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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A year ago Washburn Rural linebacker Ty Weber was named the TopSports.news Shawnee County defensive player of the year, recording more than 100 tackles while helping lead the Junior Blues to a breakout 8-2 season.
Ty Weber (32) and his Washburn Rural defensive teammates celebrate a turnover in last season's Class 6A playoff win over Wichita West. [File photo/TSN]
But the 6-foot-3, 235-pound Weber begins the 2022 football season with one thing he hasn't had in a while -- a clean bill of health.
Also an All-Shawnee County pick in baseball, Weber missed virtually his entire sophomore baseball season in 2021 after suffering a serious ankle injury in the Junior Blues' season-opener against Seaman while chasing a foul ball.
"I just ran into the fence, got my foot stuck and it just kind of snapped it,'' Weber said.
It took Weber all of the spring and summer of 2021 and a few games into the football season before the Junior Blue standout felt like he was at full speed.
"The first couple of games I played a half, I didn't get to play the full game,'' he said. "I don't like to be on the sideline, I'd rather be on the field, but it was more of a marathon that a sprint to get back into it.''
After registering 106 tackles (63 solo) and seven tackles for loss in football, Weber followed that up with a spectacular start to the '22 baseball season before aggravating the injury he suffered as a sophomore while trying to snag a high throw -- again against Seaman -- which necessitated more surgery.
"It was bothering me a couple of weeks before that and I knew something was kind of messed up,'' Weber said. "I landed wrong and I just knew something was wrong. They told me it was from the last time, it just never healed.''
Another long rehabilitation followed, which Weber admitted was tough to swallow.
"It was almost like deja vu,'' Weber said. "It was frustrating, being in a position where I was doing well and the team's succeeding, I didn't want to sit out. Unfortunately it was a decision we had to make so I could play football this fall.
"It was heartbreaking. but it was kind of necessary.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Lois Deeter
Lois Deeter, Seaman
Deeter returns for her senior season this fall after tying for fifth place in the Class 5A state tournament as a junior. Deeter won the city title with a 70, placed second at regionals and had a season-low round of 66, earning All-Shawnee County first-team honors. As a freshman for the Vikings in '19, Deeter tied for fifth individually in the 5A state meet and won the Centennial League championship.
Avery Grunert
Avery Grunert, Hayden
Grunert, a junior, earned All-Shawnee County second-team honors as a sophomore. Grunert helped Hayden finish third as a team in the Class 4A state tournament last fall, tying for 23rd place individually. Grunert tied for 13th place in the Centennial League tournament.
Mallory Nelson
Mallory Nelson, Washburn Rural
A senior, Nelson was an All-Shawnee County second-team selection last season after helping Washburn Rural earn a second-place team finish in the Class 6A state tournament. Nelson tied for 39th at state after tying for fourth in the city tournament and tying for seventh place in the Centennial League meet.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The 2022 NHRA season for Antron Brown and his Matco ToolsTop Fuel team has been all about taking steps in Brown's first season as an owner-driver.
And AB Motorsports took a huge step Sunday at Heartland Motorsports Park, recording its first race win as organization with a win over four-time defending Top Fuel world champ and close friend Steve Torrence in the finals of the Menards NHRA Nationals.
Three-time Top Fuel world champ Antron Brown picked up his first win as a team owner Sunday at Heartland Motorsports Park. {Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
With the win, the 53rd of his NHRA career, Brown moved inside the top 10 in the point standings.
“This has been a lifelong dream, and I never imagined we were going to struggle like we did, but we all got through it together,'' Brown said. "It’s one of those deals where it doesn’t feel real because it’s a dream when you think about it from where we came from. I worked on motorcycles, Brian (Corradi, crew chief) worked on cars and never in a million years did we think we’d ever be able to go out on our own as a team. We talked about it for years, my wife, my family and you never think it’s a possibility but here we are.
"We’ve been working our tails off and we have such incredible support. When it all comes together and you look at where you started to where we are now, the struggle is real, but this makes it all worthwhile.”
Brown, who won for the second time in Topeka, started his day with a win over points leader Brittany Force in the first round and then topped Josh Hart and Justin Ashley to reach the finals before winning the title with a pass of 3.902 secons at 309.49 miles per hour.
"All that sweat and hard work, it was all worth it,'' Brown said. "From here on out, we’re only going forward. We put that one on the map today for AB Motorsports. It’s our first, but it’s not going to be our last. We’re right where we want to be, and we’re just going to keep getting better.”
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Pro Stock legend Greg Anderson is one win away from his landmark 100th career win and figures Heartland Motorsports Park, where he has won four times, is just as good a place as any to make that happen.
Five-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson will be shooting for his 100th race win in Sunday's Menards NHRA Nationals. {Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The five-time world champion will have that opportunity on Sunday after wrapping up the No. 1 Pro Stock qualifying spot in the Menards NHRA Nationals.
"It's kind of funny because each race you go to it's like I've got fond memories,'' Anderson said. "I've been able to win at pretty much everywhere we've been and I'm not sure where I would pick out as my favorite place to win it. Every one of them has special meaning to it, this place as well.
"I grew up in the Midwest so this place woud be extra special cool just like a whole lot of other places. It would be a great place for it to happen, to be honest with you, and I'd certainly like to get it done and stop worrying about it.''
But Anderson, who is looking for his first win of the year, knows it won't be easy.
"No. 100 should certainly be a struggle and it certainly has proven to be,'' said Anderson, the 2021 series champ. "It's like chasing a snake, but I'm going to catch that snake.''
Anderson, who will receive a first-round bye, picked up his second straight No. 1 qualifier and the 120th of his career with his run of 6.623 seconds at 205.44 miles per hour from Friday's opening qualifying session in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro.
Seattle winner Troy Coughlin Jr. qualified second with his 6.632 run at 208.04 from Friday while points leader Erica Enders, who has six wins this year, qualified third at6.632/207.62.
Mike Salinas (front) and Justin Ashley qualified No. 1 and 2 in Top Fuel for Sunday's Menards NHRA Nationals eliminations at Heartland Motorsports Park. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Mike Salinas earned the No. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel for Sunday's eliminations (10:30 a.m. start) while Bob Tasca III is No. 1 in Funny Car and Joey Gladstone in the top spot in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Tasca was a No. 1 qualifier for the second straight race and the ninth time in his career, securing the top position with Friday's run of 3.930 seconds at 323.81 mph in his BG Products Ford Mustang.
Bob Tasca III (left) will start Sunday's Funny Car eliminations in the No. 1 spot while defending race champ John Force qualified No. 3. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Tasca will be looking for his second win in three races on Sunday, as well as his first career victory in Topeka.
“Hats off to the guys, but I’ll tell you one thing, we got a yellow (No. 1 qualifier) hat in Seattle and we didn’t get to trade it in for a blue (winner’s) hat,'' Tasca said. "Tomorrow, we want to trade this thing in for a blue hat.”
Points leader Robert Hight, who is looking for his seventh win this season, qualified second thanks to his 3.931 run at 323.81 from Friday, while defending event winner John Force’s 3.932 at 312.71 secured the third spot for the 16-time world champion.
"Really good day for the Auto Club team,'' Hight said. "This combination has really been good for us. Jimmy Prock and Chris Cunningham, they’ve figured it out in the heat. We’ve been consistent.
"It’s hard not to be confident heading into tomorrow. The competition in Funny Car is so close though, we can’t let up. We have to strive for perfection and these Auto Club Chevy guys, they’re up for it.”
Force is also confident heading into eliminations.
“Hot out here in Topeka but everyone is dealing with it and we’re getting down there, putting on a show for all these fans that sat through the heat,” said Force. “We look good for tomorrow, after running well today, Danny (Hood) and Tim (Fabrisi), they’re giving me a good race car. Just need to go out there and take it one run at a time and see how it goes.”
On the strength of his standout run of 3.754 at 323.19 from Friday, Salinas clinched his third No. 1 qualifier of the season in his Pep Boys/Scrappers Racing dragster.
It’s also the 11th career top spot for Salinas, who will open eliminations against Terry Totten. Salinas, who is second in points, will be looking for his fifth win of the season and his first victory in Topeka.
“This year will be the best year in Top Fuel racing that I’ve ever seen,” Salinas said. “The competition is almost like a bracket car. It’s so close and you can’t make any mistakes. You have to be on your ‘A’ game every run and all the people we’re racing against, you can’t take any of them lightly because everybody is doing such a great job.
"Look at how close the fields are. It’s just amazing and I’m happy to be a part of this thing, and I’m happy to beat up on them, too.”
Justin Ashley, a two-time winner this year, qualified second with a 3.765 run at 320.43 mph and Josh Hart took the third spot with his pass of 3.766 at 310.41 from Friday. Points leader Brittany Force qualified sixth.
“It has been a great weekend thus far,'' Ashley said. "There is a lot going on – on and off the track – and it is awesome. We love it. Obviously, we have people from Phillips Connect here, and a lot of people from Velociti. It was important for us to go out and perform well. We will be ready for race day tomorrow.”
Joey Gladstone earned his first No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock Motorcyle for Sunday's Menards NHRA Nationals elimination rounds. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Gladstone earned his first career No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock Motorcycle with a run of 6.831 at 195.08 on his J&A Service Suzuki Hayabusa.
Coming off his first career victory in the class, Gladstone will start race day as the points leader, slipping past Angelle Sampey with his standout performance over the past two days of qualifying.
“I hope this wave never crashes,” Gladstone said. “I’m enjoying this ride while it lasts and I’m so happy. I’ve been waiting my whole life for moments like this and I can’t say enough about my team and how much fun we’re having. They’re so great and I’m so thankful for all they do and allowing us to come out here.”
Sampey, who won at Topeka in 1997 in Pro Stock Motorcycle’s last race at the track, qualified second with a 6.882 run at 195.14 mph, and is just four points back of Gladstone. Eddie Krawiec improved to a 6.913 at 194.16 to take the No. 3 qualifying spot.
MENARDS NHRA NATIONALS
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The most dominant driver in drag racing history admits that he does wear down.
But usually all John Force needs to do to get his second, third or fourth wind is get to the race track.
A beaming John Force, the winningest driver in NHRA history, visits with a race fan Saturday at Heartland Motorsports Park. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
"I'm not Superman, I ain't no different than anybody else out here,'' said Force, who has won 16 world Funny Car championships while posting 155 race wins. "I'm 73 and you bet I get tired, but if you're doing something you love your energy changes. You get up and want to do a good story and I want to give you a good story.
"Let me tell you, the racing's not hard for me, it's the best part. Driving down a racetrack, being with a team of guys, that's what I love. Chasing (sponsorship) money's getting tougher and tougher and that's what we've got to keep doing, but we're just coming out of a pandemic and we've had a lot of problems in the world, so it's not easy. We've having to make deals and we are.''
Force, who has won a track-record 10 times at Heartland Motorsports Park, including the 2021 race, is the midst of another very solid 2022 season, starting the weekend fourth in Funny Car points and earning the No. 3 qualifying spot for Sunday's Menards NHRA Nationals elimination rounds.
"I'm making some mistakes as a driver but I've got a good racecar and if I can correct some of this stuff we've got a shot at the title,'' Force said.
