Menards NHRA Nationals
Presented by PetArmor
Event No. 11 of 20
Heartland Motorsports Park
Topeka, Kan.
Aug. 13 - 15, 2021
LEAH PRUETT
Driver of the Cookie and Candy Pop Top Fuel Dragster
2020 Topeka Recap:
N/A (canceled due to COVID-19)
2019 Topeka Recap:
Qualified 10th; First round exit (defeated by Doug Kalitta in E1)
Last Event (Pomona 1):
Qualified second; Event champion (defeated Steve Chrisman in E1, BYE in E2, Mike Salinas in E3, Justin Ashley in E4)
Career Statistics:
162 races; nine wins; 12 No. 1 Qualifiers
Noteworthy:
- Returns to Topeka as the most recent Top Fuel winner on the NHRA tour (Pomona 1)
- No. 4 ranked Pruett raced to consecutive final round appearances at the past two events, finishing as the runner-up in Sonoma before powering to victory in Pomona
- For the fifth time this season, Pruett will reprise her ‘double duty’ role, swapping seats between her Cookie and Candy Pop Top Fuel dragster and Mopar Drag Pak FSS entry
From Leah:
We have got the right mix to put on a spectacular show in Topeka. These past couple of races we have combined winning ingredients and have popped up on the performance scene, and we intend to keep that momentum moving forward. There’s truly no better time to debut with a new partner like Cookie and Candy Pop after the weekend we had in Pomona.
Overall, between both Top Fuel and Factory Stock, we’ve been to three final rounds in three events in two separate classes. That infused with turnaround triumphs of their own regard have made my projection towards Topeka brighter than ever before.
LEAH PRUETT
Driver of the Dodge Challenger Mopar Drag Pak
2020 Topeka Recap:
N/A (Canceled due to COVID-19)
Last Event (Denver):
Qualified fourth; Event runner-up (defeated Waldemar Rodriguez in E1, John Cerbone in E2, Aaron Stanfield in E3; defeated by Stephen Bell in E4)
FSS Career Statistics:
27 races; three wins; two runner-ups; two No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:
- For the fifth time this season, Pruett will reprise her ‘double duty’ role, swapping seats between her Cookie and Candy Pop Top Fuel dragster and Mopar Drag Pak FSS entry.
- Pruett was a finalist at the most recent FSS event in Denver
From Leah:
The combination of crew chiefs A.J. Berge and Kevin Helms has quickly proven its potential. Starting from the mountain in Denver where success was had all the way to a close final round, the team has been working hard at dialing-in a Topeka tune-up to keep the momentum moving forward. The class is tight, and we’re happy to be back in the mix, but our Dodge team is hungry for a win.
Source: Don Schumacher Racing
