NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

TOPEKA, Kan. – Shawn Cowie and John Lombardo Jr. raced to victory at the 29th annual Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties at Heartland Park Topeka.

Cowie, Surrey, B.C., collected his eighth career national event win and his second of the 2017 season, defeating second-generation driver Rachel Meyer, Springhill, Kan., in the Top Alcohol Dragster final. Cowie saved his best pass of eliminations for the final, posting a 5.215-second, 277.54-mph lap as Meyer lost traction and could not recover as she watched Cowie power to the win. Cowie qualified No. 1 with a career-best 5.214, 275.90.

Lombardo, Brea, Calif., faced off with Annie Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., in the Top Alcohol Funny Car final with both drivers loosing traction at the start. Lombardo peddled his ’16 NAPA Auto Parks Camaro and recovered to post a 6.261 at 263.05 for the win, the eighth of his career. Lombardo posted his quickest and fastest career pass in his second-round win against Doug Gordon at 5.395, 274.16, just the third 5.3-second run in history.

Austin Williams continued his winning ways at Heartland Park, taking home the NHRA Wally trophy for the fifth year in a row. Williams posted a .016 package to end James Repka’s day in Super Comp. Williams also won in Super Comp last year and in Stock the three previous.

Pete Perry, Bowie, Texas, was out first on Jason DeForrest in Super Stock, but ran too quick by .029-second, and DeForrest, Andover, Minn., took the win in his ’05 Cavalier, running 9.164, 144.57 mph. Jeff Lopez took the Stock win over Randi Lyn Shipp in a double-breakout final round. The former Lucas Oil national champion Lopez clocked in at 9.200 in his ’14 Camaro to Shipp’s 10.519.

Afton Swanson and Roger Warren rounded out the Lucas Oil winners list. Swanson grabbed her first NHRA national event win in her first final-round appearance in the Top Dragster presented by Racing RVs. Swanson was better at both ends of the track to defeat Larry Piper with a lap of 6.202 at 219.08 mph. Warren, Jacksonville, Texas, went 9.901 on the 9.90 index for the Super Gas title, beating Repka’s dad, Jim of Wylie, Texas, who broke out with a 9.882.

In Top Fuel Harley action, Mike Scott outran Jay Turner for the win. Scott covered the quarter-mile in 6.318 seconds at 223.54 mph to Turner’s 6.339, 221.38.

The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties at Heartland Park Topeka:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Shawn Cowie, 5.215, 277.54
def. Rachel Meyer, 5.883, 260.66

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
John Lombardo Jr., Chevy Camaro, 6.261, 263.05
def. Annie Whiteley, Camaro, 9.229, 111.41

SUPER STOCK
Jason DeForrest, Chevy Cavalier, 9.164, 144.57
def. Pete Peery, Pontiac Sunfire, 9.461, 141.68

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Jeff Lopez, Chevy Camaro, 9.200, 147.34
def. Randi Lyn Shipp, Pontiac Firebird, 10.519, 120.91

SUPER COMP
Austin Williams, Dragster, 8.907, 165.60
def. James Repka, Dragster, 8.883, 167.97

SUPER GAS
Roger Warren, Chevy Corvette, 9.901, 162.22
def. Jim Repka, Chevy Camaro, 9.882, 162.55

TOP DRAGSTER PRESENTED BY RACINGRVS
Afton Swanson, Dragster, 6.202, 219.08
def. Larry Piper, Dragster, 6.399, 211.00

TOP FUEL HARLEY
Mike Scott, 6.318, 223.54
def. Jay Turner, 6.339, 221.38