By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Pro Stock legend Greg Anderson is one win away from his landmark 100th career win and figures Heartland Motorsports Park, where he has won four times, is just as good a place as any to make that happen.
Five-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson will be shooting for his 100th race win in Sunday's Menards NHRA Nationals. {Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The five-time world champion will have that opportunity on Sunday after wrapping up the No. 1 Pro Stock qualifying spot in the Menards NHRA Nationals.
"It's kind of funny because each race you go to it's like I've got fond memories,'' Anderson said. "I've been able to win at pretty much everywhere we've been and I'm not sure where I would pick out as my favorite place to win it. Every one of them has special meaning to it, this place as well.
"I grew up in the Midwest so this place woud be extra special cool just like a whole lot of other places. It would be a great place for it to happen, to be honest with you, and I'd certainly like to get it done and stop worrying about it.''
But Anderson, who is looking for his first win of the year, knows it won't be easy.
"No. 100 should certainly be a struggle and it certainly has proven to be,'' said Anderson, the 2021 series champ. "It's like chasing a snake, but I'm going to catch that snake.''
Anderson, who will receive a first-round bye, picked up his second straight No. 1 qualifier and the 120th of his career with his run of 6.623 seconds at 205.44 miles per hour from Friday's opening qualifying session in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro.
Seattle winner Troy Coughlin Jr. qualified second with his 6.632 run at 208.04 from Friday while points leader Erica Enders, who has six wins this year, qualified third at6.632/207.62.
Mike Salinas (front) and Justin Ashley qualified No. 1 and 2 in Top Fuel for Sunday's Menards NHRA Nationals eliminations at Heartland Motorsports Park. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Mike Salinas earned the No. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel for Sunday's eliminations (10:30 a.m. start) while Bob Tasca III is No. 1 in Funny Car and Joey Gladstone in the top spot in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Tasca was a No. 1 qualifier for the second straight race and the ninth time in his career, securing the top position with Friday's run of 3.930 seconds at 323.81 mph in his BG Products Ford Mustang.
Bob Tasca III (left) will start Sunday's Funny Car eliminations in the No. 1 spot while defending race champ John Force qualified No. 3. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Tasca will be looking for his second win in three races on Sunday, as well as his first career victory in Topeka.
“Hats off to the guys, but I’ll tell you one thing, we got a yellow (No. 1 qualifier) hat in Seattle and we didn’t get to trade it in for a blue (winner’s) hat,'' Tasca said. "Tomorrow, we want to trade this thing in for a blue hat.”
Points leader Robert Hight, who is looking for his seventh win this season, qualified second thanks to his 3.931 run at 323.81 from Friday, while defending event winner John Force’s 3.932 at 312.71 secured the third spot for the 16-time world champion.
"Really good day for the Auto Club team,'' Hight said. "This combination has really been good for us. Jimmy Prock and Chris Cunningham, they’ve figured it out in the heat. We’ve been consistent.
"It’s hard not to be confident heading into tomorrow. The competition in Funny Car is so close though, we can’t let up. We have to strive for perfection and these Auto Club Chevy guys, they’re up for it.”
Force is also confident heading into eliminations.
“Hot out here in Topeka but everyone is dealing with it and we’re getting down there, putting on a show for all these fans that sat through the heat,” said Force. “We look good for tomorrow, after running well today, Danny (Hood) and Tim (Fabrisi), they’re giving me a good race car. Just need to go out there and take it one run at a time and see how it goes.”
On the strength of his standout run of 3.754 at 323.19 from Friday, Salinas clinched his third No. 1 qualifier of the season in his Pep Boys/Scrappers Racing dragster.
It’s also the 11th career top spot for Salinas, who will open eliminations against Terry Totten. Salinas, who is second in points, will be looking for his fifth win of the season and his first victory in Topeka.
“This year will be the best year in Top Fuel racing that I’ve ever seen,” Salinas said. “The competition is almost like a bracket car. It’s so close and you can’t make any mistakes. You have to be on your ‘A’ game every run and all the people we’re racing against, you can’t take any of them lightly because everybody is doing such a great job.
"Look at how close the fields are. It’s just amazing and I’m happy to be a part of this thing, and I’m happy to beat up on them, too.”
Justin Ashley, a two-time winner this year, qualified second with a 3.765 run at 320.43 mph and Josh Hart took the third spot with his pass of 3.766 at 310.41 from Friday. Points leader Brittany Force qualified sixth.
“It has been a great weekend thus far,'' Ashley said. "There is a lot going on – on and off the track – and it is awesome. We love it. Obviously, we have people from Phillips Connect here, and a lot of people from Velociti. It was important for us to go out and perform well. We will be ready for race day tomorrow.”
Joey Gladstone earned his first No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock Motorcyle for Sunday's Menards NHRA Nationals elimination rounds. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Gladstone earned his first career No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock Motorcycle with a run of 6.831 at 195.08 on his J&A Service Suzuki Hayabusa.
Coming off his first career victory in the class, Gladstone will start race day as the points leader, slipping past Angelle Sampey with his standout performance over the past two days of qualifying.
“I hope this wave never crashes,” Gladstone said. “I’m enjoying this ride while it lasts and I’m so happy. I’ve been waiting my whole life for moments like this and I can’t say enough about my team and how much fun we’re having. They’re so great and I’m so thankful for all they do and allowing us to come out here.”
Sampey, who won at Topeka in 1997 in Pro Stock Motorcycle’s last race at the track, qualified second with a 6.882 run at 195.14 mph, and is just four points back of Gladstone. Eddie Krawiec improved to a 6.913 at 194.16 to take the No. 3 qualifying spot.
MENARDS NHRA NATIONALS
At Heartland Motorsports Park
Sunday's first-round pairings
Top Fuel -- 1. Mike Salinas, 3.754 seconds, 323.19 mph vs. 16. Terry Totten, 4.026, 253.56; 2. Justin Ashley, 3.765, 320.43 vs. 15. Buddy Hull, 3.959, 275.90; 3. Josh Hart, 3.766, 310.41 vs. 14. Austin Prock, 3.930, 298.93; 4. Steve Torrence, 3.772, 316.38 vs. 13. Kyle Wurtzel, 3.907, 308.64; 5. Doug Kalitta, 3.795, 318.69 vs. 12. Tony Schumacher, 3.827, 302.82; 6. Brittany Force, 3.800, 324.59 vs. 11. Antron Brown, 3.818, 281.89; 7. Leah Pruett, 3.804, 316.97 vs. 10. Doug Foley, 3.818, 299.13; 8. Clay Millican, 3.810, 297.61 vs. 9. Shawn Langdon, 3.817, 313.22.
Funny Car -- 1. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.930, 323.81 vs. 14. Jack Wyatt, Dodge Charger, 4.392, 212.23; 2. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.931, 323.81 vs. 13. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.064, 312.28; 3. John Force, Camaro, 3.932, 312.71 vs. 12. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.043, 284.62; 4. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.943, 320.58 vs. 11. Chad Green, Mustang, 4.031, 311.99; 5. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.949, 318.99 vs. 10. Paul Lee, Charger, 4.024, 315.42; 6. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.977, 318.17 vs. 9. Ron Capps, Toyota Supra, 4.003, 313.66; 7. Alexis DeJoria, Supra, 3.983, 295.66 vs. 8. J.R. Todd, Supra, 3.986, 323.50.
Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.623, 205.44 vs. Bye; 2. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.632, 208.04 vs. 15. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.810, 203.95; 3. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.632, 207.62 vs. 14. Fernando Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.753, 204.79; 4. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.634, 207.66 vs. 13. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.691, 204.76; 5. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.655, 205.91 vs. 12. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.687, 206.95; 6. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.655, 205.04 vs. 11. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.684, 205.13; 7. Cristian Cuadra, Mustang, 6.665, 206.92 vs. 10. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Mustang, 6.679, 206.51; 8. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.672, 206.32 vs. 9. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.678, 206.35.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.831, 195.08 vs. 14. David Barron, EBR, broke; 2. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 6.882, 195.14 vs. 13. Jianna Evaristo, Suzuki, 7.080, 187.91; 3. Eddie Krawiec, Suzuki, 6.913, 194.16 vs. 12. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 7.060, 191.21; 4. Angie Smith, EBR, 6.926, 197.28 vs. 11. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 7.001, 191.35; 5. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.927, 194.88 vs. 10. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.997, 191.59; 6. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.935, 194.60 vs. 9. Matt Smith, Suzuki, 6.995, 196.59; 7. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.946, 194.24 vs. 8. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.962, 194.44.
