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Tricky Tipster's Charlotte picks

16 Sep 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 Carolina Nationals.

TOP FUEL
Funny Car | Pro Stock | Pro Stock Motorcycle | Pro Mod
  
Tony SchumacherTony Schumacher • U.S. Army
Now that his 10th Indy win is safely tucked away, he can concentrate on winning his ninth championship, which is a very attainable goal.
3-1
  
Antron BrownAntron Brown • Matco Tools
The road to a third championship starts here. He has done it twice before, and no reason to think he won’t be there again this season.
4-1
  
Doug KalittaDoug Kalitta • Mac Tools
Is there anyone out there who wouldn’t love to see this team catch a long-overdue break during the Countdown and make a push towards the title? Gotta figure most would like to see that.
5-1
  
Steve TorrenceSteve Torrence • Capco Contractors/Rio Ammo
He’ll get his share of qualifying points during the Countdown, but he needs the round-wins to stay in the hunt. A win here would be a great start.
7-1
  
Brittany ForceBrittany Force • Monster
Don’t kid yourselves, the thought of Brittany joining dad John as an NHRA Mello Yello champ is very real. In fact, she’s easily one of the favorites.
8-1
  
J.R. ToddJ.R. Todd • SealMaster
He has a 17-6 record since Norwalk and has zero first-round losses. That sort of success bodes well for a nice run during the Countdown to the Championship.
9-1
  
Shawn LangdonShawn Langdon • Sandvik
Really hard to handicap this team. On one hand, they can win any event they enter. On the other, it’s hard to overlook seven round-one losses.
12-1
  
Richie CramptonRichie Crampton • Lucas Oil
One round-win in the last three events is not a great way to start the Countdown. That being said, he’s primed for a big rebound if he can win a few rounds this weekend.
14-1
 

FUNNY CAR
Ron CappsRon Capps • NAPA Dodge
OK, so he didn’t get that long-overdue first Indy win. He’s still got the best car in the class, and he’s a slight favorite to go the distance and win an equally overdue championship.
3-1
  
Matt HaganMatt Hagan • Freightliner Trucks Dodge
Riding high after a big Indy win, he returns to the site of his historic first three-second pass. This team is equal to Capps’ in almost every area, so we’re making them co-favorites
3-1
  
Del WorshamDel Worsham • DHL Toyota
Since the start of the Western Swing, he has a dynamic 14-4 record in elimination rounds. If that pace continues, the rest of the field is in big trouble.
4-1
  
Robert HightRobert Hight • Auto Club Chevy
He won just one event during the regular season, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. This is a team that has shown a fair amount of consistency. Very underrated.
6-1
  
Courtney ForceCourtney Force • Traxxas Chevy
She has qualified in the top half of every field this year. In today’s Funny Car fields, that is an incredible accomplishment.
8-1
  
Tommy Johnson Jr.Tommy Johnson Jr. • Make-A-Wish Dodge
The fact that this is the sixth car on the list tells you everything you need to know about Funny Car 2016. Every team is capable of winning.
9-1
  
John ForceJohn Force • Advanced Auto/Peak Chevy
Is there anyone out there who doesn’t think he has enough left in the tank for a run at a 17th championship? Tipster’s best advice: Never bet against this guy.
11-1
  
Jack BeckmanJack Beckman • Infinite Hero Dodge
As bad as this team struggled at times this season, it’s important to remember they can run 3.85 almost at will and begin the Countdown just 50 points out of first place.
14-1
 

PRO STOCK
Greg AndersonGreg Anderson • Summit Camaro
The Summit team has clearly given back some of their edge since the start of 2016, but this is still one of the best cars in the class, and with the start of the Countdown, Anderson is very motivated.
3-1
  
Vincent NobileVincent Nobile • Mountain View Camaro
Only bad luck and bad timing have kept this team from winning any of the last three races. If their luck improves, look for a championship-caliber effort.
4-1
  
Jason LineJason Line • Summit Camaro
Forget about the gaudy regular season record. It means little if he can’t make a decent run at a third Mello Yello championship.
5-1
  
Chris McGahaChris McGaha • Harlow Sammons Camaro
Not really sure if he has the fourth-best car in the class, but he is the Indy champ, so we’re giving him the benefit of the doubt.
6-1
  
Shane GrayShane Gray • Gray Motorsports Camaro
Entirely possible that this is the next Pro Stock driver to grab a win in 2016. He is absolutely overdue.
7-1
  
Drew SkillmanDrew Skillman • Skillman Auto Camaro
With Gray Motorsports power, he’s a threat to win any event he enters. Tends to stay cool under pressure as well, and that counts for something.
11-1
  
Bo ButnerBo Butner • Butner Auto Camaro
What’s he doing way down here? There is no easy way to put this. In order to win a Pro Stock race, his driving must improve. This would be a great time to figure a few things out.
12-1
  
Allen JohnsonAllen Johnson • Marathon Petroleum Dart
Based solely on his driving, he probably should be ranked a couple of spots higher. Should he find a tiny bit more power, he will challenge for another championship.
15-1
 

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
Andrew HinesAndrew Hines • Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson
On an epic roll right now with five wins and seven finals in the first 10 races, but he needs to maintain that momentum during the Countdown.
3-1
  
Eddie KrawiecEddie Krawiec • Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson
Deals with pressure as well as any rider in the field, which makes him very dangerous during the Countdown.
7-2
  
Angelle SampeyAngelle Sampey • Star/PSE Buell
She ha a bike that is good enough to win a fourth Mello Yello championship, but in order to do so, mental mistakes must be minimized.
4-1
  
LE TongletLE Tonglet • Nitro Fish Suzuki
Lately his riding has been spot on, and he has one of the strongest bikes in the field, regardless of brand. Expect another title run over the next six races.
5-1
  
Jerry SavoieJerry Savoie • White Alligator Suzuki
Last year, he was rock solid during the Countdown rounds and almost came away with the title. A similar effort will be required here.
7-1
  
Hector Arana Jr.Hector Arana Jr. • Lucas Oil Buell
Coming into the Countdown on a high note following a strong runner-up finish at Indy. This might be a sign that he’s peaking at the right time.
9-1
  
Cory ReedCory Reed • Star/PSE Buell
So far this season he has done nothing but improve. Wouldn’t it be something if his first win came during a Countdown event?
11-1
  
Matt SmithMatt Smith • Victory Gunner
The last six races are far more important than the first 10. So if he has gotten all of his bad luck out of the way, look for a solid effort during his pursuit of a third championship.
14-1
 

PRO MOD
Troy Coughlin Sr. • JEGS.com Corvette
Made up a lot of ground in the points with his runner-up finish at Indy. Needs to do that again to stay in the fight.
3-1
  
Rickie Smith • IDG Camaro
Despite early loss at Indy, the championship is still his to lose. He also scores bonus points for racing at his home event in Charlotte, where he does a lot of testing.
9-2
  
Von Smith • AAP Corvette
Indy win was very impressive, and there is no reason to think that he can’t go back-to-back with another win this week. Frank Manzo has this car flying.
5-1
  
Bob Rahaim • TLC Waste Disposal Corvette
He’s 150 points out of first place, so he’s still technically in the running, but that makes this a must-win event.
6-1
  
Michael Biehle • Biehle Motorsports Mustang
Over the last year, this has become one of the best turbocharged cars in Pro Mod. He qualifies solidly at every race and is just about overdue for a win.
8-1
  
Khalid alBalooshi • Bahrain1 Camaro
Tuner Rickie Smith has this car flying, and former series champ alBalooshi is more than capable behind the wheel. Headed for a top-10 finish despite missing an event.
10-1
  
Danny Rowe • Agave Underground Corvette
His Indy outing, where his 5.89 was not quick enough to make the record field, had to be especially frustrating. Look for a quick rebound this time out.
11-1
  
Billy Glidden • Mickey Thompson Mustang
He will be back in his own nitrous-equipped Mustang after parting company with the Precision Turbo team this week. Still capable of a victory, though.
14-1