TOPEKA, Kans. (Aug. 10, 2023) – Coming off a regional victory at Heartland Motorsports Park just a week ago, Julie Nataas and her Randy Meyer racing (RMR) Oslo Tapet & Gulvelegg (OTG) Top Alcohol Dragster team return to the Topeka racetrack to take the national stage for this weekend’s Menards NHRA Nationals.
Nataas picked up her first regional victory at Heartland Motorsports Park last weekend when she defeated Aaron Cooper in the final round. The win was enough for Nataas to lock up the regional championship now allowing her to focus on earning her first national championship title.
It’s been a dominant season for Nataas, in addition to her most recent win, she opened the season by sweeping the regional and national events at Gainesville Raceway, won the Dallas Regionals at Texas Motorplex and the Norwalk Regionals at Summit Motorsports Park putting her career total victories at 29.
As she chases a milestone 30th win, getting the job done this weekend will also mean defending her national event win form 2022 and taking the last national event title at the racetrack RMR calls home. This weekend’s NHRA Nationals will be the final event of its kind at the historic facility located just about an hour away from RMR’s headquarters in Olathe, KS.
“It feels great coming back to Heartland Motorsports Park after having won the regional event here last week, especially since we’ve now locked up the regional championship,” Nataas said. “We won the Topeka national event last year and I’m definitely ready to do it again. It’s our last shot at this track. I want another sweep this season and this is our chance. I have so much faith in this team. I know we can get the job done.”
Nataas enters the Menards NHRA Nationals sitting second in points just 32 behind leader Tony Stewart. Competition this weekend at Heartland Motorsports Park will kick off with qualifying Friday at 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. and Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Eliminations begin Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and continue Sunday with second round at 9:15 a.m., semifinals at 12:40 p.m. and finals at 2:50 p.m. The Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series TV coverage will be on FOX Sports 2 (FS2) on Thursday, August 24th at 8:00 p.m. ET.
