Welcome to Top Sports News

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Friday night qualifying hasn't been real kind fo NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Funny Car driver J.R. Todd in recent weeks, but the former world champ changed that trend Friday at Heartland Motorsports Park, making his quickest pass of the season en route to the provisional No. 1 spot in qualifying at the Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor.

"We've been struggling to capitalize on the Friday night run that is usually pretty crucial for qualifying,'' said Todd, driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car. "It was nice to make a hell of a run. We haven't run that well in a long time. It's a testament to all the DHL Toyota guys for digging deep and not giving up.

"I feel like we've got some momentum coming from Pomona (Calif.) where we gained a lot of points on the cars in front of us. It's nice to get the three points tonight and, hopefully, we can keep pace with those guys heading into the Countdown. It's a good time to start building momentum."

J.R. Todd set the Funny Car qualifying pace Friday night in the Menards NHRA Nationals at Heartland Motorsports Park. [Photo by NHRA]J

Todd went 3.884 seconds at 332.67 miles per hour putting him in line to pick up his second No. 1 qualifier in '21 and the 20th in his career.

Alexis DeJoria is currently second after she went 3.894 at 329.67 in her ROKiT Toyota Camry:and Bob Tasca III is currently third with his run of 3.905 at 328.66.

"In the past here in Topeka, I haven't done that well,'' DeJoria said. "But with everything we've accomplished so far this year I knew coming into this race we were going to do something and right out of the box we ran an .89. We weren't expecting it.

"We thought we were going to run a .92. We're No. 2 right now. If we hold it through tomorrow, it will be our sixth No. 2 qualifier of the season. I'll take that. So hopefully we can carry tonight's run all the way through qualifying and into the finals on Sunday."

Along with his quickest pass of the season, Friday night was also the first time Todd made a run in the 3.80s in '21, giving him plenty of momentum for the weekend.

Todd is seeking his second win of the season and his first victory in Topeka.

Billy Torrence had the quickest Top Fuel qualifying run Friday night in the Menards NHRA Nationals at Heartland Motorsports Park. [Photo by NHRA]

Billy Torrence had the quickest Top Fuel qualifying run Friday night in the Menards NHRA Nationals at Heartland Motorsports Park. [Photo by NHRA]

Billy Torrence (Top Fuel) and Kyle Koretsky (Pro Stock) were also provisional No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories Friday night at the 11th race of the 2021 season.

Torrence rocketed to the No. 1 spot in Top Fuel, going 3.717 seconds at 322.27 m.p.h in his Capco Contractors dragster.

If it holds, the run would give Torrence his third low qualifier of the season and eighth overall.

Torrence won a Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series race three weeks ago at the HMP in Super Comp and kept up his strong pace in Topeka as he looks for his second Top Fuel win of the year.

Former Top Fuel champ Brittany Force, who is looking for her first win of the season, went 3.734 at 329.42 to move into the No. 2 on Friday, while Mike Salinas took the third spot after a run of 3.739 at 316.08.

Kyle Koretsky put himself in position to earn his first Pro Stock No. 1 qualifier with a strong run Friday night at Heartland Motorsports Park. [Photo by NHRA]

Koretsky impressed in his first appearance at Heartland Motorsports Park in Pro Stock, jumping to the provisional No. 1 spot with a run of 6.634 at 205.51 in his Lucas Oil Chevrolet Camaro.

If it holds, it would give the young standout his first career No. 1 qualifier. Following a strong showing in Pomona at the most recent race, Koretsky is trying to pick up his first career win.

Troy Coughlin Jr. is currently second with his promising pass of 6.635 at 203.74 and Greg Anderson is third after he ran 6.636 at 205.29. Anderson, the current points leader, is aiming for his ninth No. 1 qualifier in 2021.

MENARDS NHRA NATIONALS

At Heartland Motorsports Park

FRIDAY QUALIFYING RESULTS

Top Fuel -- 1. Billy Torrence, 3.717 seconds, 322.27 mph; 2. Brittany Force, 3.734, 329.42; 3. Mike Salinas, 3.739, 316.08; 4. Steve Torrence, 3.747, 324.36; 5. Justin Ashley, 3.796, 320.66; 6. Shawn Langdon, 3.805, 311.34; 7. Doug Kalitta, 3.815, 289.63; 8. Clay Millican, 3.850, 282.48; 9. Kyle Wurtzel, 3.908, 303.50; 10. Alex Laughlin, 3.971, 237.09; 11. Terry Totten, 4.161, 244.03; 12. Antron Brown, 5.056, 142.75; 13. Leah Pruett, 6.412, 105.01. 

Funny Car -- 1. J.R. Todd, Toyota Camry, 3.884, 332.67; 2. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 3.894, 329.67; 3. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.905, 328.86; 4. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.920, 332.92; 5. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.942, 325.37; 6. John Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.951, 326.63; 7. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.962, 322.19; 8. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.969, 301.67; 9. Paul Lee, Charger, 4.013, 277.60; 10. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.096, 308.14; 11. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.151, 232.95; 12. Chad Green, Mustang, 4.383, 207.27; 13. Chris King, Toyota Camary, 5.776, 118.37; 14. Robert Hight, Camaro, 10.000, no speed; 15. Jack Wyatt, Charger, 11.948, 78.26. 

Pro Stock -- 1. Kyle Koretsky, Chevy Camaro, 6.634, 205.51; 2. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.635, 203.74; 3. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.636, 205.29; 4. Bruno Massel, Camaro, 6.639, 202.58; 5. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.647, 205.91; 6. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.654, 205.29; 7. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.655, 203.92; 8. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.657, 204.48; 9. Rodger Brogdon, Camaro, 6.663, 205.63; 10. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.673, 204.82; 11. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.676, 205.94; 12. Val Smeland, Camaro, 6.694, 204.91; 13. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.699, 204.39; 14. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Ford Mustang, 6.717, 204.57; 15. Richie Stevens, Camaro, 6.870, 183.34; 16. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Dart, 7.404, 134.85. Not Qualified: 17. Erica Enders, 8.246, 118.96; 18. Cristian Cuadra, 16.084, 48.51; 19. Fernando Cuadra, 19.374, 71.48. 

SATURDAY SCHEDULE

8 a.m. -- Sportsman eliminations.

11 a.m. -- Midway open/suggested time of arrival.

1 p.m. -- Top Alcohol qualifying session.

2 p.m. -- Top Fuel Harley qualifying session.

2:15 p.m. -- Factory Stock Showdown qualifying session.

2:30 p.m. -- Pro Stock Car qualifying session.

3 p.m. -- Nitro qualifying session (Funny Car and Top Fuel).

4 p.m. -- Top Alcohol eliminations Round 1.

5 p.m. -- Top Fuel Harley qualifying session.

5:15 p.m. -- Factory Stock Showdown qualifying session.

5:30 p.m. -- Pro Stock Car qualifying session.

6 p.m. -- Nitro qualifying session (Funny Car and Top Fuel).

7 p.m. -- Sportsman eliminations.

SUNDAY SCHEDULE

8:30 a.m. -- Sportsman eliminations.

9 a.m. -- Midway open/suggested time of arrival.

9:15 a.m. -- Top Alcohol eliminations Round 2.

11 a.m. -- Nitro eliminations (Funny Car and Top Fuel).

12 p.m. -- Pro Stock Car eliminations Round 1.

12:20 p.m. -- Factory Stock Showdown Round 1.

12:30 p.m. -- Top Fuel Harley eliminations Round 1.

12:40 p.m. -- Top Alcohol eliminations Semifinals.

1 p.m. -- Nitro eliminations Round 2 (Funny Car and Top Fuel).

1:30 p.m. -- Pro Stock Car eliminations Round 2.

1:40 p.m. -- Factory Stock Showdown eliminations Round 2.

1:45 p.m. -- Top Fuel Harley eliminations Semifinals.

1:50 p.m. -- Sportsman eliminations Semifinals.

2:30 p.m. -- Nitro eliminations Semifinals (Funny Car and Top Fuel).

2:45 p.m. -- Pro Stock Car Semifinals.

2:50 p.m. -- Factory Stock Showdown Semifinals.

2:55 p.m. -- Sportsman eliminations Finals.

3:05 p.m. -- Top Alcohol eliminations Finals.

3:15 p.m. -- Top Fuel Harley eliminations Finals.

3:40 p.m. -- Factory Stock Showdown eliminations Finals.

3:45 p.m. -- Pro Stock Car eliminations Finals.

3:50 p.m. -- Nitro eliminations Finals (Funny Car and Top Fuel).

Related Stories and Videos