2024 14th Annual FABO NHRA "Pick 'Em" Game - It's NITRO Burnin' Time Again!!!

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ocdart

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Are you ready to get your 2024 Nitro fix!
The season-opening event of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Series is scheduled for March 7-10 so it's time for the "official" 2023 NHRA "Pick 'Em" Game thread to get started. Let's get more players than last year and get this game going again!
Believe it or not, this is the fourteenth year we're doing this.
Pro qualifying for the 2024 NHRA season opening Gatornationals gets underway on Friday, March 8.

No changes to the rules from the last few years as the little change in 2018 proved to be pretty good. Here they are for any new players. Returning players should check them out also just as a reminder.

Rules for the 14th Annual FABO NHRA Pick 'Em for 2024:
Your picks must be posted to this thread before the scheduled start of Pro qualifying on the Friday of each event in order to be eligible for all bonus points awarded during the event. No exceptions. For the 2024 season-opening Gatornationals, this is Friday, March 8. Pro Stock qualifying starts at 2:00pm EST (11:00am PST).

Classes:
* Top Fuel
* Funny Car
* Pro Stock
* Pro Stock Motorcycle
* Highest total point accumulation from all classes at the end of the season is the winner
* Pick one driver/car for each class for each National Event

You must post your picks to FABO no later than the scheduled start of Pro qualifying on Friday of the event weekend. Picks posted after the scheduled start of Pro qualifying on Friday will not be eligible for any bonus points awarded during the event; picks posted after the scheduled start of Pro qualifying on Friday will only earn points for Sunday race elimination rounds.
You can also "lock" your picks in for the entire season if you wish. Just post that you want them "locked". You can always "unlock" them to make a change by posting your changes in this thread. Your revised picks will then be "locked" until you make future changes.

All of us get busy from time to time, our computers may break down, or we just forget to post our picks. So, in an effort to keep everyone in the game for the "regular season", if you don't get your picks posted before the first round of Pro Qualifying for any "regular season" race after the Gatornationals I will use your picks from the previous race event. That's the benefit - you will be guaranteed to have picks for elimination rounds. The penalty is, your picks will not be eligible for event bonus points.
As said before, you still have the option of "locking in" your picks for the entire season if you think you may have trouble getting your picks posted sometime during the season. Think of it as no-cost insurance.
Your picks will be eligible for event bonus points if you "lock" them in, but not if you just forget to post them or can't post event picks for whatever reason.
This "pick carry over" feature is only in effect for the "regular season". It will not be in effect for the six-event "Countdown to the Championship" at the end of the season.

You can review the event class entry list and the event schedule on www.nhra.com. Make sure you take into account the time difference between the event location and where you are so you get your picks posted on time.

* 10 points awarded for each round won during final eliminations (40 points max. per event)

* Bonus Points:
Bonus points awarded each event based on your selected drivers final qualification position as determined by NHRA
# 1 Qualifier = 8 points
# 2 Qualifier = 7.5 points
# 3 Qualifier = 7 points
# 4 Qualifier = 6.5 points
# 5 Qualifier = 6 points
# 6 Qualifier = 5.5 points
# 7 Qualifier = 5 points
# 8 Qualifier = 4.5 points
# 9 Qualifier = 4 points
#10 Qualifier = 3.5 points
#11 Qualifier = 3 points
#12 Qualifier = 2.5 points
#13 Qualifier = 2 points
#14 Qualifier = 1.5 points
#15 Qualifier = 1 point
#16 Qualifier = 0.5 point

5 Bonus Points awarded per class to the driver posting the quickest elapsed time or fastest speed per event during either qualifying or eliminations

15 Bonus Points awarded per class to any driver establishing a new national record elapsed time or speed during an event (no longer must be backed up within 1% per revised NHRA rules)

Each professional class has an 88-point potential per event if your selected driver qualifies in the #1 position, wins the event, has the quickest elapsed time and fastest speed, and sets both ends of the national record for the class during the event. 352 points max. per event with all four professional classes; 264 points max. per event that do not include either Pro Stock or Pro Stock Motorcycle.

If your selected driver fails to qualify for an event, you receive 0 points for that class.

Like prior years, there will be special rules regarding round-win points for both Four-Wide events. Yes, BOTH. The NHRA 4-Wide Las Vegas event (April 12-14) and the Circle K NHRA 4-Wide event at Z-Max Dragway in Charlotte, NC, (April 26-28). I will post up the special rules prior to the Las Vegas event.

Also like prior years, the points will be re-set following the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day weekend, prior to the start of the 6-event "Countdown to the Championship".

And just like the past couple of years, we're going to follow what NHRA is doing with increased points for both the U.S. Nationals and the Finals. Round win points for both of those events will be 15 rather than 10. This should make for an exciting finish to the season just like last year.


So post up your picks on this thread. Here we go. Light 'em up and let's burn some more nitro!
 
FYI - here's the lineup for the Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout to be run during qualifying at the 2024 season-opening Gatornationals on Saturday, March 9:

* #1 seed - Steve Torrence
* #2 - Doug Kalitta
* #3 - Brittany Force
* #4 - Mike Salinas
* #5 - Justin Ashley
* #6 - Leah Pruett
* #7 - Antron Brown
* #8 - Shawn Langdon

Shawn Langdon moved in to the #8 seed since Austin Prock moved over to the Funny Car class in 2024.
Something new this year? The driver making the quickest winning run in Round 1 of the Callout gets to pick his opponent for the semifinal round, locking in the other semifinal matchup as well.
 
Final qualification times from the 2024 PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton Motorsports Park, FL:

Top Fuel (8 car field)
3.669 @ 335.57 Clay Millican
3.672 @ 333.49 Doug Kalitta
3.688 @ 328.86 Mike Salinas
3.694 @ 326.95 Antron Brown
3.696 @ 330.96 Tony Schumacher
3.706 @ 333.91 Shawn Langdon
3.713 @ 326.87 Justin Ashley
3.720 @ 329.99 Leah Pruett
DNQ: Steve Torrence, Billy Torrence, Brittany Force, Josh Hart

Funny Car (8 car field)
3.825 @ 337.41 Austin Prock
3.840 @ 341.68 Bob Tasca III
3.849 @ 332.59 John Force
3.868 @ 330.31 J.R. Todd
3.877 @ 331.36 Paul Lee
3.880 @ 329.10 Matt Hagan
3.893 @ 330.80 Alexis DeJoria
3.903 @ 326.71 Cruz Pedregon
DNQ: Chad Green, Daniel Wilkerson, Blake Alexander, Ron Capps, Dave Richards

Pro Stock (16 car field)
6.505 @ 210.21 Erica Enders
6.507 @ 210.97 Dallas Glenn
6.514 @ 211.10 Cristian Cuadra
6.515 @ 211.66 Jerry Tucker
6.519 @ 211.69 Bo Butner III
6.523 @ 211.49 Aaron Stanfield
6.523 @ 210.37 Jeg Coughlin
6.526 @ 210.47 Fernando Cuadra Jr.
6.536 @ 209.69 Matt Hartford
6.544 @ 210.64 Chris McGaha
6.546 @ 208.71 Dave Connolly
6.550 @ 210.87 David Cuadra
6.551 @ 211.86 Troy Coughlin Jr.
6.556 @ 206.62 Eric Latino
6.558 @ 205.84 Greg Anderson
6.573 @ 209.82 Camrie Caruso
DNQ: Deric Kramer, Mason McGaha

Our "Pick 'Em" game starts with the 2024 NHRA season opening Gatornationals, March 7-10, in Gainesville, FL.
Don't miss out!
 
Last edited:
Just to make sure, LOCK IN

TF: Pruett
FC:Tasca
PS:Enders
PSM: Herrera
 
Event winners from the 2024 PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton Motorsports Park, FL:

Top Fuel (8 car field)
* Doug Kalitta, 3.706 @ 335.14, beat Clay Millican who lifter early on the way to a 4.220 ET

Funny Car (8 car field)
Austin Prock, 3.845 @ 332.42, beat Matt Hagan, 3.872 @ 329.75

Pro Stock (16 car field)
Erica Enders, 6.531 @ 210.05, beat Dave Connolly, 6.577 @ 208.81


Our "Pick 'Em" game starts with the 2024 NHRA season opening Gatornationals, March 7-10, in Gainesville, FL.
Don't miss out!



 
PSM... Gaige Herrera. to replace my pick for eddie krawiec thx lock in
 
Hey all -
Here's some corrected information learned from Brian Lohnes podcast discussion this week with Leah Pruett:
Since Leah qualified for the 2024 Pep Boys Top Fuel Callout that will be run at the upcoming Gatornationals, she announced that both she and Tony Stewart are entered as participants in the Top Fuel field.
Two Top Fuel cars to be prepped and maintained with only one crew! Both cars are currently built with the exact same parts and engine combination.
Leah explained the current plan is for Tony to run Q1 and Q2 on Friday and, hopefully, qualify toward the top of the ladder on Friday.
They would then put Tony's car in the hauler and bring hers out for the Callout that will be run prior to Q3 and Q4 on Saturday.
If she wins Callout round one, the crew will prep her car for Callout round two.
If she should lose Callout round one, her car will go back in the hauler and Tony's car will come back out to run Q4.
If Leah should go all three rounds and win the Callout then she will probably be qualified in the Top Fuel field for Sunday eliminations. and both cars will need to be prepped for Sunday.

If Tony is not qualified toward the top of the Top Fuel field after Q2 on Friday, they will have to make a decision as to if Leah will run the Callout or if Tony's car will be in Q3.

Wouldn't you love to see both Tony and Leah qualify for Sunday? And then have both cars win round 1 of eliminations and need to be prepped for round 2 by a single crew? It's going to be interesting and possibly very wild to watch.

If you haven't already, don't forget to post your driver picks before Q1 that is scheduled for 2:00pm EST (11:00am PST) on Friday, March 8.
 
Just my picks for Gators please Ocdart
 
I’m in. Just about missed out.
TF B Force
FC M Hagen
PS Enders Stevens
PSM Herrera
Lock those in for now but subject to change
 
I’m in. Just about missed out.
TF B Force
FC M Hagen
PS Enders Stevens
PSM Herrera
Lock those in for now but subject to change

Done.
Qualifying for the season-opening Gatornationals begins on Friday, May 8, so you still have time to change your picks if you want.
 
The current list of competitors for the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals shows:

18 Top Fuel
17 Funny Car
18 Pro Stock
15 Pro Stock Motorcycle

Qualifying doesn't start until May 8 so there's still time for more to register.

I will post another notice on my usual "Tuesday Before The Event".
 
UPDATE TO POST #13...

Announcement today on NHRA.com says Leah Pruett has opted to NOT compete at the season-opening Gatornationals.
Josh Hart has moved in to the #8 spot for the Top Fuel Callout. Antron Brown has moved up to the #6 spot in the Callout and Shawn Langdon moved up to the #7 spot.
Tony Stewart is now expected to compete in both qualifying rounds on Friday and Saturday.

 
@Duster79, @TT5.9mag, @MomsDuster, @stroked340 ....

Because the Gatornationals are the season-opening NHRA event, I'm sending out the usual "Before The Event" reminder a day early.
Please post your Gatornationals picks before qualifying starts so you will be eligible for all event bonus points.
Gatornationals qualifying is scheduled to start at
2:00pm EST (11:00am PST) on Friday, March 8.

Please check nhra.com to make sure your picks are competing in this event.

Current competitor counts are:
17 Top Fuel
17 Funny Car
23 Pro Stock
19 Pro Stock Motorcycle
 
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