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Tricky Tipster's Bristol picks

16 Jun 2016
NHRA News
News

For more than five decades, NHRA National Dragster's famed Tricky Tipster has tested his prognosticating skills prior to each national event, putting odds on the top eight racers he thinks have the best shot at victory in Tricky Tipster. This week, Tricky Tipster handicaps the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

TOP FUEL
Funny Car | Pro Stock | Pro Mod
  
Tony SchumacherTony Schumacher • U.S. Army
His results at the last three events: second round, semifinals, runner-up. The eight-time world champ and five-time Bristol winner is trending in the right direction.
7-2
  
Steve TorrenceSteve Torrence • Capco Contractors
The 2013 winner is hot off the heels of a big win in Englishtown. The only Pro driver with as many No. 1 qualifying spots as him this season (five) is Pro Stock points leader Jason Line.
4-1
  
Antron BrownAntron Brown • Matco Tools
Bristol is one of the few remaining stops on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour where he has yet to score a win. The driver who grew up idolizing “Big Daddy” is hoping for a large Father’s Day in the winner’s circle.
5-1
  
Doug KalittaDoug Kalitta • Mac Tools
The points leader won the inaugural race here in 2001 and scored in back-to-back years in 2005 and 2006. He is back in prime form entering the event this season.
11-2
  
Brittany ForceBrittany Force • Monster Energy
The winner of the Gainesville and Charlotte events seems to do some of her best racing in the Southeast region of the United States.
6-1
  
Shawn LangdonShawn Langdon • Red Fuel/Sandvik Coromant
The 2014 winner has gone rounds at each of the last five events and has been on the verge of reaching his first final of 2016.
8-1
  
J.R. ToddJ.R. Todd • SealMaster
Setting low e.t. of eliminations by a half-tenth as he did last Sunday is possible with a bold tuner like Connie Kalitta.
10-1
  
Leah PritchettLeah Pritchett • FireAde
This team is going from playing catch-up in the early going to being on offense when it pulls through the gate at Bristol Dragway.
12-1
 
FUNNY CAR
Ron CappsRon Capps • NAPA Dodge
The usually competitive Funny Car class has turned into the Ron and Rahn show. Can they maintain the performance that gave them back-to-back wins from No. 1? Hard to say, but we’re going with Capps and crew until someone proves more worthy of the top spot.
2-1
  
Matt HaganMatt Hagan • Mopar Express Lane/
Rocky Boots Dodge

Lost a bit of the consistency he had when he scored victories in Atlanta and Topeka, but his car is still very quick at times — he had low e.t. of Englishtown eliminations — and we wouldn’t be surprised to see the defending event champ back in the final or winner’s circle.
4-1
  
Jack BeckmanJack Beckman • Infinite Hero Dodge
It wasn’t pretty, but Beckman made it to another final last weekend, giving him three in the last four races. His car runs very well at times, and he seems to have a healthy dose of good luck, too. That can be a tough combo to beat.
5-1
  
Courtney ForceCourtney Force • Traxxas Chevy
Suffered her first first-round loss of the season in Englishtown, and her car hasn’t looked quite as steady the last couple of races. Even so, we think this is still one of the best cars in the class.
6-1
  
Del WorshamDel Worsham • DHL Toyota
Race day was kind of weird in E-town, so we’re not going to focus too heavily on the manner in which Worsham got to the semi’s and instead look at the fact he is steadily going rounds right now and looked pretty solid in qualifying.
7-1
  
Tommy Johnson Jr.Tommy Johnson Jr. • Make-A-Wish Dodge
Much like we did with Worsham, we’re chalking Johnson’s inconsistent showing last weekend up to a quirky race in which most teams had trying moments. Johnson won here in 2014, and his car continues to show the potential to get him back to the winner’s circle.
9-1
  
Alexis DeJoriaAlexis DeJoria • Patrón Toyota
Anybody have a lucky rabbit’s foot or four-leaf clover this team can borrow? DeJoria really can’t seem to catch a break this year, once again coming out on the losing end of one of those good, close first-round matches in Englishtown.
10-1
  
Tim WilkersonTim Wilkerson • Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford
As always, this final spot was a struggle, coming down to Wilk, John Force, and Robert Hight. Wilkerson has the better overall record this year, and we remember how great he looked here en route to a runner-up finish in 2014, so he gets the nod.
12-1
 
PRO STOCK
Greg AndersonGreg Anderson • Summit Camaro
Well, you figured one of the two Summit drivers would be in this spot, right?
2-1
  
Jason LineJason Line • Summit Camaro
He made the quickest run in Pro Stock this year and made another final-round appearance. There’s no slowing down for Line or this KB team.
3-2
  
Allen JohnsonAllen Johnson • Marathon Petroleum Dart
His record this season still holds strong, in spite of an early second-round finish in E-town.
4-1
  
Bo ButnerBo Butner • Jim Butner Auto Camaro
Though he continues to qualify in one of the top three spots alongside his KB teammates, Butner still faces difficulties come race day.
5-1
  
Shane GrayShane Gray • Gray Motorsports Camaro
He posts impressive numbers in qualifying and goes rounds in eliminations, as long as he doesn’t have to face Kenny Delco.
7-1
  
Vincent NobileVincent Nobile • Mountain View Camaro
He currently carries the banner for the Elite Motorsports team after his recent semifinal finish and another top-half qualifying position.
8-1
  
Drew SkillmanDrew Skillman • Ray Skillman Auto Camaro
He made progress last weekend but still has a few kinks to work out as he settles in with his new team.
10-1
  
Chris McGahaChris McGaha • Harlow Sammons Camaro
His bad luck continues. McGaha made four good, solid qualifying passes last weekend but bowed out in the first round for his third consecutive race.
12-1
 
PRO MOD
Rickie Smith • IDG Camaro
If the recent weight adjustment had an adverse effect on the two-time Pro Mod champ, it wasn’t evident in Englishtown. He qualified No. 2 and could have gone to the final if not for breakage.
3-1
  
Troy Coughlin • JEGS.com Corvette
The points battle in the J&A Service Pro Mod Series was about to be a runaway, but he closed the gap with last week’s win. Another one here, and we’ll have a real battle on our hands.
4-1
  
Billy Glidden • Precision Turbo Camaro
Made an almost seamless transition to his new turbocharged ride with a near win in Englishtown. The combination of Glidden and car owner Harry Hruska figures to be a factor from here on out.
6-1
  
Danny Rowe • Agave Underground Corvette
Finally found some performance with a stunning 5.82 that was good for the top spot in Englishtown but lost in round one on a boundary disqualification. Regardless, progress has been made, and the Agave Underground team appears to be back.
7-1
  
Bob Rahaim • TLC Waste Disposal Corvette
As far as nitrous cars go, this is one of the best of the best, but he’s having a bit of trouble duplicating his preseason numbers, although he generally qualifies in the quick half of the field.
9-1
  
Steve Matusek • Agave Underground/Aeromotive Camaro
These cars are so unpredictable that a lot of other factors tend to get overlooked, but when it comes to reaction times, this guy generally leaves on time, and he’s started to collect round-wins because of it.
10-1
  
Von Smith • AAP Corvette
This car is plenty fast. The problem is, it’s not plenty consistent. Once that small issue is addressed, it will contend for event victories.
12-1
  
Jim Whiteley • J&A Service Chevelle
At the end of the day, they don’t ask how, just how many, and when it comes to round-wins, he’s gotten quite a few lately. He followed the Houston victory with a semifinal showing in Englishtown. That’s a good sign.
14-1