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Deconstructing Topeka's wild moments

08 Jun 2016
NHRA News
News

Even though the NHRA Kansas Nationals is in the rearview mirror, people are still talking about some of the wild moments at Heartland Park Topeka, including two wild final rounds and a weird starting-line crash. NHRA FOX reporters Tony Pedregon and John Kernan filed the following reports.

TOP FUEL FINAL

Doug Kalitta’s Mac Tools dragster lost traction at the hit of the throttle and got sideways two times as he worked the steering wheel to cross the finish line in front of fellow finalist and rival Antron Brown. It was Kalitta’s second win in Topeka and 41st victory of his career. Kalitta finished with a performance of 5.452 seconds at 238.85 mph while Brown’s Matco Tools dragster also lost traction and posted a 5.687 at 298.60.

 

FUNNY CAR FINAL

Matt  Hagan’s Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger also lost traction early in the Funny Car final round, but he managed to get on and off the throttle just enough to finish in front of Jack Beckman in a rematch of the Atlanta final. Hagan stopped the clocks in 5.724 at 179.04 while Beckman’s Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger also smoked the tires on the run and trailed with a 6.560 at 146.75. It was Hagan’s second consecutive victory of the season, 20th career win, and his first in Topeka.

 

FUNNY CAR SEMIFINALS

Tim Wilkerson's Ford Mustang made a hard right turn shortly after hitting the throttle against Beckman in the semifinals. The nose of the car hit the retaining wall in his lane, and the car turned 180 degrees on the rebound and coasted into the wall on the opposite lane.