Toyota Brainerd NHRA Preview

TOYOTA TEAMS SHINE AT BRAINERD – The NHRA heads to Brainerd this weekend with Toyota Top Fuel teams having won five of the last six events at the Minnesota track. Morgan Lucas Racing (MLR) registered victories in 2009, 2012 and 2014 with Morgan Lucas behind the wheel, Antron Brown won in 2011 and Alan Johnson Racing won with Larry Dixon in 2010. While Lucas’ MLR teammate Richie Crampton has yet to reach the Brainerd Winner’s Circle as a driver – he was on the crew for two (’09, ’12) of Lucas’ victories at the track. In addition to the Top Fuel success, Alexis DeJoria owns the Funny Car track record with a 3.998-second run last season in her Patr?n-sponsored Camry.

LAST YEAR AT BRAINERD – Toyota driver Morgan Lucas defeated Doug Kalitta in the 2014 Top Fuel final at Brainerd. He defeated Bob Vandergriff, Steve Torrence and Antron Brown to advance to the finals against Kalitta.

TOYOTA DRIVERS IN POSITION TO CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH – Six Toyota Nitro drivers are currently in position to qualify for the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Antron Brown has already clinched his berth, while Richie Crampton and Del Worsham can wrap up their spots in the playoffs this weekend simply by maintaining their current margins. Crampton holds a 246-point lead over 11th-place in Top Fuel, while Worsham has a 258-point advantage over the 11th spot in Funny Car. In addition, Shawn Langdon, Cruz Pedregon and Alexis DeJoria all would qualify today, but are likely going to need to try to clinch a berth in the regular season finale at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. Langdon sits seventh in Top Fuel, while Funny Car drivers Pedregon and DeJoria currently reside in the seventh and ninth positions.