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Racing was scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. local time this morning, but Mother Nature had other plans. After an extended delay, we're off and running with the first pair of Top Fuel dragsters.Ìý

Brittany Force and Shawn Langdon fly right down the track to prove that this racing surface is ready to rock and roll. Force clocks a 3.78 at 321 for the win over Langdon, whom she has defeated in each of the three elimination rounds they've raced this season. Langdon made a decent run in his Kalitta Air rail, 3.85, 314.Ìý

"It's definitely a challenge to come out here, it's raceday, you're pumped, and then you have to sit out for six hours and hope it stops raining," said Force. "But the clouds cleared, rain went away, and we made an awesome run. To be able to step it up was such a relief."Ìý

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Justin Ashley lets everyone know what the racetrack is capable of as he makes the quickest and fastest run of the weekend, powering his Phillips Connect dragster to a 3.75, 329 in his defeat of a tire-smoking Josh Hart. To Hart's credit, he was up for the challenge as he laid down a killer .013-second reaction time.Ìý

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After all but one car this round makes it down the track with fairly clean, sub 4-second passes, this is the first side-by-side pedalfest we've seen today, and Austin Prock, the No. 14 qualifier, gets to the finish line first ahead of No. 3 qualifier Doug Kalitta. For Prock, being able to emerge victorious in a tough battle with one of the sport's most prolific competitors hits just right.

"There's no better feeling for a driver than winning a pedalfest or to win on a holeshot," said Prock. "I've wanted to do that my entire life. Doug Kalitta is the greatest that's ever done it, so to get that done, I'm awfully proud."

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The Upset of the Round Award goes to Scott Palmer, who takes out the most winning Top Fuel driver in the history of the sport, eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher. Schumacher's SCAG dragster goes silent as he approaches the finish line stripe, and Palmer's 3.92 flies right on by.Ìý

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Five of the eight winners in the first round of Top Fuel improved on their qualifying times in conditions that were cooler than any we've raced in so far this weekend. That being said, the temperature is rising, and the air is thick. Stay tuned; this could get interesting.

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Top Fuel pairings, round two (lane choice first):ÌýSteve Torrence vs. Brittany Force; Clay Millican vs. Scott Palmer; Justin Ashley vs. Leah Pruett; Antron Brown vs. Austin Prock

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Alexis DeJoria couldn't get her Bandero Tequila Toyota Funny Car to back up twice during qualifying and sacrificed two of the three available runs, so here, when she's able to complete a burnout next to John Force and then back up, stage, and make a full pass, she's already ahead of the game. When Force smokes the tires, DeJoria is able to trip the win light with a 4.02 and advance to the second round for the first time in three races.Ìý

"I thought I was going to have to burn some sage," joked DeJoria at the top end, who went on to explain that a problem with the clutch pedal was her devil in the first qualifying session, and a problem with the reverser left her hanging in the final qualifier. "I'm just glad it happened during qualifying," she said. "We really needed that first-round win."Ìý

***

The track is warming quickly, and the Funny Car brigade is feeling the heat. Only three cars improve on their qualifying times, and J.R. Todd and No. 1 qualifier Robert Hight tie for low of the round with a pair of 3.96s.Ìý

Todd's meeting with Chad Green was a doozy as Green has been steadily gaining steam and Todd is fresh off of the Sonoma win in his DHL Funny Car. The last time these two met was in the final round just a couple of weeks ago in Sonoma, and the outcome is the same here: Todd's 3.96 beats a 4.11 and he'll advance.Ìý

"That was a really tough match-up – but any of these out here are tough these days," said Todd, a two-time finalist looking for his first Topeka win. "A 3.96 is pretty sporty in these conditions. It's been a long day so far with waiting out the rain, but we're hoping for a really long one at Heartland Park."

***

In Sonoma, Paul Lee claimed his first round win of the year, and here again in Topeka, he's advancing from the first round. Lee clocked a 4.05 next to a traction-troubled Cruz Pedregon. Today would have been late Funny Car racer Eric Medlen's 50th birthday, and his father, John Medlen, is here this weekend with Lee – as he was in Sonoma – advising.

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Funny Car pairings, round two (lane choice first):ÌýRobert Hight vs. Paul Lee; Alexis DeJoria vs. Bob Tasca III; J.R. Todd vs. Ron Capps; Tim Wilkerson vs. Matt Hagan

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Defending event champion Troy Coughlin Jr. and Elite Motorsports teammate Aaron Stanfield are the only two Pro Stock drivers to improve upon their qualifying times here as the weather continues to shift and bend. Coughlin doesn't need the boost and advances without challenge as Kyle Koretsky goes red, and Stanfield pairs his efficient run with a nice .018 reaction time to make sure he gets the job done over Cristian Cuadra, who also falls under the Elite umbrella.Ìý

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KB Titan Racing teammates Greg Anderson and Dallas Glenn tie one another to the thousandth in their respective matches, just as they ran identically during a qualifying round. It was Glenn who bumped the boss down a notch in the final moments of qualifying to claim the top spot (as well as the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge title), but these two are evenly matched and on opposite sides of the ladder.Ìý

Glenn'sÌý 6.649 nudges out Fernando Cuadra Sr., and Anderson has an interesting start to his victorious run as David Cuadra's Chevrolet stalls and won't refire after the burnout, then his crew members pile into the car with haste and finally get it to ignite. Cuadra takes a starting line advantage and makes his quickest pass of the weekend (6.723), but Anderson's HendrickCars.com Chevy is straight, true, and quicker for the win.Ìý

***

Denver winner Matt Hartford continues his winning ways with a first-round victory over Fernando Cuadra Jr., who left the starting line first by .023-second – a potentially dangerous margin in this class. Hartford made up the difference quickly.Ìý

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Pro Stock pairings, round two (lane choice first):ÌýDallas Glenn vs. Camrie Caruso; Aaron Stanfield vs. Erica Enders; Greg Anderson vs. Troy Coughlin Jr.; Deric Kramer vs. Matt Hartford

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The turnaround is quick here, as we're rushing to keep ahead of the weather. The sky is turning dark and a cloud cover is moving in as Top Fuel dragsters are arriving for the second round. In the first pair, Antron Brown takes his Matco Tools dragster to a 3.81 to send Austin Prock home on a 4.00 that came with a whisp of tire smoke. With the win, Brown moves up to No. 4 in the Top Fuel standings.Ìý

"The track is getting tighter out there," said Brown. "It's been hot, sweaty, and tricky, and this is where it throws the crew chiefs a curveball. As the sun goes down, it'll be better conditions to run harder – you're gonna have to swing for the mid .70s next round, and everybody out here is fighting tooth and nail. We're all here to win."Ìý

***

Justin Ashley and Jim Epler's partnership is highlighted here at Heartland Motorsports Park as this is where Epler made the first Top Fuel run to 300 mph, earning the moniker Mr. 300. Epler's never won this event, however, and is keenly watching Ashley's attempt to do so with great investment. Ashley's low-of-the-round 3.75 over Leah Pruett's 3.79 is another step in the right direction for the team.Ìý

"I've always said there's some unfinished business here," said Epler.Ìý

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Top Fuel pairings, semifinals (lane choice first):ÌýJustin Ashley vs. Antron Brown; Brittany Force vs. Clay Millican

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When Tim Wilkerson can't reverse to the starting line after making a burnout, Wilk's team runs out to push him back. Meanwhile, Matt Hagan has made his burnout, backed up, and is idling in wait. Wilk completes the staging process quickly so as not to hold Hagan up further, and the two rocket side-by-side down the racetrack to clock nearly identical e.t.'s. Hagan's 3.987 defeats a 3.988.Ìý

"You just hope you don't run out of fuel and blow up on the top end," said Hagan. "But I have a lot of respect for Wilky, and I know it's something that just happens mechanically. I was glad I got to race him, though. We don't want a single. That was a tough drag race, super tough, and I'm glad we got the win – but we've got some tough opponents ahead of us, too."Ìý

***

Low qualifier and three-time Topeka winner Robert Hight is inching awfully close to another victory at Heartland Motorsports Park as he records a 3.95 – the quickest of the round – to defeat Paul Lee's 4.24. J.R. Todd will be a worthy challenge in the next round as he defeats a tire-smoking Ron Capps with a smooth and straight 3.96.Ìý

***

Funny Car pairings, semifinals (lane choice first):ÌýJ.R. Todd vs. Matt Hagan; Robert Hight vs. Bob Tasca III

***

After a somewhat brief delay that required the use of car covers, the clouds shift again, and Pro Stock is on track. In the first pair of the round, Matt Hartford and Deric Kramer both leave early, but Hartford's -.052 reaction time signals the win light in Kramer's lane. Kramer was -.009 and moves swiftly down track to a 6.654.Ìý

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The next two pairs accurately represent why this class is known for ultra-close racing. Erica Enders defeats teammate Aaron Stanfield by just .008, and Dallas Glenn knocks out teammate Camrie Caruso on a holeshot by .007.Ìý

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Greg Anderson continues to show that he is in possession of the best car he's had in a long while as he records low elapsed time of the round, 6.640, in a great match with Troy Coughlin Jr. Coughlin is 6.647.Ìý

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Pro Stock pairings, semifinals (lane choice first):ÌýGreg Anderson vs. Deric Kramer; Dallas Glenn vs. Erica Enders

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Wow! Brittany Force clocks low elapsed time of the event with a brilliant 3.71 in a great race with Clay Millican, and Justin Ashley defeats Antron Brown on a holeshot by .005-second. It's difficult to believe, but this is Force's first final round of the year in her championship defense.Ìý

Force won this race in in 2021 and is in the hunt for her 17th career win, while Ashley is heading into his seventh final of the season and aiming for a sixth win on the season (and his first in Topeka). Also of note, Ashley's father, Mike Ashley, won this event in Funny Car in 2007.Ìý

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Top Fuel pairing, final (lane choice first):ÌýBrittany Force vs. Justin Ashley

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The defending event champion is going to the final round again! Bob Tasca III goes 3.933 to end Robert Hight's day, while Matt Hagan matches his time to the thousandth in his defeat of J.R. Todd.Ìý

This will be Tasca's second final of the year after winning Epping and Hagan's sixth final on the season. Hagan has been to the final round here in Topeka twice before and has one previous victory.Ìý

***

Funny Car pairing, final (lane choice first):ÌýMatt Hagan vs. Bob Tasca III

***

Greg Anderson makes an outstanding pass and throws a 6.61 up to defeat Deric Kramer's 6.63. Anderson is advancing to his first final of the year and the 173rd of his career. He has four Topeka wins and desperately wants a fifth.Ìý

***

Reigning world champ Erica Enders is taking nothing for granted against Dallas Glenn, and she drops a .009 reaction time to his .027 to log a holeshot win over the points leader. Her 6.637 beats his 6.629. This will be Enders second final of the season and the 76th of her career.Ìý

Pro Stock pairing, final (lane choice first):ÌýGreg Anderson vs. Erica Enders

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LUCAS OIL SERIES FINAL RESULTS

Top Alcohol Dragster -- Hunter Green, 5.198, 277.43 def. Shane Conway, 5.281, 265.80.

Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Doug Gordon, Chevy Camaro, 5.533, 264.44 def. Ulf Leanders, Camaro, 5.564, 261.93.

Competition Eliminator -- Clark Smiley, Pontiac GXP, 7.270, 187.89 def. Doug Engels, Dragster, 7.428, 178.64.

Super Stock -- Jimmy Hidalgo Jr., Pontiac Firebird, 9.803, 125.73 def. Ryan Montford, Chevy Camaro, 9.091, 142.94.

Stock Eliminator -- Mike Cotten, Plymouth Duster, 11.056, 119.25 def. Parker Devore, Plymouth Volare, Foul - Red Light.

Super Comp -- Mark Grame, Dragster, 8.893, 178.02 def. Matt Driskell, Dragster, 8.887, 175.87.

Super Gas -- Rodger Sauder, Plymouth Barracuda, 9.898, 149.48 def. Austin Williams, Chevy Camaro, 9.884, 156.19.

Top Sportsman -- Darian Boesch, ChevyCamaro, 6.275, 216.31 def. Jimmy Lewis, Pontiac GXP, 6.464, 208.68.

Top Dragster -- Blake Peavler, Dragster, 6.618, 157.25 def. Holden Laris, Dragster, Foul - Red Light.
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