KyraSage
Good Afternoon race fans!
This weekend the NHRA made their way to Topeka Kansas for the Menards NHRA Nationals Presented by PetArmor and what a race weekend it was.
Starting in the nitro ranks, we have Top Fuel. On the left side of the ladder, No. 4 qualified Steve Torrence started his day by taking on No. 13 Kyle Wurtzel. Steve was first off the line and never looked back, advancing with a 3.77 to Kyle’s 4.48. In the second round he faced the man who is making a resurgence and could very well find himself in the Countdown, Tony Schumacher. Tony did leave first, but he went up in smoke and Steve was able to drive around him, so with a 3.83 to a 3.96, Steve was into the semifinals. His semifinal matchup was against the always tough Mike Salinas. They were dead even off the line, (.054) to (.054), but Steve started to pull ahead and Mike ran into some problems, so with a 4.10 to a 4.71, Steve and the Capco team were into the finals. On the other side of the ladder, No. 11 qualified Antron Brown started his day by taking on No. 6 Brittany Force. Antron was 20-13 against Brittany and today he added to the win total. He left first. (.051) to (.088) and was leading, though it was close, until Brittany’s car quit down track and with a 3.81 to a 4.12, Antron was moving on. In the second round he faced Josh Hart. This was a pretty decent race, Josh left first (.022) to (.056), but Antron almost immediately drove around him to the win with a 3.81 to a 3.94. His semifinal matchup was against a tough customer in Justin Ashley. Neither of them had a super clean run, both encountering problems, but in the end it was Antron’s 4.75 to Justin’s 5.39 that put him and the Matco Tools team into the finals. They left pretty evenly, but Steve almost immediately encountered problems and tried to pedal but Antron was on a more solid run and with a 3.90 to a 4.44, Antron not only grabbed the win and the Wally, but this is his first win of the season and his first win as a team owner, so huge congrats to him.
Moving to everyone’s favorite short wheelbase nitro burner, Funny Car, there were 14 cars on the property this weekend so the ladder was a little wonky. On the left side of the ladder, No. 1 qualified Bob Tasca III started his day by taking on No. 14 Jack Wyatt. Bob left first and never looked back, driving to a win with a 3.97 to Jack’s 4.32. In the second round he had a bye and he ran a 3.98. His semifinal matchup was against the always tough Matt Hagan. They were pretty much even off the line, but Matt encountered some problems, while Bob had a much more solid run, so with a 4.01 to a 4.40, Bob and the Ford Motorcraft team were into the finals. On the other side of the ladder, No. 3 qualified John Force started his day by taking on No. 12 Cruz Pedregon. This was a really weird situation. They both went in and deep staged, Cruz went red by (-.360) giving John the win immediately but John didn’t move for bit, then idled down the track, taking the win with a 23.67. In the second round he faced the always tough Ron Capps and I want to congratulate Ron because this is his 600th career race. These two always have really good races, and this one was no exception. Ron left first, (.093) to (.107) but by the 60 foot they were even and it stayed that way down the track. In the end it was John’s 4.03 to Ron’s 4.04 that put him into the semifinals. His semifinal matchup was against his John Force Racing teammate Robert Hight. Robert left first, (.064) to (.083), but John caught up and was able to drive around him, so with a 4.00 to a 4.05, John and the Peak team were into the finals. This was a good final, John left first, but Bob was able to catch up and drive around when John slowed and with a 3.99 to a 4.13, Bob took home the win and the Wally.
Moving to the Pro Stock world, we have Pro Stock cars. On the left side of the ladder, No. 1 qualified Greg Anderson started his day with a bye because there were only 15 cars on the property, and he ran a 13.71. In the second round he faced the tough Bo Butner. Bo went red by (-.010) giving Greg the win immediately, and he went 6.69. His semifinal matchup was against the tough Kyle Koretsky. It was a good and pretty close race, but with a 6.69 to a 6.71, Greg and the HendrickCars.com team were into the finals. On the other side of the ladder, No. 2 qualified Troy Coughlin Jr started his day by taking on No. 15 Chris McGaha. Troy left first (.036) to (.153) and never looked back, taking the win with a 6.65 to a 6.75. In the second round he faced Fernando Cuadra Jr. Troy again, left first (.037) to (.049) and outperformed Fernando, taking the round win with a 6.67 to a 6.70. His semifinal matchup was against his teammate, the very tough Erica Enders. This time it was Erica who left first (.033) to (.047) but by the 60 foot Troy had caught up was was driving around her, and with a 6.69 to a 6.71, him and the JEGS team were into the finals. This was a really good final. Troy left first, (.038) to (.046) and never let Greg by, driving to the win and the Wally with a 6.68 to a 6.71. Not only is this Troy’s second career win, he’s now won back to back races.
And finally we have Pro Stock Motorcycle. There were 14 bikes, on the property, so the ladder was a little wonky. On the left side of the ladder, No 1 qualified Joey Gladstone started his day by taking on No. 14 David Barron. Joey left first and never looked back, taking the win with a 6.83 to a 7.51. In the second round he had a bye and he ran a 6.85. His semifinal matchup was against Angie Smith. They were pretty even off the line, but Joey had more performance, and with a 6.87 to a 7.08, Joey and the Diamond W/Reed Motorsports team were into the finals. On the other side of the ladder, No. 3 qualified Eddie Krawiec started his day by taking on No. 12 Ryan Oehler. Eddie left first and never looked back, taking the win with a 6.90 to a 7.08. In the second round he faced Matt Smith. This was a good and close race, Matt left first (.020) to (.037) but by the 330 Eddie had caught up and was driving around him, taking the win with a 6.87 to a 6.89. His semifinal matchup was against the tough Jerry Savoie. Jerry had a huge lead off the line (.024) to (.072) but by the 60 foot Eddie had caught up and with a 6.91 to a 6.99, Eddie and the Vance and Hines/Mission Foods team were into the finals. This was a pretty good final. Joey had a decent advantage off the line (.009) to (.022) and he never once faltered, bringing home the win and the Wally with a 6.87 to a 6.93, giving him back to back wins.
The next race will be the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, August 18th – 20th in Brainerd, Minnesota.
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