Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties

WHAT: 29th annual Mendards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties, the eighth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Drivers in three categories - Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock - earn points leading to 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships. The race also will feature competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series.

WHERE: Heartland Park Topeka, Topeka, Kansas. From Kansas City, take the Kansas Turnpike (I-70) to the Topeka Boulevard exit and travel south to the track. From Wichita, take the Kansas Turnpike (I-335) to the Topeka Boulevard exit and travel south to the track.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, May 19-21

SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, May 19 - LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying
NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 3 and 6 p.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 4:30 and 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, May 20 - LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations
NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 1 and Round 1 of eliminations at 4 p.m.           

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 1:30 and 4 p.m.
SUNDAY, May 21 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES eliminations at 12:15 p.m.

TELEVISION:
Friday, May 19, FS1 will televise one hour of pre-recorded qualifying at 11 p.m. (EST).
Saturday, May 20, FS1 will televise one hour of live qualifying at 3 p.m. (EST).
Sunday, May 21, FS1 will televise three hours of live finals at 2 p.m. (EST).

2016 EVENT WINNERS:
Doug Kalitta, Top Fuel; Matt Hagan, Funny Car; Jason Line, Pro Stock.

MOST VICTORIES: John Force, 9, FC; Scott Kalitta, 6, TF; Warren Johnson, 5, PS, Cruz Pedregon, 4, FC; Greg Anderson, 4, PS.

TRACK RECORDS: 
Top Fuel – 3.676 seconds by Brittany Force, May ‘16; 331.85 mph by Doug Kalitta, May ’16.
Funny Car – 3.862 seconds by Matt Hagan, May ‘16; 335.57 mph by Matt Hagan, May ’16.
Pro Stock - 6.515 seconds by Erica Enders, May ’15; 211.43 mph by Enders, May ’15.

NATIONAL RECORDS:
Top Fuel - 3.658 sec. by Leah Pritchett, Feb. ‘17, Phoenix; 332.75 mph by Spencer Massey, Aug. ’15, Brainerd, Minn.
Funny Car - 3.822 by Matt Hagan, Aug. ’16, Brainerd, Minn.; 335.57 mph by Hagan, May ’16, Topeka, Kan.
Pro Stock - 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.;  215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May ’14, Englishtown N.J.

TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also available online at www.NHRA.com/tickets

CONTACT: NHRA Communications Department, (626) 914-4761. Jenn Goethel (574) 320-7956, jgoethel@nhra.com

For the latest news releases, photos, logos, statistics and event information, please visit www.nhra.com/media-center.