Topeka Recap

The 8th stop on the 2017 NHRA Mello Yellow tour brought us to Heartland Park in Topeka, KS for the 29th annual Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties. This 3 day event is one of the more condensed events on the tour as it only hosts 5 out of the 8 sportsman classes that we see at the various events throughout the season. To go along with the low amount of sportsman classes, there was not a lot of participation on the racers side in the classes available, quotas were set at 65 across the board and only saw them get to about 80% full with the exception of Super Comp which was maxed out at 65. Weather definitely could have been a factor in the racers decision to attend with a storm moving across the area right around the time of the race. But the NHRA staff once again came through and moved the schedule around as best as they could for competitors to receive 2 time trials and get through all eliminations on Sunday. When the final rounds were completed, as one could imagine it was split between the division 4 and 5 racers that dominated the weekend, having every final (besides 1) and every winner come out of either of those divisions.

Super Stock: Jason DeForrest over Pete Peery

DeForrest brings his win total from a “couple” to a “few” as he collects his 3rd Trophy. Peery left first with a .012 light and ran a 9.461 on the 9.49 dial, Deforrest was dialed 9.18 and ran 9.164 with a .032 light. Even though Peery had a 2 hun reaction time advantage at the tree, he took too much stripe, giving Deforrest the double breakout win.

Stock: Jeff Lopez over Randi Lyn Shipp

Give another Wally to the Copo family, as Lopez gets his 5th National Event Win. Shipp was away first with the 10.56 dial and a .014 reaction time, Lopez waited patiently and left a little over a second later with a .033 light, chasing down his 9.22 dial. At the finish line it was Shipp who got there first but ran 10.519 on the 10.56. Lopez also ran under his predicted e.t at 9.200 but it was about half as much as Shipp’s breakout, giving him the win.

Super Comp: Austin Williams over James Repka

Ever leave for a National Event knowing you’re going to come home with the win? Well, Williams does as he wins this event for the 5th year in a row, bringing his win total up to 11. Williams had the slight advantage on the tree being .009 to Repka’s .018 and Repka was a little too fast trying to make up the difference running 8.883 on the 8.90 index. Williams on the other hand ran dead on 7 to the index, giving him a .016 total package and the win light.

Super Gas: Roger Warren over Jim Repka

Warren collects his 3rd Wally powered by a .024 total package. Warren had a 4 hun advantage at the starting line with a .023 light and then ran dead on 1 to the 9.90 index (9.901). Repka was just a little too quick on the track running 9.882 with a .062 light.

Top Dragster: Afton Swanson over Larry Piper

Swanson is 1 for 1 in final round appearances as she seals the deal to get her first ever National Event Title. The dials were close with Piper getting the slight head start dialed 6.37 and running 6.399 with a .048 light. Swanson was a couple ticks better on the tree with a .040 light and ran dead on 2 to her 6.20 dial (6.202).

Photos By – Auto Imagery