Top Fuel pro Richie Crampton anxious to ‘make things right’ in Topeka

TOPEKA, KS – Heading into this weekend’s NHRA Kansas Nationals, no one in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series is happier about the season’s first back-to-back national events than reigning Rookie of the Year Richie Crampton, driver of the 10,000-horsepower Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster.

“I made a huge error Sunday in Atlanta and I desperately want to make things right,” Crampton said. “I couldn’t be happier we’re racing straight away this weekend because I want to put this mistake behind me as quickly as possible.”

It was in the second round at Atlanta Dragway that Crampton left the starting line before the green light, suffering a -.191 red-light disqualification. Making matters worse, his opponent in that round, Larry Dixon, smoked his tires, leaving Crampton feeling as though he let an easy win get away. It was just the second foul start of his career.

“I’m really frustrated with myself because most of the teams ahead of us in the points lost early, so we had such a great chance to move up in the points,” said Crampton, who currently ranks a respectable sixth overall. “Just that round-win there would have moved us into fourth, and then who knows what would have happened from there.

“The one thing the guys and our team owner Morgan Lucas keep telling me is that you need to have a very short memory in this sport. You have to let this stuff go or it will carry over to the next race. I’m going to allow myself a few more hours of pity and then it’ll be time to forget about it and move on.”

Crampton, a winner just three races ago in Las Vegas, has plenty of reasons to move past his indiscretion as his Aaron Brooks-tuned, Toyota-sponsored dragster was one of the most consistent in Georgia. That’s a big deal considering the soaring temperatures and high humidity that made the track challenging for everyone.

“Heartland Park should be a great track for us because even though it could get hot there, the surface seems to always hold up well,” Crampton said. “We have a great hot-weather tune-up, and combining our tune-up with a good track should yield the results were looking for.

“We love Topeka too. The fans are great there in the Heartland and they’re very supportive of NHRA drag racing. The whole state seems to turn up for the drags and that’s fun.

“Drag racing can be brutal. You have one chance to get it right and there are 1,000 things that can go wrong, including the driver messing up, so it’s always a challenge. At the same time, that’s what makes it so great. We’ll be ready to go, for sure, and I personally can’t wait to get started.”

Four qualifying sessions are scheduled for 4 and 6:30 p.m., Friday, and 1 and 3:30 p.m., Saturday. Elimination racing begins at 11 a.m., Sunday. ESPN2 will air the action.