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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It's been a long time since former NHRA Funny Car star Jim Epler has been in Topeka..
"My last year was 2001 and I don't know that I've been back since then,'' Epler said in a phone interview.
Jim Epler
But Epler will forever be linked to Heartland Motorsports Park, thanks to one landmark achievement on Oct. 3, 1993 when he raced down the quarter-mile stripe in 300.40 miles per hour, becoming the first driver in NHRA Funny Car history to top the 300-MPH mark.
"That was a magical time,'' said Epler, who is back in Topeka this weekend for the Menards NHRA Nationals..
Like most drag racers, Epler's said his main focus as a driver was on elapsed time, but he is proud to wear the mantle of Mr. 300 nearly three decades later.
"It was funny because back in the day when we did that, I know it was a huge deal, but drag racers are all about ET and of course being the first in the 4s was a big deal back then and that's what we were all shooting for and 300 was cool to do but races are won by ET,'' said Epler, who also eclipsed the 4-second mark in the '93 HMP race.
"But I will tell you this, the general public is certainly more knowledgeable and more in tune to speed than they are to ET, no question, and to this day to be called Mr. 300 and be the first over 300 has made an impact on my life forever since that happened.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Everybody who follows drag racing probably has an opinion on who will be crowned champions in the four pro classes in this weekend's Menards NHRA Nationals at Heartland Motorsports Park.
Fans will get the opportunity to express those opinions by voting for their favorites in the TopSports.news Menards NHRA Nationals Poll.
NHRA Funny Car legend John Force will be aiming for his 11th Topeka victory in this weekend's Menards NHRA Nationals. [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Fans can vote at the following links:
https://linkto.run/p/7WD9Z6RN (TOP FUEL POLL)
https://poll-maker.com/poll4425387xF307A717-139 (FUNNY CAR POLL)
https://poll-maker.com/poll4425388xF3a743c4-139 (PRO STOCK CAR POLL)
https://poll-maker.com/poll4425677x16c64666-139 (PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE POLL)
Fans can vote as many times as they wish until the start of elimination rounds at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.
This weekend marks the first time since 1997 that all four of the NHRA's professional categories will race in Topeka.
Will 10-time Topeka winner John Force add an unprecedented 11th win at the track after winning the Funny Car title a year ago, or will it be current points leader and three-time world champ Robert Hight, two-time and defending world champ Ron Capps or three-time FC champ Matt Hagan.
![Brittany Force picked up her first Topeka win in 2021, doubling up with father John Force, who has a track-record 10 wins at Heartland Motorsports Park. [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]](/images/aa-images/John_and_Brittany_Force.jpg)
Brittany Force picked up her first Topeka win in 2021, doubling up with father John Force, who has a track-record 10 wins at Heartland Motorsports Park. [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
In Top Fuel, former world champ Brittany Force is coming off her first Topeka win in 2021, doubling up with her father, and Brittany comes to Topeka as the Top Fuel points leader on the strength of four wins in '22.
Four-time defending Top Fuel world champ Steve Torrence will be among the favorites in the Menards NHRA Nationals this weekend at Heartland Motorsports Park. [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Will B. Force add a second straight Topeka victory or will it be four-time defending Top Fuel champ Steve Torrence, eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher, three-time world champ Antron Brown or will somebody else break through out of a star-studded field?
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After earning NHRA Rookie of the Year honors in 2020 and posting a fourth-place points finish a year ago, Top Fuel driver Justin Ashley entered the current Camping World Drag Racing Series season with his confidence at an all-time high.
![Justin Ashley, currently third in Top Fuel points with a pair of 2022 victories, will compete in this weekend's Menards NHRA Nationals at Heartland Motorsports Park. [Photo by Ron Lewis]](/images/aa-images/JustinAshley1.jpg)
Justin Ashley, currently third in Top Fuel points with a pair of 2022 victories, will compete in this weekend's Menards NHRA Nationals at Heartland Motorsports Park. [Photo by Ron Lewis Photography]
And nothing has happened to change that, with Ashley a strong third in points with a pair of 2022 victories entering this weekend's Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor at Heartland Motorsports Park.
"I felt really confident going into the season because I knew the kind of work that we put in in the offseason to be able to put us in the kind of position that we're in now,'' said Ashley, who has reached four final rounds and earned a No. 1 qualifier position in '22. "We knew how good the depth in the Top Fuel field was going to be, so we were really pro-active and took steps forward to make more power, bringing in guys like Tommy DeLago to work with Mike Green and take that next step forward.
"The expectations to perform well were there, and when you look at it from a broader view now that we're 13 races down, I think we're exactly where we expected to be and we're really happy with our performance. Obviously, we want to win every race and we expect to be No. 1 in the points but we also have to be realistic. We know how good the field is and we want to compete race-in and race-out and I think we've done a good job of doing that.''
Top Fuel star Justin Ashley will be looking to join his father, Mike, as a Topeka winner in this weekend's Menards NHRA Nationals at Heartland Motorsports Park. [Photo by Ron Lewis Photography]
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Is Washburn University senior Hunter Browning a running back or a wide receiver?
Hunter Browning
Well, that kind of depends on the year and what the Ichabods' needs are that particular season.
And it doesn't matter to the former Washburn Rural standout where he plays as long as he's playing.
"I just want to be on the field,'' said the 5-foot-11, 195-pounder. "It doesn't matter where it is. As long as I'm playing with my brothers, that's all I can ask for.''
After redshirting in 2017, Browning played running back for the Ichabods in 2018 before switching to receiver in 2019 and 2021.
Now Browning will be back at running back when Washburn opens the 2022 season on Sept. 1 at Yager Stadium against Lincoln.
Former Washburn Rural product Hunter Browning makes a diving reception for Washburn against Central Missouri. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Browning has been productive at both positions, recording 428 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 92 carries and catchint 34 passes for 393 yards and two TDs.
A year ago Browning played in all 12 games for the 9-3 Ichabods, with 21 receptions for 271 yards and a TD.
"I definitely like finding the holes and bursting through them at running back and I also like those 20-yard post routes,'' Browning said. "They are two completely different positions, but I think being able to play both of them really gives me a more complete look at the defense.''
Now Browning is looking for another big year in his sixth and final season in the Ichabod program and said it was a no-brainer to take advantage of his last year of eligibility.
"It really feels like time's flown by so fast,'' Browning said. "I just love the togetherness of the guys, the teamwork. I feel like the coaches really make sure everybody's on the same page and really made it an easy decision to come back.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Camrie Caruso grew up around drag racing, with her father, Marc, and grandfather, Papa Joe, both veteran racers.
But Caruso's family didn't pressure her into the sport. They didn't have to.
"They never pushed it, it was always my choice,'' Caruso said.
Camrie Caruso has turned in a solid rookie season in the Pro Stock Car division, ranking eighth in points entering this weekend's Menards NHRA Nationals. [Photo by Auto Imagery]
The 24-year-old Caruso competed in the Jr. Dragster, Super Comp, Top Alcohol Dragster and Mountain Motor Pro Stock ranks before making the jump to Pro Stock Car this season, becoming just the second woman to run a full season in the class.
"I've always wanted to do it, so it was always kind of the plan, in my head at least, to probably run either Pro Mod or Pro Stock,'' Caruso said in a phone interview. "I wasn't really too picky.''
Two-time Pro Stock world champ Jim Yates (left) is serving as crew chief for Camrie Caruso, helping Caruso reach a final round and earn a No. 1 qualiier position in her rookie season. [Photo by Auto Imagery]
Two-time world Pro Stock champ Jim Yates joined the family-run team over the winter as crew chief and Caruso has made an immediate impact, racing to a final round and earning a No. 1 qualifier in her rookie season while ranking in the top 10 in the extremely-competitive Pro Stock division all season.
"I feel like it's gone good,'' said Caruso, eighth in points entering the Menards NHRA Nationals Friday through Sunday at Heartland Motorsports Park. "We started really, really awesome. The first five races, six races were great. We kind of hit a struggle in the Western Swing and then at Seattle we started to come back from that.
"So honestly I think the team's doing really great together. It is a whole new team, so it does take some time to get used to each other and the way each other works and everything else, so I think we're pretty good. I think we're going to stay here for quite a long time.''
Pro Stock Rookie Camrie Caruso will make her racing debut at Heartland Motorsports Park this weekend in the Menards NHRA Nationals. [Photo by Auto Imagery]
