When John Force and his Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang took the
measure of points leader Tim Wilkerson’s Chevrolet in the final round
of the 20th annual O’Reilly Summer Nationals at Heartland Park-Topeka,
Kim Crum of Mission, Kansas was also a big winner as part of the
BrandSource “Win with Force” promotion.

At 16 selected events including the Summer Nationals, when John Force
Racing wins the Funny Car money, one lucky spectator wins a 65-inch
Mitsubishi television courtesy of BrandSource.

“I feel real good. I’m glad I was here for his first win back from when
he got hurt. Thanks to BrandSource and Mitsubishi and John Force I’ll
be able to watch the races on a new TV,” Crum said.

Sunday's final results from the 20th annual O'Reilly NHRA Summer
Nationals presented by Castrol GTX at Heartland Park Topeka.  The  race
is the ninth of 24 in the  NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
 

Top Fuel -- Hillary Will, 4.744 seconds, 304.53 mph def. Larry Dixon, 4.960 seconds, 281.42 mph.

Final round-by-round results from the 20th annual O'Reilly NHRA
Summer Nationals presented by Castrol GTX at Heartland Park Topeka, the
ninth of 24 events in the  NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Brandon Bernstein, 4.625, 311.99 def. J.R. Todd,
4.667, 286.74; Tony Schumacher, 5.862, 235.97 def. Alan Bradshaw,
11.201, 84.69; Morgan Lucas, 4.749, 305.98 def. Rod Fuller, 4.856,
261.98; Larry Dixon, 4.630, 308.85 was unopposed; Cory McClenathan,
4.587, 314.46 def. Bob Vandergriff, 13.150, 74.69; Antron Brown, 4.612,
294.50 def. David Grubnic, 8.328, 89.43; Joe Hartley, 4.727, 311.85
def. Doug Kalitta, 5.327, 208.84; Hillary Will, 4.633, 310.91 def. Doug
Herbert, 4.672, 308.43;

The following letter was sent to the National Hot Rod Association by
Jeremy Farmer of Malvern, Arkansas, an admitted lifelong fan of NHRA
drag racing. Farmer copied CompetitionPlus.com on his letter and
provided his blessings for publication. - Editor

Larry Dixon gets a bye run in the first round due to the short field of cars. (AutoImagery)

First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the
20th annual O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals presented by Castrol GTX at
Heartland Park Topeka, the ninth of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag
Racing Series.  Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended
Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.

Top Fuel -- 1. Larry Dixon, 4.527 seconds, 325.30 mph  vs.
Bye; 2. Cory McClenathan, 4.565, 323.04  vs. 15. Bob Vandergriff,
4.875, 291.01; 3. Rod Fuller, 4.565, 320.13  vs. 14. Morgan Lucas,
4.728, 306.12; 4. Antron Brown, 4.584, 312.06  vs. 13. David Grubnic,
4.690, 303.78; 5. Doug Kalitta, 4.590, 324.83  vs. 12. Joe Hartley,
4.653, 321.81; 6. Doug Herbert, 4.609, 313.15  vs. 11. Hillary Will,
4.649, 313.58; 7. Tony Schumacher, 4.622, 317.64  vs. 10. Alan
Bradshaw, 4.647, 307.79; 8. Brandon Bernstein, 4.623, 324.75  vs. 9.
J.R. Todd, 4.623, 322.34.

Mike Neff reached the final rounds in the two events leading into
the NHRA Summernationals in Topeka, Kansas. Those accolades didn't earn
him a provisional start in Sunday's final eliminations. Instead, Neff
will watch from the sidelines after his Old Spice Force Mustang failed
to crack into the 16-car field.

FRAM Top Fuel dragster driver Cory McClenathan enjoyed his second-best
qualifying effort of the season (his best was a No. 1 in Atlanta) at the NHRA
Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka. He qualified No. 2 on the strength of
his second run on Friday, marking the sixth time in nine races this season that
he's qualified the Don Schumacher Racing entry in the top half of the
field.
 
McClenathan began qualifying under mostly hot and humid Midwest
conditions with a run of 4.656 seconds at 300.33 mph to grab the No. 4 spot. He
then improved with a 4.565/323.04 to move up to No. 2. The Kansas native (born
in Wichita) recorded a 5.165/188.83 on his third pass, followed by a
4.666/303.78, the third quickest of the final session, and remained No.
2.