. “So I don’t know if I should quit for this weekend and just count my blessings or try to shake this monkey off. But we’re going to go to Q3 in the morning; hope for the best.”

An apparently broken throttle body led to a hung throttle and forced Barnett into the right lane retaining wall after his car crossed lanes. He was able to avoid Jose Gonzalez, who was having issues of his own. Barnett was uninjured in the dust-up. 

Young gun Preston Tanner picked up his first-ever No. 1 qualifier award in WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive at the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) Summit Racing Equipment Northern Nationals presented by Penske Racing Shocks at Maple Grove Raceway. Tanner drove his screw-blown “Sweetheart” ’15 Corvette to a 3.663-second pass at 204.23 MPH to top the field on Friday night. 

We've got another hilarious episode of Top Ten for you. This time our gang focuses on the all-time driver nicknames. Gain both a history lesson and a few hearty laughs as we break down the top 10 and another ten honorable mentions.

Our Peanut Gallery for this episode features drag racing television personality Brian Lohnes, past nitro champions Antron Brown and JR Todd, and the tuning duo of Nicky Bonifante and Del Worsham.

The hilarious debut episode focuses on the top ten wild rides and crashes in the era of 1970 through 1987. These videos are primarily ones where the driver walked away, but some do have non-life-threatening injuries.

Our Peanut Gallery for this episode features drag racing television personality Brian Lohnes, past nitro champions Antron Brown and JR Todd, and the tuning duo of Nicky Boninfante and Del Worsham.

Sometimes two steps back can equal three forward.

This motto is what small-tire superstar turned NHRA Pro Modified Lyle Barnett is counting on. The NHRA Pro Modified series returns to action after a seven-week break in the schedule.

Barnett has shown a propensity to be a streaky racer. Last season, Barnett closed the season with wins in two of the last three events. Unfortunately, Barnett lost in the first round in the previous two races, headed into this weekend's Menards NHRA Nationals in Topeka, Kan..