PEDREGON, TODD LEAD TOYOTA TOPEKA NHRA QUALIFYING

TOPEKA, KS – Cruz Pedregon qualified third, while J.R. Todd was fourth as the two Camry Funny Car drivers led Toyota in preparation for Sunday’s Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka.

Pedregon placed in the top three in each of the first three qualifying sessions to earn six bonus points on the weekend. In addition, he stretched his streak of consecutive top-three qualifying runs to seven – three more than any other Funny Car driver this season. Pedregon’s Snap-on Camry has now qualified in the top three in 11 sessions this year, behind only Ron Capps (13) and Courtney Force (12). He faces a first-round match-up against reigning world champion Robert Hight.

Todd also had a strong weekend in his DHL Camry, placing in the top four of two of the four sessions, including earning one bonus point for placing third in his final run – his seventh time earning bonus points this season. He opens up eliminations on Sunday against Dale Creasy.

Shawn Langdon placed tenth and will face Ron Capps in the first round.

Doug Kalitta led the way among the three Toyota Top Fuel drivers as he qualified eighth, with teammate Richie Crampton in tenth. On Sunday, Kalitta will square off with Scott Palmer, while Crampton faces Brittany Force. It will mark the first time since the two haven’t faced each other in the first round since the second race of the year in Phoenix. Antron Brown rounds out the Toyota contingent in 12th and will battle Leah Pritchett in the opening round.

Four of the six Toyota drivers earned qualifying bonus points during the weekend with Kalitta and Brown joining Pedregon and Todd.

Today’s final qualifying will be televised on FS1 at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, with tomorrow’s Mello Yello Drag Racing Series eliminations scheduled to be shown live on FS1 beginning at 2:00 p.m. (all times ET).