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

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I tell you what. What Bob Tasca said when he was talking to the cute lady broadcaster after his final round win made me a big fan of his :thumbsup:
 
Congratulations to 'alsant' (FBBO) and SSG_Karg (FABO) for sharing the "Top Picker Eliminator" title for the 2024 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, OH, with very nice totals of 141.0 points each. '
'alsant' (FBBO) picked the class winner in Pro Stock Motorcycle, his Pro stock pick lost in the final round of eliminations, and his Top Fuel and Funny Car picks both lost in the semi-final round of eliminations. His point total was also helped with ET bonus points in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
'SSG_Karg' (FABO) also picked the class winner in Pro Stock Motorcycle, his Top Fuel and Funny Car picks both lost in the final round of eliminations, and his Pro Stock pick lost in the opening round of eliminations. His point total was helped with ET bonus points in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcyle, and by Speed bonus points in Top Fuel.
'cuda20' (FABO) and 'TT5.9mag' (FABO) shared the runner-up spot with 140.5 points each.

Lots of great picks this week as the top eight scores were separated by only 3.5 points.

Here's where the bonus points were earned if you picked the right drivers:

Top Fuel
E.T. - Doug Kalitta, 3.692 during qualifying
Speed - Doug Kalitta, 337.16 during qualifying

Funny Car
E.T. - Austin Prock, 3.853 during qualifying
Speed - Bob Tasca III, 336.82 during Round 1 of eliminations

Pro Stock
E.T. - Aaron Stanfield, 6.539 while winning the final round of eliminations
Speed - Toy Coughlin Jr., 209.75 while losing during Round 2 of eliminations

Pro Stock Motorcycle
E.T. - Gaige Herrera, 6.698 during Round 1 of eliminations
Speed - Matt Smith, 201.31 during qualifying


We are now through half of the season. Here are the game point standings after the 10th event of the 2024 season:

1093.0 - Budnicks (FBBO) no change in the points standings
1089.0 - Yunick13 (FABO) +2
1085.0 - Outlawd (FBBO) no change
1085.0 - TT5.9mag (FABO) +1
1079.5 - stroked340 (FABO -3
1073.0 - cuda20 (FABO) no change
1057.5 - Alsant (FBBO) +1
1052.5 - Duster79 (FABO) +2
1034.0 - 64BEL (FBBO) +2
1028.0 - ocdart (FABO) +2
1021.5 - GTXDAN (FBBO) -4
1010.5 - Back in Time FABO +1
998.5 - memike (FABO) -4
980.0 - johnnycuda (FABO) no change
930.0 - Nick2317 (FBBO) no change
926.0 - SSG_Karg (FABO) no change

We now get several weeks off since the 'TBA' national event was cancelled earlier this year.
The next race event on the 2024 season will be the NHRA Northwest Nationals,, part of the abbreviated two-event 'West Coast Swing', at Pacific Raceways in Kent, WA, scheduled for July 19-21. nhra.com does not yet show class entry numbers. I will post that information as soon as it is available.
As always, please check to verify your picks are participating before posting your picks.


GOOD LUCK!
 
Unconventional said:
I tell you what. What Bob Tasca said when he was talking to the cute lady broadcaster after his final round win made me a big fan of his :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
I’ve always held a grudge with Tasca because I had a friend who worked on his team and got fired after seriously sorting out his clutch problems a few years ago. But I have to agree with you, what he said in the post race interview gained big time points in my book.
 
TT5.9mag said:
I’ve always held a grudge with Tasca because I had a friend who worked on his team and got fired after seriously sorting out his clutch problems a few years ago. But I have to agree with you, what he said in the post race interview gained big time points in my book.
Click to expand...

I've never had a grudge with Tasca, but I've never liked him either. He's always come across (to me) as very egotistical.
But I have to agree about his postrace comments regarding John Force. Tasca earned some points with me.
I met both John Force and Robert Hight at the Force shop in Yorba Linda when the car club I belong to was hosting an event there a few years ago (when they were still racing out of the Yorba Linda location). They dropped by the shop before the event and before the crowd got there so it was just them and some of our car club people. Both are great guys and as friendly as can be.
 
NHRA released the 2025 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule today featuring 20 events:

14 race event Regular Season
  • 03/06-09/2025 56th annual NHRA Gatornationals, Gainesville, FL
  • 03/21-23/2025 40th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals, Phoenix, AZ
  • 03/27-30/2025 65th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, Pomona, CA
  • 04/11-13/2025 25th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, Las Vegas, NV
  • 04/25-27/2025 15th annual NHRA 4-wide Nationals, Charlotte, NC
  • 05/16-18/2025 25th annual Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by Peak Performance, Chicago, IL
  • 05/30-06/01/2025 12th annual NHRA New England Nationals, Epping, NH
  • 06/06-08/2025 24th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Bristol, TN
  • 06/20-22/2025 5th annual NHRA Virginia Nationals, Richmond, VA
  • 06/26-29/2025 19th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Norwalk, OH
  • 07/18-20/2025 36th annual NHRA Northwest Nationals, Seattle, WA
  • 07/25-27/2025 37th annual Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals, Sonoma, CA
  • 08/14-17/2025 43rd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, Brainerd, MN
  • 08/27-09/01 2025 71st annual NHRA U.S. Nationals, Indianapolis, IN
6 race event Countdown
  • 09/11-14/2025 40th annual NHRA Nationals, Reading, PA
  • 09/19-21/2025 17th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals, Charlotte, NC
  • 09/26-28/2025 14th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals, St. Louis, MO
  • 10/09-12/2025 40th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals, Dallas, TX
  • 10/30-11/02 2025 25th annual NHRA Nevada Nationals, Las Vegas, NV
  • 11/13-16/2025 60th annual In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals, Pomona, CA
Make your travel plans

What is not on the schedule is the new Flying H Drag Strip in the Kansas City area. This had a tentative date on the 2024 schedule that was later cancelled. Does anybody have any information as to why this new facility didn't make it on to the 2025 schedule?
 
ocdart said:
NHRA released the 2025 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule today featuring 20 events:

14 race event Regular Season
  • 03/06-09/2025 56th annual NHRA Gatornationals, Gainesville, FL
  • 03/21-23/2025 40th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals, Phoenix, AZ
  • 03/27-30/2025 65th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, Pomona, CA
  • 04/11-13/2025 25th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, Las Vegas, NV
  • 04/25-27/2025 15th annual NHRA 4-wide Nationals, Charlotte, NC
  • 05/16-18/2025 25th annual Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by Peak Performance, Chicago, IL
  • 05/30-06/01/2025 12th annual NHRA New England Nationals, Epping, NH
  • 06/06-08/2025 24th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Bristol, TN
  • 06/20-22/2025 5th annual NHRA Virginia Nationals, Richmond, VA
  • 06/26-29/2025 19th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Norwalk, OH
  • 07/18-20/2025 36th annual NHRA Northwest Nationals, Seattle, WA
  • 07/25-27/2025 37th annual Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals, Sonoma, CA
  • 08/14-17/2025 43rd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, Brainerd, MN
  • 08/27-09/01 2025 71st annual NHRA U.S. Nationals, Indianapolis, IN
6 race event Countdown
  • 09/11-14/2025 40th annual NHRA Nationals, Reading, PA
  • 09/19-21/2025 17th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals, Charlotte, NC
  • 09/26-28/2025 14th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals, St. Louis, MO
  • 10/09-12/2025 40th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals, Dallas, TX
  • 10/30-11/02 2025 25th annual NHRA Nevada Nationals, Las Vegas, NV
  • 11/13-16/2025 60th annual In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals, Pomona, CA
Make your travel plans

What is not on the schedule is the new Flying H Drag Strip in the Kansas City area. This had a tentative date on the 2024 schedule that was later cancelled. Does anybody have any information as to why this new facility didn't make it on to the 2025 schedule?
Click to expand...

Just got an e-mail back from Flying H they said they WON'T be having a NHRA event in 2025!!!
 
Here's your "Tuesday Before the Event" reminder for the NHRA Northwest Nationals scheduled for July 19-21 at Pacific Raceways in Kent, WA.

Please post your picks before qualifying starts so you will be eligible for all event bonus points.

NHRA continues with a "standard" qualifying schedule: Q1 and Q2 on Friday, Q3 and Q4 on Saturday. The first of the scheduled four rounds of Pro qualifying is scheduled to start at 6:30pm EDT (3:30pm PDT) on Friday.

There will be some short fields at the Northwest Nationals as nhra.com currently shows the following number of entries:
* 14 Top Fuel
* 16 Funny Car (John Force continues to show as an entry)
* 18 Pro Stock (none of the Cuadra brothers are entered)
* 13 Pro Stock Motorcycle

Those counts are always subject to change so make sure to check to make sure your driver picks are entered.
Please check nhra.com to make sure your picks are competing in this event.
Although John Force is entered in Funny Car, the team has not yet announced whether a substitute driver for the 16-time series champion will carry on in a back-up Funny Car.

The current weather forecast for Kent, WA, calls for
* Friday - sunny with a high of 84F
* Saturday - sunny with a high of 86F
* Sunday - mostly sunny with a high of 82F

The current television schedule for the Northwest Nationals...
* Qualifying Show 1: 10:30pm-midnight EDT (7:30-9:00pm PDT), Friday, July 19, on FS1
* Qualifying Show 2: 1:00-3:00pm (10:00am-noon), Sunday, July 21 on FS1
* Finals: 4:00-7:00pm EDT (1:00-4:00pm PDT), Sunday, July 21 on FS1

All television coverage will also re-air at later times. Check www.nhra.com.
 
TF Doug Kalitta
FC Mat Hagen
PS Anderson
PSM Herrera
Good luck everyone

20240714_123721.jpg
 
Interesting discussion on Brian Loehnes' podcast this week regarding a substitute driver for John Force.
NHRA rules allow a substitute driver to earn points for the original driver over only 8 races in a season. This means a substitute driver could be in John's Funny Car starting at Brainerd, MN, and run out the remainder of the season accumulating points for Force.
No mention yet out of JFR about a substitute driver.

John Force is currently in 4th place in the Funny Car standings. 40 points behind #3 Matt Hagan, 7 points ahead of #5 J.R. Todd, and 132 points ahead of #6 Ron Capps. Even without running at either Seattle or Sonoma, John will still be solidly in the Countdown.

My guess/suggestion of a substitute driver?
How would you like to see "Fast Jack" Beckman in John's car?
 
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I would LOVE to see Fast Jack back in a funny car. What a great guy and a great driver. He was my instructor at Frank Hawley drag racing school so I’m partial. I’ll drive over to his house and recommend he get on that. He lives about a mile from me.
:thumbsup:
 
TF-S.Torrance
FC-B.Tasca
PS-D.Glenn
PSM-G.Herrera
 
ocdart said:
Interesting discussion on Brian Loehnes' podcast this week regarding a substitute driver for John Force.
NHRA rules allow a substitute driver to earn points for the original driver over only 8 races in a season. This means a substitute driver could be in John's Funny Car starting at Brainerd, MN, and run out the remainder of the season accumulating points for Force.
No mention yet out of JFR about a substitute driver.

John Force is currently in 4th place in the Funny Car standings. 40 points behind #3 Matt Hagan, 7 points ahead of #5 J.R. Todd, and 132 points ahead of #6 Ron Capps. Even without running at either Seattle or Sonoma, John will still be solidly in the Countdown.

My guess/suggestion of a substitute driver?
How would you like to see "Fast Jack" Beckman in John's car?
Click to expand...

Robert Hight and JFR said today, "We hope to tie up all the loose ends and introduce a driver some time right after Sonoma (NHRA Sonoma Nationals, July 26-28). There’s a good pool of driving talent out there but, obviously, we need to find the right fit for both the team and our sponsors.”

The nhra.com announcement also said the tentative target for the car’s return is the 47th annual Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire, August 2-3, at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, an event in which Force was to have raced against Funny Car rivals Ron Capps, Cruz Pedregon and Dale Creasy Jr. as part of a show that also includes Top Fuel dragsters, jets and a world class fireworks show.
 
ocdart said:
Robert Hight and JFR said today, "We hope to tie up all the loose ends and introduce a driver some time right after Sonoma (NHRA Sonoma Nationals, July 26-28). There’s a good pool of driving talent out there but, obviously, we need to find the right fit for both the team and our sponsors.”

The nhra.com announcement also said the tentative target for the car’s return is the 47th annual Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire, August 2-3, at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, an event in which Force was to have raced against Funny Car rivals Ron Capps, Cruz Pedregon and Dale Creasy Jr. as part of a show that also includes Top Fuel dragsters, jets and a world class fireworks show.
Click to expand...
I honestly think Robert will come back and drive his car and Austin will take the seat in John’s car. That’s a more natural progression and probably much more permanent.
 
TT5.9mag said:
I honestly think Robert will come back and drive his car and Austin will take the seat in John’s car. That’s a more natural progression and probably much more permanent.
Click to expand...
I think that may happen in 2025, IF John decides to hang up his helmet or is persuaded by his family to do so.
 
ocdart said:
I carried over my Thunder Valley picks to Virginia but they let me down big time.
So I'm carrying them over again to Norwalk hoping they won't let me down two weeks in a row.
Click to expand...

Same picks one more time to Seattle
 
ocdart said:
I think that may happen in 2025, IF John decides to hang up his helmet or is persuaded by his family to do so.
Click to expand...
I don’t think John is going to get a choice. Unfortunately.
 
2024 NHRA Northwest Nationals qualifying leaders:

Q1
Weather: 84F, 42% relative humidity, barometer 30.13", adjusted altitude 2,226', track temp. 127F
TF: Josh Hart, 3.955 @ 321.65
FC: Austin Prock, 3.892; Bob Tasca III @ 324.36
PS: Eric Latino, 6.541; Aaron Stanfield @ 211.06
PSM: Gaige Herrera, 6.739; Angie Smith @ 200.62

Q2
Weather: 72F, 63% relative humidity, barometer 30.12", adjusted altitude 1,534', track temp. 100F
TF: Steve Torrence, 3.688 @ 335.32
FC: Austin Prock, 3.838; Ron Capps @ 331.53
PS: Erica Enders, 6.500; Chris McGaha @ 211.13
PSM: Gaige Herrera, 6.734 @ 201.22

Q3
Weather: 88F, 38% relative humidity, barometer 30.05", adjusted altitude 2,562', track temp. n/a
TF: Steve Torrence, 3.688 @ 335.32
FC: Austin Prock, 3.838; Ron Capps @ 331.53
PS: Erica Enders, 6.500; Chris McGaha @ 211.13
PSM: Gaige Herrera, 6.734 @ 201.22

Q4
Weather: 88F, 37% relative humidity, barometer 30.02", adjusted altitude 2,582', track temp. 130F
TF: Steve Torrence, 3.688 @ 335.32
FC: Austin Prock, 3.838; Ron Capps @ 331.53
PS: Erica Enders, 6.500; Chris McGaha @ 211.13
PSM: Gaige Herrera, 6.734; Angie Smith @ 201.43
 
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Congratulations to 'Budnicks' (FBBO) and 'Outlawd' (FBBO) for sharing the 2024 NHRA Northwest Nationals Top Qualifier title with outstanding totals of 30.5 bonus points each. 'Budnicks' (FBBO) picked the #1 qualifiers in Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle, the #4 qualifier in Top Fuel. 'Outlawd' (FBBO) picked the #1 qualifier in Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock Motorcycle, and the #4 qualifier in Pro Stock.
'64BEL' (FBBO) and 'SSG_Karg' (FABO) shared the runner-up qualifier with 30.0 bonus points each.
Way to go!
More great picks!

16 players again this week and 14 different driver combos made up of:
* 5 different Top Fuel drivers with no Round 1 head-to-head matchups. There is a possibility of one head-to-head matchups in the second round of eliminations if both drivers survive Round 1.
* 4 different Funny Car drivers with no Round 1 head-to-head matchups. The first possibility of a head-to-head matchup is the semi-final round if the drivers survive until then.
* 3 different Pro Stock drivers with one Round 1 head-to-head matchup between the #4 qualifier Greg Anderson (7 picks) and the #13 qualifier Dallas Glenn (2 picks)
* 2 different Pro Stock Motorcycle drivers with the only possible head-to-head matchup in the final round of eliminations if both drivers get that far
Good luck all!
 
Congratulations to 'Outlawd' (FBBO) for winning the "Top Picker Eliminator" title for the 2024 NHRA Northwest Nationals in Kent, WA, with an outstanding total of 150.5 points.
'Outlawd' (FBBO) picked the class winner in Funny Car, his Pro Stock Motorcycle pick lost in the final round of eliminations, his Top Fuel pick lost in the semi-finals and his Pro Stock pick lost in Round 2 of eliminations. His point total was also helped with ET bonus points in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock, and with Speed bonus points in Top Fuel.
'Budnicks' (FBBO) grabbed the runner-up spot with 145.5 points.
The best FABO-player score was 'TT5.9mag' with 135.5 points

Here's where the bonus points were earned if you picked the right drivers:

Top Fuel
E.T. - Doug Kalitta, 3.670 during Round 1 of eliminations
Speed - Doug Kalitta, 337.41 during Round 1 of eliminations

Funny Car
E.T. - Austin Prock, 3.838 during both qualifying and Round 1 of eliminations
Speed - Bob Tasca III, 338.51 during Round 1 of eliminations

Pro Stock
E.T. - Erica Enders, 6.500 during qualifying
Speed - Chris McGaha, 211.13 during qualifying

Pro Stock Motorcycle
E.T. - Matt Smith, 6.709 during Round 1 of eliminations
Speed - Jianna Everisto, 203.95 while losing during Round 2 of eliminations


The point differences just keep getting tighter.
Here are the game point standings after the 11th event of the 2024 season:

1238.5 - Budnicks (FBBO) no change in the points standings
1235.5 - Outlawd (FBBO) +1
1220.5 - TT5.9mag (FABO) +1
1215.5 - Yunick13 (FABO) -2
1213.5 - stroked340 (FABO no change
1186.0 - cuda20 (FABO) no change
1155.5 - GTXDAN (FBBO) +4
1152.5 - ocdart (FABO) +2
1139.0 - 64BEL (FBBO) no change
1138.0 - Duster79 (FABO) -2
1129.5 - Back in Time FABO +1
1125.0 - alsant (FBBO) -5
1095.0 - memike (FABO) no change
1084.5 - johnnycuda (FABO) no change
1043.0 - Nick2317 (FBBO) no change
1031.0 - SSG_Karg (FABO) no change

No time off!
The next race event on the 2024 season will be the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals, the last of the abbreviated two-event 'West Coast Swing', at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, CA, scheduled for July 26-28.
Short fields again as nhra.com shows the following class entry numbers:

14 - Top Fuel
19 - Funny Car (includes a John Force entry who will not be there)
18 - Pro Stock
12 - Pro Stock Motorcycle
As always, please check to verify your picks are participating before posting your picks.


GOOD LUCK!
 
In a JFR statement last Thursday, President Robert Hight said, "There’s a good pool of driving talent out there, but obviously, we need to find the right fit for both the team and our sponsors,” when talking about a replacement driver for John Force.
Here's a list of Funny Car drivers that haven't driven for the past couple of years. I left out those who currently have other responsibilities on other teams or are out for the season for medical reasons.
Who do you like to fill John's seat?

Jeff Arend
Jack Beckman
Phil Burkhart
Courtney Force
Tim Gibbons
Bob Gilbertson
John Hale
Tommy Johnson Jr.
Tony Jurado
Alex Laughlin
John Lawson
Ray Martin
Mike McIntire Jr.
Frank Pedregon
Todd Simpson
Richard Townsend
Brandon Welch
Shane Westerfield

I don't feel the pool is as full as Robert said. There's only a couple of names that I would be interested in calling if it was me.
 
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